Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

June 16, 2009

I always chuckle when Gringas come here and try to debate with me the wonders of Chilean healthcare. “The U.S. should be based on this system, how amazing that everyone is covered,” and blah blah blaaaaaaaah. I always want to ask them, “Have you ever tried getting care in a public hospital here versus a private one?”

Please understand, as with most of my posts, I am in NO way shape or form saying that the U.S. is better. Remember…and this is key….the U.S. and Chile sucking is not mutually exclusive. I will continue to repeat that on this blog over and over until everybody understands.

I am totally fuzzy on the details because after the part where I actually stepped into the street, I remember nothing about my accident. But, S. tells me (and this is only what he’s pieced together via other accounts, like the one from the guy who hit me), that after I was hit, the driver of the car called the ambulance. The ambulance company HELP came. They stablized me and then left because they didn’t know where or if I had insurance and I was unconscious so I couldn’t tell them. Then the ambulance company SAMU came and they transported me to the nearest public hospital, again, because they didn’t know if I had insurance, and a public hospital was better than leaving me bleeding from the head on the street.

They took me to Hospital Salvador, a public hospital, and I regained consciousness after a while enough to give S.’s phone number to someone who called him. They told him that his wife had been hit by a car and he was sleeping so he thought someone was just calling to have him let me in downstairs because I forgot my keys.

He came to the hospital once he comprehended what was going on and when he arrived he found me screaming and still bleeding from the head, just now I was in a hallway instead of the street, with no one even attempting to treat me. S. says that I was also shivering terribly and that he kept asking for a blanket but no one would give it to him. One of the doctor’s actually told him that I was just shivering from shock, which meant a blanket wouldn’t help and therefore they weren’t going to bother to get me one. Then, when S. continued asking if I could be put into a patient room, as I wrote about, they put me in a room with someone who had Swine Flu because they didn’t have enough beds elsewhere. S. wanted to have me moved immediately to the hospital Clinica Santa Maria where we have really fantastic insurance because we signed up for a plan that gave us a convenio with them or an agreement that gives us lowered rates there and better coverage. But, Salvador wouldn’t release me to be transported in a regular car and for some reason we couldn’t find an ambulance to get me there. Finally, one Dr. at Clinica Salvador got on S.’s side and convinced one of my original ambulance driver’s to take me to Santa Maria simply because of the facts — Salvador was severely understaffed and overbusy and they don’t have the same kind of resources that Santa Maria does. Once we got to Santa Maria, I was immediately taken into a private room, hooked up to an IV for pain, examined by a traumatologist (who I love and think I am going to bring some kind of present because he was amazing!), given a full cat scan and X-rays of my entire body– the full work up.

So laying in the hallway screaming bloody murder, or getting treatment from some of the best docs in Chile — that is the difference here between being rich or poor, insured or uninsured. Before you go talking about how wonderous it is in Chile that theoretically anyone can have access to good health care, think about realistically how that actually ends up working out. It’s the same as in the U.S. If you’re uninsured you’re effed big time.

In other news, I was back at the hospital again today. I am starting to feel like I live there. My throat started closing up and we had to go get treatment for another allergic reaction complication. They think it’s being caused by an infection that I picked up while I was staying at the hospital but tomorrow I get more tests to find out. If you thought these pictures after I got run over were pathetic, you should see me now. My face and entire body are a swollen mess. Yesterday I was totally fine, then today I just decided to wake up and almost die again. Could I STOP doing that now?!? The rash is so hideous, my eyes are pretty much shut and OMG I ITCH SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!! I’m just feeling a little miserable because I’m sick and tired of being in and out of the hospital, I’m ready to be recovered and move on with my life (and not blog about this subject anymore, much to my readers’ relief) but it feels like two steps forward and then one giant step back every time.

However, this does confirm our decision to delay our trip, which I had been agonizing about. S. is right, now just isn’t the time we want to be hanging out in a far off foreign country.

In bad news, while I wish I could keep updating on life in Chile like normal and photography stuff, I’ve been trying, but honestly, right now my life just consists of doctors and hospitals. I don’t have much else to write about! In good news, I’m walking sort of more like a normal human being now and my knees don’t keep me up at night hurting anymore.

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22 Comments

Nice points about healthcare! I hope this was your last allergic reaction and you can just concentrate on healing. . . finally.

Comment by Mei — June 17, 2009 @ 5:19 am

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ooh, you're scaring me about this healthcare thing! (i know that's the case but theres not much i can do about it)

hope your body settles into pure recovery mode really soon!

Comment by lydia — June 17, 2009 @ 7:10 am

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You poor thing…better get those doctors to find out what the allergy is caused by soon…
I actually didn't know about attention in public hospitals like I do now.
So, when crossing the street is in anyone's plans, should we wear some tag on our clothes or hanging from our neck so the ambulance guy knows where to take us and we don't end up abandoned in some public hospital hallway?
Gosh. We insured people sure are lucky. I always wonder if I or my baby would have made it if I had gone to a public hospital when labour pain began…
Get better soon. Oh and you have of course been invited to my new blog!

Comment by Flo — June 17, 2009 @ 7:22 am

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Hi Kyle: I've been a lurker on your blog for a month or so… I'm an expat living in Mexico City, so I have no Chilean connection, but I've enjoyed reading about your life there. Just wanted to tell you that I am so sorry this happened to you, and that I wish you a speedy recovery. Can't imagine what you must be going through.

Comment by Lesley — June 17, 2009 @ 8:11 am

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Oh dios mio, I wish I could be there to help you in some way!? I'm really sorry that you're going through all of this. I agree with you 100% though. I have had to visit private hospitals in both Argentina (strep throat) and Peru (broken ankle) and both times I was treated like an absolute Queen. I was told by my Agrentine and Peruvian friends who came with me on both trips that I would have not recieved this kind of care and attention at the public hospitals. I hope this was your last trip to the hospital pobrecita.

Comment by Andi — June 17, 2009 @ 12:06 pm

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I still really don't comprehend the whole ambulance thing in Chile and when people have someone drive them to the hosptial in a car after a serious injury.

The whole healthcare thing IS scary no matter where you are. My dad almost died in the hospital a few years ago in Florida. The healthcare is so bad there because there are so many older people who don't have insurance. He does have insurance and went in to one of the better hospitals with breathing problems and he was on this nasty floor in a nasty room (he ended up with scabies) with barely any care. He was there for a day until we contacted someone from his condo who was a doctor and on the board of the hospital and found out they had private rooms. He got moved to this room which was almost like being at a resort although it did cost more. It was the room next to Frank Vincent's wife (actor that played Phil Leotardo) in the Soprano's. It's really scary to have the realization that you can either rot in a hospital or get nursed back to health depending on having money/insurance/and someone to be your advocate.

Comment by Aimee — June 17, 2009 @ 12:20 pm

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Me too, Mei, ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 2:57 pm

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Well Lydia, the good news is that even the good hospitals aren't SO expensive if you don't have healthcare compared to the U.S. When I got sick here two years ago we paid out of pocket for an “expensive” hospital and after all was said and done I think we spent about $500 dollars after emergency room costs and everything. If you're from the U.S. chances are good your parents would be able to afford to shell out in case of severe emergency for you to go to one of the top hospitals here. It was scary being uninsured here too though so I totally understand!!!

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 2:59 pm

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Flo did you have labour complications? Scary to think what might have happened in a public hopsital!

And yes, we all need to wear dog tags or something, my husband was telling me I needed to get a collar like Papito for when I start running again

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 3:00 pm

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Thank you so much for the well wishes Lesley, I really appreciate it!!!

Things are better now, I'm doing good

Aaaaaaand off to check out your blog now!

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 3:01 pm

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Yikes, Peru and Argentinean hospitals would scare me much more than Chilean hospitals!!! You're lucky that your friends knew right away to take you to the private sector!!!

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 3:02 pm

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My Mom and I were JUST talking about the subject of patient advocates. I can't remember what the study said but old folks in homes or in hospitals receive waaaaaaaaaaaay better care if they have family members at the hospital with them or that visit regularly. My Grandma just fell and broke her hip and for that very reason all of her 7 kids are taking turns visiting while she's recovering. IT's amazing what having someone there to be your voice can do.

Like I think that if S. had never come to the hospital I would've stayed in the public hospital and been out in the hallway screaming for god only knows how much longer. Really REALLY scary like you said!

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 3:03 pm

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OH NO! Feel better, I'm sending you rainbow healing vibes from San Francisco.

I must say, your experience sucked, but you *write* about it very well.

Comment by Cat/Bad Kitty — June 17, 2009 @ 7:23 pm

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Oh my gosh. I really hope this stops soon… how awful and frustrating and scary. But don't apologize for continuing to write about it! We're all glad to get updates.

Comment by Carrie — June 17, 2009 @ 7:57 pm

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Me too, Mei, ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 9:57 pm

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Well Lydia, the good news is that even the good hospitals aren't SO expensive if you don't have healthcare compared to the U.S. When I got sick here two years ago we paid out of pocket for an “expensive” hospital and after all was said and done I think we spent about $500 dollars after emergency room costs and everything. If you're from the U.S. chances are good your parents would be able to afford to shell out in case of severe emergency for you to go to one of the top hospitals here. It was scary being uninsured here too though so I totally understand!!!

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 9:59 pm

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Flo did you have labour complications? Scary to think what might have happened in a public hopsital!

And yes, we all need to wear dog tags or something, my husband was telling me I needed to get a collar like Papito for when I start running again

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 10:00 pm

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Thank you so much for the well wishes Lesley, I really appreciate it!!!

Things are better now, I'm doing good

Aaaaaaand off to check out your blog now!

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 10:01 pm

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Yikes, Peru and Argentinean hospitals would scare me much more than Chilean hospitals!!! You're lucky that your friends knew right away to take you to the private sector!!!

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 10:02 pm

Reply
My Mom and I were JUST talking about the subject of patient advocates. I can't remember what the study said but old folks in homes or in hospitals receive waaaaaaaaaaaay better care if they have family members at the hospital with them or that visit regularly. My Grandma just fell and broke her hip and for that very reason all of her 7 kids are taking turns visiting while she's recovering. IT's amazing what having someone there to be your voice can do.

Like I think that if S. had never come to the hospital I would've stayed in the public hospital and been out in the hallway screaming for god only knows how much longer. Really REALLY scary like you said!

Comment by kyleracine — June 17, 2009 @ 10:03 pm

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OH NO! Feel better, I'm sending you rainbow healing vibes from San Francisco.

I must say, your experience sucked, but you *write* about it very well.

Comment by Cat/Bad Kitty — June 18, 2009 @ 2:23 am

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Oh my gosh. I really hope this stops soon… how awful and frustrating and scary. But don't apologize for continuing to write about it! We're all glad to get updates.

Comment by Carrie — June 18, 2009 @ 2:57 am

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