Santo medical dominicana warning and others

[megabiteme]

My wife was involved in an accident today and had head trauma after hitting her head into the windshield of our car. I can honestly say I have no idea how she had no visual evidence. She broke the upper part just left ofthe sun-visor of the windshield being the strongest part of the glass. A person of course never stopped at the stop sign as they all do around here. We went to this hospital since it is close to our home and of course being that our car is not drivable by any means. My wife has medical insurance being ARS Palic Salud. this hospital stated that her insurance company was closed and only would do service that they knew was covered. I knew my wife needed an MRI or at the very least a CT scan, but they only would provide an X-Ray!!! an X-Ray!!! of her head. Since when does any medical provider do an X-ray of a head?? to determine any soft tissue damage? I told mywife toask for the person in charge of this Hospital, only to get a person that had a major attitude issue [he was the person in charge] as well as not giving a damn about our situation. I was talking to my wife because she was translating to me and after this person realized that I was an American, told my wife to pay cash and they will do the MRI. I would like to know what rights do we have here if any with these hospitals.

After trying to get help and nothing being done for more than 1 hour, we decided to try another hospital, we went inside, told them that the doctor we saw said that my wife needs an MRI, and they told us that they do not have such equipment. We then had to go to another hospital being CMR and they told us that the tech that does the MRI'S has left for the nite. It was only 9:30 by this time. They also suggested doing a head X-Ray and by this time, decided to have it done. Nothing came back as we both knew since there was no visual damage, but my wife still feels pressure in her head and also feels dizzy. I really don't understand what these hospitals are here for when they cannot provide the proper medical needs of their patients. i know in the states that the hospital by law, will provide any service to you and ask for payment later. Here, they only care about the money first!,and they do not have the necessary equipment and if they do, there is nobody there to operate it. Can anyone tell me if there is something that we can do about this? Is there a medical law in place about human rights or some kind of medical facility that makes the hospital to follow a certain protocol?

Also, what can be done about the person that hit my wife? I have never seen anything like this ever, and my wife has told me that they only exchange personal info upon having an accident because the police never come to make a report. So now I'm sure that the woman who hit my wife will only lie to her insurance company stating that my wife hit her since there is no police report. I can only thank God my son was not in the car by this time, because that's where she was headed, to pick him up from school. I am at a total loss at my thoughts right now. Is there any justice in this country? or does everyone just do whatever they feel like? I hope that somebody can really help us if there is anything that can be done. I would like to do something about all of this, so it will help others from going through what we have. I still have no idea if my wife is going to be okay, and I been keeping her awake just to monitor her through the night. You would think that the hospital would of wanted, or should have done this, but is was like, huh, next patient!

Sorry if I come off kinda strong here, but just think if this was your wife, your daughter, your grandmother, or even yourself. thanks so much for any direction on these 2 issues. I love the people here, you all been so helpful in the past, so please help us if you can. Anthony

[PICHARDO]

Get better insurance and next time go to the private trauma centers all over the city with equipment on par to the US and rest of the developed world.

Last place I take a family member after an accident is to any Hospital!!!

Exchanging of information is the norm in the DR, the insurance companies fight the damages between them and you only provide a signed affidavit of the accident as recalled...

Public Hospitals in the DR are for the poor that can't pay for the best services in private clinics that operate better than any Hospital ever would...

Did I mention better insurance?

[GringoCArlos]

You also need to go to either the Palacio de Policia or the Casa de Chofers to make a report, ASAP = the insurance company for your automobile will require a copy of the report before they will repair the damages to your vehicle. Dont send your wife there alone, go with her, as this is a very macho place which doesnt tolerate women very easily. Your auto insurance will go after the other drivers insurance company for reimbursement.

Is sounds as if you also need to talk with Palic and get a better idea of how they operate, what they cover, how to make a claim, which clinicas accept their coverage, etc. From the things I have heard, Palic has good insurance, or did.

[Rocky]

You do not come off strong and I'm terribly sorry about your wife's misfortune.
I pray she will recover.
You can only do the best you can, given the situation and the level of difficulty of getting proper care in this country.
I hope it all works out for you and your wife.

[frank recktenwald]

My wife was involved in an accident today and had head trauma after hitting her head into the windshield of our car.

Hope she's feeling better now, but wasn't she wearing a seat belt?

[Criss Colon]

Located on Ortega Y Gaset near Calle San Martin. I worked there for 10 years. They not only have a "GE" MRI,and CAT Scaner, but more important, Doctors who can read and make a diagnosis from the results! CEDIMAT has a Head Trauma, and Chest Pain "ER" you drive up,and go right in! No insurance questions first! You will be treated on-the-spot! I recomend that if you live in Santo Domingo,you make a "Dry Run" so you will know how to get there if the need arises!
Better "Safe",than "SORRY" as this "OP" now knows!
PS that "Seatbelt" question shows "LOTS" about the poster's character!
Bet you blame women for getting raped!?????????????????????
"After all,she WAS wearing "sexy" clothes at the time! Must have been "Asking" for it! Right???
Cris Colon CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CC

[megabiteme]

Originally Posted by PICHARDO

Get better insurance and next time go to the private trauma centers all over the city with equipment on par to the US and rest of the developed world.

Last place I take a family member after an accident is to any Hospital!!!

Exchanging of information is the norm in the DR, the insurance companies fight the damages between them and you only provide a signed affidavit of the accident as recalled...

Public Hospitals in the DR are for the poor that can't pay for the best services in private clinics that operate better than any Hospital ever would...

Did I mention better insurance?

I am only getting disability from the US and its very hard for us, although my wife is from here. The problem is, the hospital stated that her insurance company was closed etc, and since they saw that I was an American, they didn't try to help, they just firgured that w could pay cash. Thanks so much for this info! I will have my wife read this thread and see if she knows of these places mentioned. We are goingto the police today, I'll post back later and fill you in on what they say. Thanks again

[megabiteme]

Originally Posted by GringoCArlos

You also need to go to either the Palacio de Policia or the Casa de Chofers to make a report, ASAP = the insurance company for your automobile will require a copy of the report before they will repair the damages to your vehicle. Dont send your wife there alone, go with her, as this is a very macho place which doesnt tolerate women very easily. Your auto insurance will go after the other drivers insurance company for reimbursement.

Is sounds as if you also need to talk with Palic and get a better idea of how they operate, what they cover, how to make a claim, which clinicas accept their coverage, etc. From the things I have heard, Palic has good insurance, or did.

Thanks gringo as always! my wife said the same thing that her insurance is or was very good. We pay 3,000 a month so its for whatever is or should be close to the best they have. I'm 6'3 205, thanks for the warning and you bet i will be with my wife although I will have no idea what is being said. This sounds likethe best first stop for us and we apprciate this info as well. I feel much better after reading this post. Thanks so much! Anthony

[megabiteme]

Originally Posted by Rocky

You do not come off strong and I'm terribly sorry about your wife's misfortune.
I pray she will recover.
You can only do the best you can, given the situation and the level of difficulty of getting proper care in this country.
I hope it all works out for you and your wife.

Thank you for your well wishes Rocky, she is still not feeling right, and It's killing me because we have no money at all right now, nor do we have anyone to borrow from. I have credit at my local corner market store thank God! without his help, we could never get by sometimes.

[PICHARDO]

I hope she's ok!
I find that many insurances offer coverage for the most part for injuries as the one your wife suffered. But one big caveat is that most of the coverage touted is centered to a handful of caregivers only...

The Hospital required the insurer to get approval for most of the needs that your wife required and atop of it, they couldn't provide even if they had the approval on time...

Private trauma centers (read careful I say "trauma" not "clinics" only) will provide 100% care to those kinds of injuries that can't be detected via a turn of the century's X-Ray... Make sure you update your knowledge and familiarity with some of them closer to you in the event of major emergencies.

Even if all you get is disability from the US, the centers will set payment plans for you as long as you can provide proof of income, in the event that your insurer wouldn't cover the center's services.