CMC - not even if I'm unconscious.

Went to CMC today at 2 PM to schedule an EKG. Scheduling - A western idea.
Was told no problem, no need to schedule, we can do it right away sir. So I paid 2000 pesos at the caja to the nice woman for what I thought was the EKG but no, only a consultation. (price to good to be true) but I got in to the 1st room very fast. I'm impressed (I shouldn't have been).

The consultation lasted 30 seconds and consisted of the very nice man (assuming he was a doctor) copy my name off a cédula stamp it and sign his name over the stamp). No words spoken other than hello may I see your cedula and oh you're a gringo. Waste of a doctor's talents.
OK for my 2000 pesos I got a blue ink stamp on a receipt with my name.

Then I take the 2000 peso paper to the back where they take it and send me back up front to the caja to pay again for the actual EKG. Then return with 2nd receipt to the back again to wait (and wait). I saw several dozen others, who came in after and were seen - but for different things, I understand - lucky them.
At 4 PM I advised them I would need to leave soon to pick up a child from school.
After 2-1/2 hours, now 4:35, I apologized again that I had to now leave & go pick up my step daughter and they said the EKG tech is ready. Sorry I said just can't wait - so I left picked her up from school dropped her off, fed the dog and returned an hour later, and this time only waited 5 minutes and he saw me. Great.
The guy who did the EKG I had seen walking around earlier chatting with friends during that prior 2 1/2 hours wait. The EKG took only 7 minutes & done and a 16" printout.

During my long wait I had seen this pleasant young man standing in the hall chatting for longer than the EKG actually took.
I think I like the idea of a scheduled appointment much better.

I think Bourignal is a little more organized and professional, last time I was there I was in and out in 20 minutes. But I hope for the rest of the people who use the local hospital in Sosua CMC works for you.

But for me - if I'm ever unconscious I request to please load me on an ambulance and haul me to Puerto Plata. Even with traffic and the drive I think I'll be seen quicker.

cavok said:

I think you just hit a really unusually bad day. I use CMC extensively. Been to four different types of docs there - CAT scans, sonograms, x-rays, EKG, and blood tests. Don't think I was ever there for more than two hours and that was when I needed tests done. Consultations I'm out in less than an hour. Maybe I've been lucky(?).

Bournigal is a good medical center, but it seems like two hours there is the minimum and that's just for a consultation. Add in any tests and along with the drive to Pto. Plata, it's an all day affair.

Click to expand...

Maybe you're right it was a bad day.
I just hate waiting when several persons seemed to be there for gripe.

Maybe we'll see what others say.
I know one other person who was admitted there for dengue and said their treatment was good.

I can say it beats the 6 hours I set in emergency waiting for an antibiotic drip in Puerto Rico for an elbow infection.

Uzin said:

So how much was the actual EKG there !? (or the ECG as we call it - I had to look it up... ! lol, I have done it ages ago at an insurance company's request, but that required a lot of walking on the machine...)

Click to expand...

I have to look at my credit card but I think it was less than $100 all in. Not expensive but this was just a quick heart graph and would only have shown a severe irregularity.
It was not a stress type EKG to see how your heart performs

william webster said:

I use CMC almost exclusively
I book ahead thru their email address and they get me precertified...

I walk in and walk out... paperwork done in advance
Lots of English spoken if you need it

However - as always - you must take charge and ask all the right questions..... doctors are just regular people
I do that in all countries.... double check them

Click to expand...

Good thinking - next time I will take charge and insist on a time. Hope I don't get gripe from all the sneezing.
I was chatting with a British acquaintance last night and he said "Heck two hours ? In Britain it would have been a helluva lot longer"

What I would like to know is why do they have you do a $40 consultation if they don't ask anything other than your name ?
I realize they need money - but instead of going through a charade, why not just add that fee to the EKG fee and forget the minute & a half in the consultation room.

FYI - No one I spoke with spoke English, except in the "Consultation" and we barely spoke

janlindy said:

I was there on tues . Thanks to WW I used there email got an appointment. Dr Gomez spoke english very well, he ordered my lab work. it did take awhile to get the results --saw Dr. Gomez with results in my hand we went over them- out the door off to lunch. I have humano insurance cost $11.50 US. 550 peso.. Will return IF need be. I have to say it was frustrating watching Dr's & staff walk the halls. in total it took 3 hrs. Some staff very pleasant others not so much, but the job got done.

Click to expand...

So you are able to make a direct appointment with Dr Gomez - whom seems to get glowing reviews ?
I saw the same thing - a lot of staff wearing out shoe leather - trying to look busy- but in reality not doing anything but killing the clock

cavok said:

The consultation is probably just a way for the doc to get a fee, but it's no different in the US. You can't even get a simple blood test without a doc ordering it.

When I had an EKG/ECG done, I had the impression that the receptionist had informed the doc that was what I was there for. 300 pesos for the consultation. Walked in, asked for a routine EKG, he wrote out the "prescription", took it to the nurses station in the back, went to the "caja" to pay(150 pesos with insurance), and got the EKG. Went back to the cardio doc where he reviewed it. Maybe an hour and a half max.

Did a routine test for cholesterol and tryglicerides recently. Same thing. Walked in, doc wrote out scrip, paid for blood test(125 pesos), and waited about 45 minuted for the nurse to draw the blood. Back the next morning to get the results, and free second consultation by the doc to review the results.

For many simple things like these, I think medical care here is better than in the US. A whole lot less hassle.

Click to expand...

great 300 pesos but my 'script' was 2000 pesos