* Medical Help *

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
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dr1.com
This post has been prompted by another post in the travel forum and an idea from Ken.

This is a call for all those people that visit the board and live in the DR to just post a short message relating to a local medical practitioner (any discipline) they have received excellent service from. Someone that you have no hesitation recommending to a friend.

Please take the time to help, you never know when you may need this information.
 

ricktoronto

Grande Pollo en Boca Chica
Jan 9, 2002
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Given the situation in that post

Perhaps for areas where people live or are very familiar, Punta Cana, Boca Chica, Sosua, etc., the method for contacting emergency help and/or the closest Emergency Ward ( e.g. Clinica Abreu is great if you happen to be in Sto. Domingo when you are seriously taken ill) or if you should take a hired car or what have you and then where?

E.G. I spend time in Boca Chica - if there is an eligible hospital in San Pedro or Juan Dolio and the driving conditions dictate there vs. Abreu then I'd feel better knowing that.
 

arturo

Bronze
Mar 14, 2002
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in Boca Chica, get yourself to the Hamaca and go from there

they can evaluate you and ship you off to Abreu or back to Toronto as necessary. Just position yourself as having taken ill on premise and the rest will take care of itself. Stay well
 

mkohn

Bronze
Jan 1, 2002
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Would its format be like "resort reviews", or would a 1/2 star out of a 5 star rating invite trouble?
mk
 

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
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I am currently preparing a thing on Santiago

I will let people know the where, the who and if I know any of the MDs, I will make a note.

Santiago has the following well regarded clinics
Union Medica
Materno Infantil
Centro Medico Cibao
Corominas
Dr. Bonilla
We also have the Regional University Hospital Cabral y Baez.

There are numerous smaller, lesser known places, but I have not made a census of them as yet, nor do I know their specialties, if any.

HB
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
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I'll provide recommendations for Sosua and Cabarete, as well as Samana if Andy doesn't. Additionally I'll make 2 recommendations for Puerto Plata, however, BushBaby and others who live there can do a more complete job.

Robert, subject to your thinking, I'd suggest that we include dentists, also.
 

Snuffy

Bronze
May 3, 2002
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Hillbilly.........

I did not know you are in Santiago..........i always thought you were in the capitol
 

ricktoronto

Grande Pollo en Boca Chica
Jan 9, 2002
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Somehow this seems doomed to fail....

arturo said:
they can evaluate you and ship you off to Abreu or back to Toronto as necessary. Just position yourself as having taken ill on premise and the rest will take care of itself. Stay well

Dragging your 1/2 dead carcass into their driveway then saying you hurt yourself there? Seriously - lots of people go, not to all inclusive - what do you do, call 911 in Toronto? I think not.
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
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Medical Assistance for Visitors to......

SAMANA:

At present, Centro M?dico San Vicente is best for common ailments and emergency care. There are several doctors, including a pediatrician, and they have such equipment as xray and EKG. However, in the event of something serious, e.g., heart attack, as soon as the patient is stabilized he should be transported to Santo Domingo (I recommend Clinica Abreau) by the best appropriate means. If the person is up to it, private car, taxi, or bus are possibilities, if not, by helicopter (which will land near the clinic) or plane which leaves from the Samana airport and flies to Herrera in Santo Domingo. Centro M?dico San Vicente does not have the staff or the equipment to handle other than emergency care. Some years ago while living in Samana I was attacked by a thief with a machete. He knocked me out, breaking my jaw in two places and cutting off the lobe of my ear. 45 minutes later I recovered consciousness and went for help. I was taken to the clinic, kept over night, flew to Santo Domingo the next morning, and checked into Clinica Abreau through the Emergency Room. The emergency care I got from Dr. Vicente and his staff were excellent as far as it went, but to get beyond that it was necessary to go elsewhere. Helicopter flights by heart attack victims from Samana are not uncommon. The public hospital in Samana would not be satisfactory for foreign visitors.
Dr. Vicente makes hotel calls. The clinic's phone is 538-2535. Mostly Spanish speaking.

CABARETE:

Servi-Med is open 24 hours a day. This group of Dominican and German doctors is very good for routine ailments and emergency care, but don't have the facilities for extended treatment of serious problems. For that they refer you to specialists in Puerto Plata or take you to Centro Medico Bournigal in Puerto Plata. Servi-Med is located on second floor of building near Mama Iguana. Staff speaks English, German and Spanish. Phone number is 571-0964; they make hotel and home calls.

SOSUA:

Cl?nic Gil & Garc?a (gil pronouced hill) is best for routine ailments and emergency care. Dr. Gil and Dra. Garc?a are primary care physicians. They are available 24 hours a day, and make hotel and house calls. A nurse is on duty, also, round the clock. For patients with serious problems, they transport them to the emergency room of Centro Medico Bournigal in Puerto Plata in their ambulance. The doctors speak English. Their facilities are located on Calle Alejo Martinez across the street from the Gegorio Luper?n school. Phone number is 571-2832.

PUERTO PLATA:

I haven't had much experience with doctors there, but one that I highly recommend for anything related to the respiratory system is Dra. Dilcia Mercado S?nchez. She is outstanding, in my opinion; speaks English. Her office is located in Centro Medico Bournigal and her phone is 586-6046. Office hours are 9:30-noon and 3:30-5:30pm. Phone answered only during office hours.

(Note: All the doctors mentioned above see patients--other than emergency cases--in the order of arrival at the office. This is the practice in the Dominican Republic because Domincans are notoriously undependable with respect to keeping appointments.)
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domgirl1

New member
Apr 5, 2002
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Doctors in the Capital

Since we're into the medical subject I wanted to know if anyone is familiar with any good doctors in the capital or any specific Hospitals or Clinicas in Santo Domingo.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all.
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
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Doctors I Recommend in Santo Domingo

During most of the 16 years that my wife and I have been living in the DR, it was necessary for us to go to Santo Domingo (from Samana) for all but the common cold. Consequently we have had the opportunity to get to "try out" a number of doctors and choose those we considered the best. Most are affiliated with Clinica Abreau, and all are recommended without reservation:

Internist/Gastroenterologist: Dr. Fernando A. Contreras. He graduated from a US medical school and is board certified in the US in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He divides his time between offices in Clinica Abreau and Torre Piantini on Abraham Lincoln. His Abreau number is 221-2391 and the other office is 567-1815 or 687-0107. Call to get on calendar for a particular day, then order of arrival of those scheduled for that day. (He was chosen to head the team that cared for ex-President Balaguer when he checked into Clinica Abreau to die.) We consider Dr. Contreras our primary doctor for most things other than the common problems we take care of closer to home.

Opthomologist: Dr. Carlino M. Gonzalez. Located in the Instituto de Cirugia Especializada on Ave. Bolivar #208. Speaks English. Phone: 687-5857. He is one of several opthomologist that share this office.

For root canals: Dr. Jose Maria Heredia. Graduated from a US dental school (Rutgers, I think). His equipment is equal to that found anywhere in the US. Very skilled, specializes in root canals. He is located in Edificio Professional Lincoln on Ave. Abraham Lincoln No. 847. Phone 541-3006/3016.

Urologist: Dr. George F. Riley. His father was a Canadian; graduated from a Canadian medical school. He is with Clinica Abreau, but his office is in the Edificio Medico Profesional across the street. Office hours are 3-6pm daily, order of arrival. Phone: 688-6834.

Cardiologist: Dr. Angel B. Contreras. In morning he is in Edificio Profesional San Antonio (kitty corner from back entrance to Clinica Abreau restaurant), afternoons he is in Torre Piantini on Ave. Abraham Lincoln. AM phone: 688-0011, PM 567-1529. Call to get on his schedule. Speaks English. Graduated from a medical school in Europe. (In morning he shares an office with his father, who is one of if not the leading cardiologist in the DR. But he doesn't speak English.)

Cancer: Anyone ever needing to be checked for possible cancer would do well to consider Dr. Eduardo Segura. He is with Clinica Abreau but his office is located in the Instituto de Maternidad San Rafael at Ave. Bolivar #152. Phone is 682-3966.

Ear, Nose and Throat and Plastic Surgery: Dr. Antonio Jorge Messina. Graduated from a US medical school and board certified there in both specialties. He is with Clinica Abreau but his office is across the street in building #161. His phone: 685-6436 and 687-0910. He operated on me to put my jaw back together after it was fractured in two places.

The medical center we favor is Clinica Abreau http://www.clinicaabreu.com.do/u/indexus.htm

I was operated on there twice and spent a week in the hospital as a patient.
 
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Lyse

New member
Jan 2, 2002
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Thanks Ken for those precious infos.

What is the name of the ear, nose... Dr. in Santo Domingo ???
 

Favorite Son

New member
Aug 20, 2002
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Any body have much problems with allergys or sinus. In Atlanta the spring is a nightmare for tons of people. The pollen is so thick after the rain it looks like lemonade in the puddles.
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
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Lyse, thanks for spotting omission. I have added Dr. Messina's name to the description.

After reading Favorite Son's post, I realized I had forgotten the allergist we have used so added him to list, also.

Favorite Son, I have problems. Where we live in Sosua we have flowering trees right outside our second story window that are doing a number on my sinuses.
 

domgirl1

New member
Apr 5, 2002
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Doctors

Thanks Ken.

Very helpful information. I did have in mind Clinica Abreu already, as I have heard it is one of the better places in Santo Domingo.

Again, thanks for the info.
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
13,884
495
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Would have sent you an email or PM, domgirl, but you haven't activated either.

If I were moving to Santo Domingo and didn't have a doctor, I would start with Dr. Fernando Contreras and make him my primary doctor. A doctor with a specialty in internal medicine is well qualified to take care of most things. I would talk with him about other doctors that I might need, e.g., gynecologist, pediatrician, if you have children, and ask him for recommendations. (Some of the doctors on our list were recommended by him; we have been very pleased with them.)

I am confident you would be well satisfied with the care given you by Dr. Contreras and the others he recommends.

PS: If you want to permit email or PMs to you, click on "user cp" at top of the page, click on "edit profile", then scroll down and click "yes" for email and/or PMs.
 

marion harshman

New member
Jan 2, 2002
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Excelent service at Centro Medico Bourngal. for Hypertension from Cardiologist Doctor Alfonso Reyes. Practicing for 30 years and will make house calls.
 

Favorite Son

New member
Aug 20, 2002
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Kens medical info

KEN, your medical info is great I have printed your post to save for my book of info! I think with all the knowlage you have about the DR you should write a book. I would be glad to buy the first five copies, one for myself, and four for friends that might be intrested in the DR