- Thread starter Robert
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* Medical Help *
PEDIATRICIAN / Neonatologo:
Dr Erwin Garcia Alterio, with his office in the Centro de Medicina Advanzada Abel Gonzalez, (the Abel Gonzalez hospital) in Santo Domingo, just below the corner of Ave Abraham Lincoln with Gustavo Mejia Ricart, on the east side of Abraham Lincoln.
Telephone: 540-2278
Cel: 1-777-9295
He normally is busy helping with baby deliveries in the mornings, and is in his office in the lobby of Abel Gonzalez starting at 6:00 pm. for office calls.
He has been a great baby doctor, keeps up with US pediatric advances, is very responsive, and is a great educator on babies.
Dr Erwin Garcia Alterio, with his office in the Centro de Medicina Advanzada Abel Gonzalez, (the Abel Gonzalez hospital) in Santo Domingo, just below the corner of Ave Abraham Lincoln with Gustavo Mejia Ricart, on the east side of Abraham Lincoln.
Telephone: 540-2278
Cel: 1-777-9295
He normally is busy helping with baby deliveries in the mornings, and is in his office in the lobby of Abel Gonzalez starting at 6:00 pm. for office calls.
He has been a great baby doctor, keeps up with US pediatric advances, is very responsive, and is a great educator on babies.
Although I am not currently living in the DR I and a number of friends have received excellent treatment from various doctors over the years at the Puerto Plata Clinic, Grupo Medico Bourgnigal.
Dr. Jose Redundo comes to mind among several others caring doctors and nurses.
My children were also born in the hospital and were treated there from time to time.
Cautions are, as anywhere, the non-caring medico exists, do not be afraid to speak-up. (politely)
Language problem?
Generally a good percentage either speak or are knowledgeable in English or can find someone who is.
Second caution Dominican doctors, as some main-landers, are apt to get carried away with amount of prescription medicine recommendations.
A new one to add to the total, after each visit.
In Santiago some excellent doctors for children and adults at Clinic Corominas C. por A.
My doctor who is a heart surgeon was Dr. Roberto Garcia.
Less English here but enough to carry you through.
Both the Puerto Plata and the Santiago facilities are located in the downtown core.
Not familiar?
Park your car and take a taxi the rest of the way.
Hope the above is of help.
Dr. Jose Redundo comes to mind among several others caring doctors and nurses.
My children were also born in the hospital and were treated there from time to time.
Cautions are, as anywhere, the non-caring medico exists, do not be afraid to speak-up. (politely)
Language problem?
Generally a good percentage either speak or are knowledgeable in English or can find someone who is.
Second caution Dominican doctors, as some main-landers, are apt to get carried away with amount of prescription medicine recommendations.
A new one to add to the total, after each visit.
In Santiago some excellent doctors for children and adults at Clinic Corominas C. por A.
My doctor who is a heart surgeon was Dr. Roberto Garcia.
Less English here but enough to carry you through.
Both the Puerto Plata and the Santiago facilities are located in the downtown core.
Not familiar?
Park your car and take a taxi the rest of the way.
Hope the above is of help.
Last edited:
Medical stuff - How does it work?
We are thinking of moving to DR (me hubby and 2 young children) in the near future, possibly not very near a city.
What is the general procedure if you need a doctor. Do you have to register with a practice? I gather from what has been discussed we may need to find various doctors for various fields ie one for the adults one for the kids.
I would really like to pick anybody's brains on how health insurance works (we are from the UK). How expensive is insurance? Do we get it in the DR? Do we use doctors who accept patients with insurance or do we find our own, pay ourselves at the time and then claim back from insurance company? If the latter can you generally get all the costs back or does medical insurance only cover part?
Apologies if there are too many questions or I am in the wrong thread, I have just registered and this is my main concern with moving to the DR at the moment due to bringing the 'little 'uns'.
Any info or direction on where to get it would be much appreciated.
Ali Pally
We are thinking of moving to DR (me hubby and 2 young children) in the near future, possibly not very near a city.
What is the general procedure if you need a doctor. Do you have to register with a practice? I gather from what has been discussed we may need to find various doctors for various fields ie one for the adults one for the kids.
I would really like to pick anybody's brains on how health insurance works (we are from the UK). How expensive is insurance? Do we get it in the DR? Do we use doctors who accept patients with insurance or do we find our own, pay ourselves at the time and then claim back from insurance company? If the latter can you generally get all the costs back or does medical insurance only cover part?
Apologies if there are too many questions or I am in the wrong thread, I have just registered and this is my main concern with moving to the DR at the moment due to bringing the 'little 'uns'.
Any info or direction on where to get it would be much appreciated.
Ali Pally
Where are you locating, alitown?
No need to register with a practice. Depending on the doctor, you may need to call ahead and get on the list for the day. You are more likely to find that with the specialists in Santo Domingo than with doctors elsewhere. Few doctors give appointments for a specific time. This is because a great many Dominicans have difficulty being on time. So those that require you to call ahead put you on list for day, then see patients on the list in order of arrival. Doctors that don't require calling ahead see patients in order of arrival.
There is no requirement that you have one doctor for adults and another for children, and depending on where you are locating, this may not be an option. But where there is a pediatrician, many people prefer using him/her for the children, just as is also true in the US and many other countries.
The best doctors as a general rule are in Santo Domingo and Santiago. I say general rule because you can find some excellent doctors in other locations. My wife and I live in Sosua. We use area doctors for general things, but for the once or twice yearly visits to specialists, we go to Santo Domingo. Actually Santiago closer, but we lived in Samana for many years and established relationships with SD then. We do have one specialist in Puerto Plata, however, that we believe is as good as one would find anywhere in her field.
Sorry that I can't help with medical insurance questions, but there are a number of regular posters who can. I would suggest that you post your insurance questions as a new thread to increase chances of getting answers. The thread you have posted in is an old one so may not be looked at by many who might help with you question re insurance.
If you indicate where you will be locating, you may be able to get specific suggestions regarding doctors in that area.
No need to register with a practice. Depending on the doctor, you may need to call ahead and get on the list for the day. You are more likely to find that with the specialists in Santo Domingo than with doctors elsewhere. Few doctors give appointments for a specific time. This is because a great many Dominicans have difficulty being on time. So those that require you to call ahead put you on list for day, then see patients on the list in order of arrival. Doctors that don't require calling ahead see patients in order of arrival.
There is no requirement that you have one doctor for adults and another for children, and depending on where you are locating, this may not be an option. But where there is a pediatrician, many people prefer using him/her for the children, just as is also true in the US and many other countries.
The best doctors as a general rule are in Santo Domingo and Santiago. I say general rule because you can find some excellent doctors in other locations. My wife and I live in Sosua. We use area doctors for general things, but for the once or twice yearly visits to specialists, we go to Santo Domingo. Actually Santiago closer, but we lived in Samana for many years and established relationships with SD then. We do have one specialist in Puerto Plata, however, that we believe is as good as one would find anywhere in her field.
Sorry that I can't help with medical insurance questions, but there are a number of regular posters who can. I would suggest that you post your insurance questions as a new thread to increase chances of getting answers. The thread you have posted in is an old one so may not be looked at by many who might help with you question re insurance.
If you indicate where you will be locating, you may be able to get specific suggestions regarding doctors in that area.
Robert...
A good way to make this website pay, maybe, is putting the content together that is developed here and offering a comprehensive essay on the DR and sending hard copys from whichever country they need it from. For instance I would be happy to distribute it from the US and I am sure that you can find people in every country here that would be willing to do this for a small fee and the board can grow from the rest of the moneys earned.
Gawd, I have to stop thinking business... I am off to the DR in less than a week and need to get my beer and sex head screwed on! LOL
A good way to make this website pay, maybe, is putting the content together that is developed here and offering a comprehensive essay on the DR and sending hard copys from whichever country they need it from. For instance I would be happy to distribute it from the US and I am sure that you can find people in every country here that would be willing to do this for a small fee and the board can grow from the rest of the moneys earned.
Gawd, I have to stop thinking business... I am off to the DR in less than a week and need to get my beer and sex head screwed on! LOL
Thanks Ken, I have posted the original questions as a new thread as suggested.
We are still discussing areas. We would like a bit of space for the kids so I would rather not be too city central. Hubby fancies a bit of surfing so may head north, he also will need reliable internet access, so we probably won't go too remote.
Hoping to visit Feb/March time to check out some areas. We visited a couple of years ago but the kids were very young so we didn't travel around just did touristy bit.
When we have a better idea of where we might head for I will quiz you all again for specifics. The stuff earlier on this thread was very helpful.
Thanx again
Ali Pally
We are still discussing areas. We would like a bit of space for the kids so I would rather not be too city central. Hubby fancies a bit of surfing so may head north, he also will need reliable internet access, so we probably won't go too remote.
Hoping to visit Feb/March time to check out some areas. We visited a couple of years ago but the kids were very young so we didn't travel around just did touristy bit.
When we have a better idea of where we might head for I will quiz you all again for specifics. The stuff earlier on this thread was very helpful.
Thanx again
Ali Pally
Wind surfing in Cabarete is world class. Sosua is close enough to Cabarete to consider. I live in Sosua and have the choice between dialup and dsl to connect to the internet. I have the latter.
I lived for many years in Samana, which is very nice, but life is easier in the Sosua/Cabarete area. Also better internet access and better surfing.
If you are living in Sosua/Cabarete area, there are good general doctors in both communities. Centro Medico Bournigal in Puerto Plata will meet some of your needs, and Santiago is close enough to make full use of the excellent doctors there.
If I can be of further help, let me know.
I lived for many years in Samana, which is very nice, but life is easier in the Sosua/Cabarete area. Also better internet access and better surfing.
If you are living in Sosua/Cabarete area, there are good general doctors in both communities. Centro Medico Bournigal in Puerto Plata will meet some of your needs, and Santiago is close enough to make full use of the excellent doctors there.
If I can be of further help, let me know.
Thanks for all the info. We will definately be checking out the north side shores.
I have found some very useful info regarding health insurance available to expats. Looks like it can be quite straight forward.
Thanks again for the help, will post again with any other questions and let you know about our progress.
Ali Pally
I have found some very useful info regarding health insurance available to expats. Looks like it can be quite straight forward.
Thanks again for the help, will post again with any other questions and let you know about our progress.
Ali Pally
In last november I needed medical care and went to Dr Rafael Lantigua close to the hotel On the green at Playa Dorada.
He tooke good care of me. gave me good advices and his honoraries were very reasonnable.
I hope you will have the chance to receive good medical care front Dr. Rafael Lantigua in Playa Dorada complex.
He tooke good care of me. gave me good advices and his honoraries were very reasonnable.
I hope you will have the chance to receive good medical care front Dr. Rafael Lantigua in Playa Dorada complex.
Can anyone recommend a good dentist in Puerto Plata?
I recently had occasion to enjoy the services of a dentist in Luperon......while visiting in my sailboat. The price was right....
Total for a crown which was supposed to be gold.....but turned out to be silver.....LOL .....cleaning and eight cavities filled......
US $430.....No complaint there.....but it got to be a bit much when he dropped the new crown on the not so clean floor....I had to phisically pick up the heavy dental chair......while the dentist fished out the new crown from under the chair.....LOL...But Hey..
He washed it under the tap prior to finishing the installation....
and....Oh Yes......He tried for an extra $35 or so added to the bill upon final settlement......A bit of El Tigre move on the gringo....
But.....I stuck to my guns and the original agreed upon quote of $430 prior to service......and all worked out well......SO FAR.......
I recently had occasion to enjoy the services of a dentist in Luperon......while visiting in my sailboat. The price was right....
Total for a crown which was supposed to be gold.....but turned out to be silver.....LOL .....cleaning and eight cavities filled......
US $430.....No complaint there.....but it got to be a bit much when he dropped the new crown on the not so clean floor....I had to phisically pick up the heavy dental chair......while the dentist fished out the new crown from under the chair.....LOL...But Hey..
He washed it under the tap prior to finishing the installation....
and....Oh Yes......He tried for an extra $35 or so added to the bill upon final settlement......A bit of El Tigre move on the gringo....
But.....I stuck to my guns and the original agreed upon quote of $430 prior to service......and all worked out well......SO FAR.......
You question is answered in this thread http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19440&highlight=Puerto+Plata+Dentist
Hi Billie - I don't know what you need these numbers for, but there too many small, private clinics to list them all. These the most usual ones. Are you looking for anything in particular?
Centro M?dico Bournigal
Antera Mota Street
Puerto Plata
Dominican Republic
PO BOX #25
Tel.: (809) 586-2342
(809) 586-4140
Fax: (809) 586-6104
info@bournigal-hospital.com
Clinica Dr Jose Gregorio Hernandez (Public Hospital)
Av 27 de Febrero 21
Puerto Plata
(809) 586-1166
Cl?nica Dr Nelson Gil Garc?a
A Mart?nez
Sos?a
(809) 571-2832
Servimed Consultorio M?dico
Carr Cabarete 25
Sosua
(809) 571-2903
Centro M?dico Bournigal
Antera Mota Street
Puerto Plata
Dominican Republic
PO BOX #25
Tel.: (809) 586-2342
(809) 586-4140
Fax: (809) 586-6104
info@bournigal-hospital.com
Clinica Dr Jose Gregorio Hernandez (Public Hospital)
Av 27 de Febrero 21
Puerto Plata
(809) 586-1166
Cl?nica Dr Nelson Gil Garc?a
A Mart?nez
Sos?a
(809) 571-2832
Servimed Consultorio M?dico
Carr Cabarete 25
Sosua
(809) 571-2903
JaneJ - Is that first one listed a private hospital?
I assume the other doctors are general practitioners that you have listed?
Thanks for providing - I will need these names and phone numbers too. My elderly dad will be down here staying at our vacation house and he wants to be sure and know where he can go if he gets sick.
I suppose ambulance service is out of the question? or 911?
I assume the other doctors are general practitioners that you have listed?
Thanks for providing - I will need these names and phone numbers too. My elderly dad will be down here staying at our vacation house and he wants to be sure and know where he can go if he gets sick.
I suppose ambulance service is out of the question? or 911?
Hi JanH,
Yes, Bournigal is private and probably the hospital most used by foreigners in the area. I know they have ambulances....
Here's the website: http://www.bournigal-hospital.com
Yes, Bournigal is private and probably the hospital most used by foreigners in the area. I know they have ambulances....
Here's the website: http://www.bournigal-hospital.com
JanH, the clinic Gil & Garcia in Sosua has an ambulance with which it transports individuals to Centro Medico Bournigal when necessary. Both Gil&Garcia and Servimed will go to your house in case of emergency.
Just stock the refrig with Presidente; he'll be fine.
Just stock the refrig with Presidente; he'll be fine.
One thing you must note, that even though the title is Clinic it means private hospital. If you father was to go to the hospital it would be the public one.
Bournigal is a good clinic/private hospital the Bournigal brothers all speak english so if he does not speak spanish he will be able to communicate. Many of the other foreigners in the area use bournigal also.
Bournigal is a good clinic/private hospital the Bournigal brothers all speak english so if he does not speak spanish he will be able to communicate. Many of the other foreigners in the area use bournigal also.
Dr Rafael Lantigua in Playa Dorada
I've been treated by Dr Rafael Lantigua in the Playa Dorada complex and he has done a great job for a very reasonnable price. Do not hesitate to contact him. You can find him in a clinic adjacent to the tennis court at the hotel On the Green.
I've been treated by Dr Rafael Lantigua in the Playa Dorada complex and he has done a great job for a very reasonnable price. Do not hesitate to contact him. You can find him in a clinic adjacent to the tennis court at the hotel On the Green.