I've been reading a trip report about a man who suffered a heart attack while vacationing at the Iberostar in Playa. The doctor at the hotel sent him to Hospiten Cancun, where he had cardiac cath, and luckily, he's back home in Colorado. The charges were $28,000.00 USD, which they had to put on their American Express card! Just wondering, because of my husband's medical history (heart and lungs), in case of a medical emergency, what hospital would you recommend? thank you!
Galenia. Having spent a few days there "all inclusive" last year that is the one I would choose again if I needed to. I couldn't say that it would be any cheaper than Hospiten though. My advice would be get some travel insurance that covers both you and Norb for peace of mind.
I agree with Steve, get insurance that is full coverage. Hospiten and Galenia would be the top two in Cancun. http://www.hospitalgalenia.com http://www.hospiten.es/hospiten/HOSPITEN/published_en/DEFAULT/con_hospitales.jsp?&CATID=12&PRDID=150 And locals, Galenia appears to have opened a walk in clinic type of deal at Paseo Cancun, has anyone used their services?
I don't know if you have a Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan, but if you do, these hospitals in Cancun will accept your account info for claims: Hospital Americano General Hospital Retorno Viento #15, Super Manzana 4 Cancun, Mexico Hospital Total Assist General Hospital Claveles No. 5 Cancun, Mexico Hospital Quirurgica Del Sur General Hospital Av. Lopez Portillo 872 Cancun, Mexico Hospiten International S.L. General Hospital Av. Bonampak Lote 7 Cancun, Mexico Operadora De Hospitales Cancun General Hospital Av. Tulum Sur 260, Manzana 4,5 Y 9, Sm7 Cancun, Mexico As will these physicians: Albarran, Miguel General Practice Claveles #5 2nd Floor Cancun, Mexico Alvarez, Victor General Practice Amerimed Hospital Cancun, Mexico Hidalgo, Daniel General Practice Amerimed Hospital Cancun, Mexico Paz, Raul General Practice Amerimed Hospital Cancun, Mexico Solis, Gabriela Dermatology Ave Lopez Portillo Cancun, Mexico
Hospiten saved the sister of a close friend recently. She fainted at Costco and then had a heart attack. The family felt Hospiten did a top-notch job and I've heard more than one person say the Hospiten is the best hospital in Cancun for cardiac care. On the other hand Hospiten has a bad rep for client service. I've heard a bunch of bad stories about people being made to wait in the ER too long at Hospiten. And personally I have a grudge against one of the directors there...so I would not go to Hospiten myself because I would not be comfortable. My hospital of choice in Cancun would be Galenia.
At the start of our youngest son's vacation with us last month he came down with a screaming otitis externa. When he got tired of toughing it out he showed the ear to me and we were at the American Hospital, the one next to Chedraui and Sears, in 20 minutes. He was seen almost immediately by an emergency room doctor, who did a complete workup on him and then told us he was not an ear specialist. He told us to hop over to Galenia and provided the name of an ENT specialist. The charge for about 40 minutes of consultation was zero! His words were, "I could not help you, therefore I can't charge you". We hopped in the car and made the 2 minute trip to Galenia. The specialist he named was not there, but the receptionist, seeing our son's discomfort, moved him to the top of another ENT guy's waiting list Dr. Gleason's office and lab were state of the art, including a Zeiss examination setup that broadcast the video of his ear as the doctor examined it onto a large flat panel display. Dr. Gleason provided a play-by-play, in English, as he probed the ear and vacuumed up various pieces of detritus and clots, explaining the entire procedure to all of us and making sure that our son was as comfortable as he could be, even during the painful parts. It took 3 visits at 50 USD per visit and about 40 USD in medication to resolve the issue and our son had to spend his vacation watching his wife and daughter frolic in the surf with us while he kept his ear dry. But the point I'm trying to make is that the care was first rate, the equipment was first rate, and the Mexican caring, courteousness and kindness that is the real Mexican culture (as opposed to the Cancun-make-a-buck culture) prevailed throughout.
I would recommend Doctors before Hospital; For example My Pediatrician is not in either Hospiten or Galenia but I would not hesitate to go to him for any emergency . Cardiologiost is Carmen Saldivar at Hospiten. Thank God I have not needed ER care but The staff does make a difference to me.
I too hold grudge against two directors and one physician at Hospiten. I wouldn't go back even if they paid me :wink: The physician used to perfom surgeries under anesthesy at his home, with only a nurse!!! Can you only imagine that in another country? Doctor Carmen Saldivar knows nothing about heart condition (or maybe basic). When I underwent my almost-killed-me surgery there, they wanted a cardiac exam. She didn't know my disease (which is rather commun), I had to make a search on internet, print it out and give it to her. So now she does -hopefully! I know a person who had a heart attack recently (I don't know if it the same, Kim) and was treated at Hospiten, but the cardiologist was a new one, and she received perfect care. As for Galenia, I have been told by a physician who consults there, that the physician's offices are owned like condos. So the hospital is not responsible for their competence (or un-). I would also go with a doctor first ... and see. But they saved my life at Hospital Americano (ex-Amerimed), so I guess it is a physician issue more than hospital.
Obviously I can't help out more than these fine people with a hospital/doctor recommendation, but I would strongly second the idea of trip insurance that covers medical emergencies. The one I always get covers emergencies while on vacation, all expenses including medical airlift back home if necessary and much more for only about $80 per person. Well worth it if you ask me.
