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I arrived in Japan on 3/19/2017. I've not been back to Japan, since I left in 1967.

I've had a fever ever since Wednesday evening. It is now about 5:45 PM on Saturday. I went to the hospital today, but the billing dept. is closed, so we will return on Monday at 11:am to see the Doc for a followup and to make payment. Well, 2 xrays later and we found out that I Have Pneumonia. Can you imagine a hospital in the states saying, "We'll treat you now and you can come back and pay later"

It's very difficult to communicate due to the language barrier. Especially when you are trying to explain health concerns,

GeorgeM wrote:I arrived in Japan on 3/19/2017. I've not been back to Japan, since I left in 1967.

I've had a fever ever since Wednesday evening. It is now about 5:45 PM on Saturday. I went to the hospital today, but the billing dept. is closed, so we will return on Monday at 11:am to see the Doc for a followup and to make payment. Well, 2 xrays later and we found out that I Have Pneumonia. Can you imagine a hospital in the states saying, "We'll treat you now and you can come back and pay later"

It's very difficult to communicate due to the language barrier. Especially when you are trying to explain health concerns,

Yes I can. It happens every day in probably most hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers.

My son in law got very sick in China. There they require payment before they do anything. They would tell my daughter that he needed an X ray she would have rush to payment desk pay for the X ray and then take the receipt back to the X ray technician.
SIL had a serious lung infection. Spent 8 days in hospital. They ran tons of tests trying to figure out what caused the infection. Daughter had to pay thousands of dollars up front for each and every test. I think they spent about $4000. Which my daughter says was many trips to the cashier. They would only take cash so often daughter would have to go to a ATM get cash and. Come back and pay.

They brought all the medical records back from China na US doctor took a look and said boynif you wee here all these tests would have ran nearly $38,000

dusty wrote:

GeorgeM wrote:I arrived in Japan on 3/19/2017. I've not been back to Japan, since I left in 1967.

I've had a fever ever since Wednesday evening. It is now about 5:45 PM on Saturday. I went to the hospital today, but the billing dept. is closed, so we will return on Monday at 11:am to see the Doc for a followup and to make payment. Well, 2 xrays later and we found out that I Have Pneumonia. Can you imagine a hospital in the states saying, "We'll treat you now and you can come back and pay later"

It's very difficult to communicate due to the language barrier. Especially when you are trying to explain health concerns,

Yes I can. It happens every day in probably most hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers.

I have never heard of such thing. Before being treated in one of our ER's, the financial person comes to collect insurance cards, Medicare/Medicaid cards and any form of ID. If you don't have that, they treat you minimally and bill the state. We have Baptist, Sacred Heart and West Florida hospitals and they each treat you the same way. If you get treated like that in Japan and in Dusty's area, you are truly blessed. I've been using our local hospitals since 1971 and I have just stated the normal procedure. Good for you.

Steve, the old Florida gator

Post note: The last two times I had to take my wife to the Baptist ER, once with a roaring UTI and the other time because of heart failure, the procedure is the same. When financial came, they also wanted all my insurance in addition to $100 deposit before starting work on her. Amazing, her heart stopped and there she lay until they did the financial. And, yes, if someone is destitute, you have to prove that and they then bill the state. Come on down, where we treat all the same. LOL

swampgator wrote:

dusty wrote:

GeorgeM wrote:I arrived in Japan on 3/19/2017. I've not been back to Japan, since I left in 1967.

I've had a fever ever since Wednesday evening. It is now about 5:45 PM on Saturday. I went to the hospital today, but the billing dept. is closed, so we will return on Monday at 11:am to see the Doc for a followup and to make payment. Well, 2 xrays later and we found out that I Have Pneumonia. Can you imagine a hospital in the states saying, "We'll treat you now and you can come back and pay later"

It's very difficult to communicate due to the language barrier. Especially when you are trying to explain health concerns,

Yes I can. It happens every day in probably most hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers.

I have never heard of such thing. Before being treated in one of our ER's, the financial person comes to collect insurance cards, Medicare/Medicaid cards and any form of ID. If you don't have that, they treat you minimally and bill the state. We have Baptist, Sacred and West Florida hospitals and they each treat you the same way. If you get treated like that in Japan and in Dusty's area, you are truly blessed. I've been using our local hospitals since 1971 and I have just stated the normal procedure. Good for you.

Steve, the old Florida gator

I assume a 'walkin' is not considered sufficiently an 'emergency' to warrant immediate treatment.

I certainly hope Dusty is correct when an individual is experiencing a life threatening event.

Heck with the gun shoot wounds in Chicago guess where the US Military sends there Drama Drs for training for a few months b4 being deployed???
Just one of many links I can post.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30243321

Well, we can wish, but here it has never been that way. When my wife flat lined on me at 0520, 31 October 2016, the EMT's had to come from several miles away. We live 4 blocks from the hospital. The policeman came first, then a fire truck with 4 men, the ambulance with 3 people. The EMT told me she would not make it to our hospital about 4 miles north of here, so I decided that she go to the nearest hospital. They did take her into the trauma room, did enough to stabilize her. Then they came for me to collect personal ID, insurance and medicare cards. Then they cut off her clothes and went to work. The lady requested a $100 deposit. I am trying to think through this trauma, but that is their policy. Sacred Heart plays by the same rules and it may be that because they are a not-for-profit hospital.

May I suggest that you go to MEDIDS.com and complete your medication cards. You can keep them updated and printed in your purse or wallet. When the EMT's or nurses request the list of medications, you have it ready in an instant and don't have to remember which pill, dosage and frequency. Happy health to all.

Steve, the old Florida gator

Update: ER nurses are paid more than $32 per hour, hospital CEO is making in excess of $2million per year. This information was in the local paper. The VA here charges my insurance and Medicare, plus my co-pay. Better service is found on the market.

Hi


Well, when I last left this story, the score was 1 doctor visit , 2 x-ray pics, and 3 prescription drugs.


Had to see the doctor on Monday. The blood draw was immediately ready so I went in and they had trouble getting proper flow from my arm so they completed the draw from my hand. Went to wait to see the doctor and was called back to get one more blood draw, total of 3 needle stabs. Then back to once more waiting for the doctor.. Finally it was my turn and the doctor said that the blood work confirmed that I still had pneumonia. He prescribed more antibiotics and wants to see me on Friday, 4/7 for additional blood work and to hopefully be pronounced cured. This really put a crimp in my tourist plans and we had to cancel a week of touring down south in Nara, Kyoto, and Osaka.


Well, now, I still had to pay for all this. Based on USA costs, I thought I might have to get an increase in my credit line with Master Card. After all, I had an emergency room visit, a second hospital visit, 2 doctors visits, 2 x-rays, blood work and prescriptions to pay for. Well, we finally got the bill to pay -- sticker shock -- the total bill was under $200. This was unbelievable compared to USA costs. So, since I did not blow all my $$ on Hospital costs, the tourist part of my trip is still on! YAY! I'm starting to feel stronger already. And that's the truth -- better health through good drugs and low expenses!


I hope to start taking day trips to Tokyo on Wednesday as the cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom. after all, I didn't come about 5500 to just lay around. I still have until 4/25 to do the tourist thing.

GeorgeM

George

So glad that you are on the road to recovery and to a mosy enjoyable vacation. With the start you have had, this will be one that you talk about for a long time.

dusty wrote:So glad that you are on the road to recovery and to a mosy enjoyable vacation. With the start you have had, this will be one that you talk about for a long time.

All too true, but I wish it wasn't. Today we went back to Mt. Fuji and visited a Safari Park. It was mostly riding around looking at the various animals. it was an excellent picture opportunity and now I have 381 photos to go through and try to winnow them down.

A great time and a wide variety of species.

I'm trying to build back my strength and this really helped.

GeorgeM