Frequently Asked Questions
How is the medical care?
The results on any small amount of research will tell you that Costa Rica ranks as one of the top 10 countries in the world for medical care. In general, it costs 1/5 of the price that it does in the U.S., even in a private clinic or hospital. Clinica Biblica and La Cima, sponsored by Baylor Medical University are the two best hospitals in San Jose.
Many U.S. Insurance companies cover procedures in these medical facilities. However, many people come here for the affordable dentistry and plastic surgery. The most modern procedures and equipment are used.
Here in the Southern Region, Costa Ballena a brand new hospital has just opened. The following article by Rosemary McGregor was published in the July issue of Ballena Tales, a local magazine issued every 2 months.
THE NEW CORTES HOSPITAL
By Rosemary MacGregor RN, Ms
Because of frequent flooding and lack of space, the very well thought out new hospital just off the Costanera has replaced the 68 year old hospital in the downtown area of Cortés. Doña Ana Yadira Chávez, don José Gerardo Alvarez, and don Javier Barrantes Rosales, the new hospital´s administrators offered us the following information.
The new and old hospitals carry the name of the founder of the old hospital in 1940, Dr. Thomas Casas Casajus. Since hurricane Mitch in 1997 filled much of the Terraba River leading to significant flooding in “old Cortes”, the hospital has to be moved. Both hospitals have roots in the United Fruit Company (UFC) design. Ana Yadira and Javier told us the architecture of the new hospital with its many one story clinics was designed to minimize adverse impact on the environment and to protect against seismic activity. The open concept with verandas, the numerous windows to achieve maximum ventilation, maximum breeze and open space goes back to the influence of the UFC. Javier commented several times on the good things the United Fruit Company (UFC) did for this area. At the entrance of the new hospital, you can find the so typical stone spheres. Why?… to remind everyone of their roots here in OSA. When asked which story about the spheres he believed was the true one, Javier said they were not from out of space, but were strategically placed by the indigenous peoples in various locations in this Southern Zone to line up with the stars, the sun and the moon in order to facilitate agriculture, crops and planting.
In total there are 23 departments with 7 medical specialists, 10 general practice doctors and 30 nurses. While the old hospital had a nursing shortage this one is fully staffed. In comparison to the old hospital where “everything was mixed up”, this hospital is clearly separated out into distinct areas. Women`s, gynecological and pediatrics are in one area and there are separate buildings for ER, kitchen, laundry, lab, x-ray, pharmacy, surgery and general medicine.
We asked who was entitled to use this hospital. It was built as a CCSS (Costa Rican Social Security) hospital for the entire Southern Zone. Anyone is entitled to use this facility, including non-residents and tourists and all would be treated equally. When asked about payment, whether one needed money in their pocket at the time of admission, Yadira said, “no way, that would not happen here.” She said emergency treatment was a priority and payment for services would be determined after the patient was stabilized, by how much one could pay, and/or by a search for organizations that could facilitate payments for those unable to pay. The first oreder of business would always be medical attention as that was the philosophy of CCSS. Yadira mentioned three levels of treatment in Costa Rica: 1. Prevention; 2. Local hospital attending emergencies; and 3. if needed, transportation to San Jose via ambulance or helicopter (not covered by CCSS) for specialist attention.
Ana Yadira was clear to explain that each community had a free dispensary EBAIS which stood for Equipo Básico de Atención Integral en Salud. There is one in Coronado, Uvita, and Dominical. For normal issues, one should attend one of these clinics first, unless of course the problem was of an emergency nature. In that case, go straight to the hospital.
When asked about specific illnesses and statistics on those in Costa Rica, Yadira said road accidents and heart attacks were most common and due to privacy, information on STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) was not available.
Patient care was optional in that the family could participate in full care of the patient from bathing to bringing in home cooking. The philosophy here was clearly one of “caring” for the patient.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the medical care?
The results on any small amount of research will tell you that Costa Rica ranks as one of the top 10 countries in the world for medical care. In general, it costs 1/5 of the price that it does in the U.S., even in a private clinic or hospital. Clinica Biblica and La Cima, sponsored by Baylor Medical University are the two best hospitals in San Jose.
Many U.S. Insurance companies cover procedures in these medical facilities. However, many people come here for the affordable dentistry and plastic surgery. The most modern procedures and equipment are used.
Here in the Southern Region, Costa Ballena a brand new hospital has just opened. The following article by Rosemary McGregor was published in the July issue of Ballena Tales, a local magazine issued every 2 months.
For more information
contact: Annie Drake at costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com
or email robert@costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com
Telephone 506 27 43 80 32
