BajaNomad

IMSS

bajarickster - 6-1-2008 at 09:55 AM

I'm still trying to find out any info on IMSS for American retirees. Do we qualify and is the quality of treatment decent?? Thanks

gpm414 - 6-1-2008 at 12:36 PM

My wife and I are retired and live near La Paz 6 months of the year. Most Americans we know use the private hospital if needed (we'll pass on the public hospital). But for anything other than an emergency we head back to the US. Everyone makes their own choice about medical care, but for us, we choose the US for anything major. We have friends who have choosen to have different operations in Mexico and seem to have done ok. However our friend who had a back operation recently at the private hospital in La Paz, nearly died from a post-op infection. Turned out ok after returning to the US for care and recovery. Just our opinion...we choose the US medical system when things get serious.

I don't know of any Americans who participate in the IMSS. Hopefully someone can give you more information.

DENNIS - 6-1-2008 at 02:44 PM

I get confused with all the acronyms. ISSTE is Social Security and the SS in IMSS leads me to believe it is also. In the past, their reputation on the streets was less than stellar, in fact, dismal. Use at your own risk.

Oso - 6-1-2008 at 03:00 PM

IMSS= Importa Madre Su Salud
ISSSTE= Inutil Solicitar Servicios, Solo Tenemos Entierros

:lol:

DENNIS - 6-1-2008 at 04:28 PM

So much for IMSS. Is that their real logo up there? Something phallic about it other than the nurseing mother.

longlegsinlapaz - 6-1-2008 at 10:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gpm414
My wife and I are retired and live near La Paz 6 months of the year. Most Americans we know use the private hospital if needed (we'll pass on the public hospital). But for anything other than an emergency we head back to the US. Everyone makes their own choice about medical care, but for us, we choose the US for anything major. We have friends who have choosen to have different operations in Mexico and seem to have done ok. However our friend who had a back operation recently at the private hospital in La Paz, nearly died from a post-op infection. Turned out ok after returning to the US for care and recovery. Just our opinion...we choose the US medical system when things get serious.

I don't know of any Americans who participate in the IMSS. Hopefully someone can give you more information.
I've lived in La Paz full-time & permanently for 9 years. I disagree with your assessment of medical care here in La Paz. In my years here I've encountered a grand total of one doctor & one dentist I didn't like & wouldn't recommend. I've been to ER at Fidipaz Hospital, the Military Hospital & the ISSSTE Hospital, I've had surgery done at "the Nuns" Hospital & Fidipaz Hospital. I've never been treated at the IMSS Hospital.

I've never gone back to the states for either medical or dental. My 90-year-old mother was down here for 2 years & she had a great cardiac specialist.

I'm sorry your friend got a post-operative infection, but that could have happened in the states just as easily.

Look on the wall at their credentials & you'll discover that many of the docs here received training in the USA! Their equipment may be older & rarely state of the art, but they make up for it by actually talking with you & examining you longer to get all your symptoms to make a better diagnosis than any doc I ever saw in the USA!

I've had elbow surgery here, I've had 2 separate cataract surgeries under general anesthesia within the past 12 months. I've gone into ER in anaphylactic shock from wasp stings on two separate occasions & once in shock from an allergic reaction to undetermined cause. With the exception of the one aforementioned onedoc & one dentist, all the care I've received here; both general & emergency; has been totally professional & high quality. They saved my life twice.

In my opinion, you do a great disservice to the health-care providers in La Paz with your comments.

Edit typo

[Edited on 6-2-2008 by longlegsinlapaz]

fulano - 6-4-2008 at 10:39 PM

http://www.kbmt12.com/news/local/19553199.html?video=YHI&...

fulano

longlegsinlapaz - 6-5-2008 at 08:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fulano
http://www.kbmt12.com/news/local/19553199.html?video=YHI&...
What does a situation that occurred in Mexico City have to do with La Paz??? Talk about apples & oranges!:no:

fulano - 6-5-2008 at 09:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
Quote:
Originally posted by fulano
http://www.kbmt12.com/news/local/19553199.html?video=YHI&...
What does a situation that occurred in Mexico City have to do with La Paz??? Talk about apples & oranges!:no:


What does your comment have to do with the post from bajarickster that I was responding to, which is the first post in this thread, to wit:

"I'm still trying to find out any info on IMSS for American retirees. Do we qualify and is the quality of treatment decent?? Thanks "

longlegsinlapaz - 6-5-2008 at 10:10 AM

You're right he didn't mention La Paz....I had "insider trader" info!;)

longlegs

Baja Bernie - 6-5-2008 at 10:02 PM

Right on Lady!

Glad they saved you so you could help me get to know a little of this lovely city...........Your eye doctors were probably trained at Shiley Eye Clinic at UCSD.........a world class joint that teaches doctors from all over the world with some emphasis on Mexico........I got to know many of the Mexican doctors over the years.........And Doctor Stewart Brown who breathed life into the clinic and heads same is very proud of his Mexican kids (no slam...he treats all of those whom he teaches as his family).

I doubt that I would chose IMSS but only because the government starves the staff and provide way to low a level of support for some wonderful doctors.

That's my pears worth and I'm sticking to it.......See you next year!

Grover, You are way too much.....Enjoyed the lunch and forgot what I was supposed to find for you.....Jog my memory.