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medical help

dirtbikr - 1-28-2013 at 03:32 PM

Even though all I do, " it seems", is dream of how do I get out of the rat race and hang out on some dezerted beach ,with my fishing pole in one hand and a cerveza in the other, I have to think with my other brain and seriously think how this would really work. I am in pretty good shape (healthwise), but part of me says what if I had a bad accident or came down with sand between the toes syndrome and needed medical attention real fast, like NOW! A couple of years ago we saw a fatal accident with other passengers needing help between gn and santa rosalia. A somekind of ambulance arrived about an hour later which meant there was another hour travel to some kind of medical place and they probably would have died. I guess what I am really trying to find out is in what towns have medical help or how long it would take to see a doctor in a emergency. I know there is a hospital in la paz and ensenada, what is in between?

EnsenadaDr - 1-28-2013 at 03:39 PM

Did you read my thread on Seguro Popular? Where are you thinking of settling? My honest opinion is to live near the border, but travel and visit all those faraway places..

[Edited on 1-28-2013 by EnsenadaDr]

Loretana - 1-28-2013 at 03:50 PM

dirtbikr

What Janene (our esteemed EnsenadaDr) says above is essential and intelligent advice......however, with a handle like "dirtbikr" you must be a wild and crazy guy who likes to get hurt.

You have heard of the "golden hour"? It pretty much doesn't exist in Baja, except in or very near the two cities with trauma units.

I know the Baja 1000 keeps helicopters ready during the races to get injured guys to trauma units to save their lives. Trauma units......STATESIDE. :saint:

Skeet/Loreto - 1-28-2013 at 03:57 PM

biker:
I have spent many years in Baja Sur around Loreto and La Paz. I think that most of the health services have been Fantastic! You will find much more Compassionate Doctors there than the States.
In Fact they saved my wife's life in Constitution . The arrived from a trip North and started having sever pains, at that time there was only a couple of Doctors in Loreto. I took her to the General Hospital in Constitution on a Sunday. They check and found out her Appe had slowly rutured and after check told her she only had about 4 hours to live. Operated that day she was released in a week.
Doctor who did the Surgery is now the Haead of the other Hospital
Later on they did an operation on my neck. Later went to the hospital inLa Paz.

I would not hesitate anytime I was there to get their Services.
Skeet/Loreto.

BajaBlanca - 1-28-2013 at 04:50 PM

someone told me that one can get insurance somewhere that will send a helicopter to wherever you are, no matter how remote, and it was reasonable. I wrote about it once a long time ago and now can't remember the details.

surf insurance perhaps ???

DavidE - 1-28-2013 at 05:01 PM

It used to be that only Hermosillo, Sonora had a primer grado IMSS hospital but I'll bet TJ and Mexicali have them. The second grade hospitals, like the one in Ensenada are not as well equipped and the "Perifericos" are little more than health clinics.

I can live in Jamul, or Encinitas, or Hemet and a ride to a medical center will take the better part of an hour. I can fall flat on my face on my kitchen floor next door to the Mayo Clinic and won't have much better chance of survival than I would living in the wilds of Nicaragua, if I had a severe heart attack.

Get stabilized and head for the border. An accident occurring say in Cataviña would mean three hours or more for an ambulance to ARRIVE.

It goes with the territory. I refuse the notion of living in a tall apartment building with a chute leading from my fire escape down to the neighboring hospital's ER room.

EnsenadaDr - 1-28-2013 at 05:10 PM

Not true, David, they could start you on a clot buster streptokinase, and take you in and open up your coronary arteries to stop any damage to the heart, via angioplasty. In Ensenada, they have this at Cardiomed, same with TJ. What everyone needs to do is contact a cardiologist, or even a family medicine doctor and have their number for an emergency to set up an angioplasty at the closest facility, which in this case would be Cardiomed. Make sure they have the clot buster available on hand. You are wrong, Hospital General Ensenada has the best cardiologists on hand and so does Cardiomed. Ensenada is very well equipped for all of this.

DavidE - 1-28-2013 at 05:27 PM

I was speaking of the IMSS facilities. You are saying the IMSS Ensenada now is primer grado?

Thank You

EnsenadaDr - 1-28-2013 at 05:29 PM

No, but you made a blanket statement which led me to believe all the facilities, including IMSS>

David K - 1-28-2013 at 05:30 PM

There is Air Evac insurance as well... I believe 'Pescador' has a link in his signature for one. .. ?

The other often noted assistance comes from Celia Diaz of the (BEMCC) Bi-National-Emergency Medical... who is supposed to make all the connections if you need medical assistance.

I know personally of two situation she was involved with... one was fantastic and air-evac'ed someone from Gonzaga Bay (several years ago)... The other friend of ours wasn't helped because it was deemed too late in the day for an air evac from the non-controlled, but paved runway... so a 4 hour drive to San Quintin was the next best option, were he passed away.

So, make sure you need an air evac early enough in the day (and maybe good weather?)! Being near an International airport may also be wise (Los Cabos, La Paz, Loreto, San Felipe, Tijuana, and Mexicali)?

Here is the web page that explains Celia's organization: http://www.binationalemergency.org/about_us.html

Here is the one in Pescador's sig.: http://medjetassist.com/

[Edited on 1-29-2013 by David K]

Loretana - 1-28-2013 at 05:40 PM

Sky Med takes you home

1-800-475-9633

<http://www.skymed.com>

mtgoat666 - 1-28-2013 at 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Here is the web page that explains Celia's organization: http://www.binationalemergency.org/about_us.html

Always hear good things about "celia." But always wondered if she is a one-woman (super woman) show? What happens if you have accident when she is gone on vacation? Are there other staff?

CortezBlue - 1-28-2013 at 06:45 PM

Dirtbikr

I don't know how old you are, but I am in my late 50's and I have had many of the same thoughts. We have a house in San Felipe and Dr. Abasolo is a great Dr and I have had him cut things and stitch things off and on of both myself and my wife. There are not really any hospitals in San Felipe and I would have to get transported to Mexicali, which is enough to cause an anxiety attack.

That is one of the reasons why we are looking into Cabo as a possible option. It appears to have some great facilities.

That being said, I have a neighbor who is in his 60's and he has had some great work done in Mexicali and loves the hospital he was in. I also think that as us Baby Boomers advance in age, we will start seeing more and more medical facilities catering to aging gringos.

Bottom line, I think if you are going to have a widow maker heart attack, there is not much you can do. My brother in law was having a heart attack and didn't know for 2 or 3 days, thought it was from the pasta.

I guess we have to live life to the fullest as we see fit and then hope when it's your time it happens fast and peaceful when your at the correct age.

My Dad is 87 and health as a horse. I lost my Mom in May. They were married for 63 years and after watching him go through that, maybe it is not as much fun to grow, to old??

EnsenadaDr - 1-28-2013 at 06:49 PM

What was the total cost, may I asK?

Quote:

Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
biker:
I have spent many years in Baja Sur around Loreto and La Paz. I think that most of the health services have been Fantastic! You will find much more Compassionate Doctors there than the States.
In Fact they saved my wife's life in Constitution . The arrived from a trip North and started having sever pains, at that time there was only a couple of Doctors in Loreto. I took her to the General Hospital in Constitution on a Sunday. They check and found out her Appe had slowly rutured and after check told her she only had about 4 hours to live. Operated that day she was released in a week.
Doctor who did the Surgery is now the Haead of the other Hospital
Later on they did an operation on my neck. Later went to the hospital inLa Paz.

I would not hesitate anytime I was there to get their Services.
Skeet/Loreto.

MMc - 1-28-2013 at 07:26 PM

Dirtbkr, the more remote, the less the services. People die in Baja that could have been saved with a 911 call in the US. That is part of the price to live the life style that is so attractive. There are more and more services coming everyday. But from US exceptions emergency help is sub-par. Most likely hours away.
Me, I'll take a life well lived on my terms, understanding and excepting the risk. "We all, are going to go."

SPOT

bajaguy - 1-28-2013 at 10:24 PM

Get a SPOT and the SAR and evacuation insurance options

http://www.findmespot.com/en/

SFandH - 1-29-2013 at 07:31 AM

Classic risk/benefit/cost analysis. When I'm in remote areas I decrease the risk by not doing dangerous things. For example, we just returned from 3 months of RVing in BCS and one day a friend suggested we hike up a rather steep hill covered with loose rocks, cactus, and maybe rattlesnakes. We were about 30 miles from the closest town which just had a simple clinic and there was no cell phone service. I passed on the idea explaining a simple stumble could turn into a giant problem.

As far as falling face down in my soup because of a system malfunction and not having a 911 type service to a hospital, I accept that risk.......now. That may change as I get older.

Be safe, be cautious, be smart.

Dirt biking? Be prepared (first aid knowledge and stuff), slow down, enjoy nature.

Skeet/Loreto - 1-29-2013 at 07:54 AM

Dr.
Total Cost $61 Dollars Operation and 1 week.

It turned out that the Director of the General Hospital was a 32 nd Degree Mason as I found out later all General Hospitals have a 32 nd Degree Mason as its Director.

As a resultt of the great care Virginia and I ask what we could do to help.
"Warm jackets for Cold Kids" was started and we collected Jackets in the states took them to the Hospital were the Social Workers distrubted them to the very poor children out in the country around Constitution.

This Charity is still in effect and anyone who wants to take a Suitcase of warm Jackets, deliver them to the Director at the General Hospital.

As you know the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Chidren is being built right now in TJ.

Skeet/Loreto

EnsenadaDr - 1-29-2013 at 09:56 AM

No I didn't know they were building a Shriners in TJ. When I was a pre-teen, I had this friend who invited me a few times to go to the "Rainbow Girls". Her dad was a Mason, but the degree that you mention, I have no idea of rankings, etc. Believe me, I tried to ask questions, but it was all "secret". I still do not see why a Mexican hospital in Cabo would have a Mason as its president, and do they get funding from Shriners in the US?

motoged - 1-29-2013 at 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Get a SPOT and the SAR and evacuation insurance options

http://www.findmespot.com/en/

Good advice :light:

The SPOT will link you to local SAR support (military in Mexico) if you need the 911 function....some of the other "fly-outs" kick into gear once you are already in the hospital and they return you to your home area/country.

The SARS responders will have a medic.

There are a few emergency satellite transponders on the market...do some research.

Ride safely, "if in doubt....don't...", carry enough water, and be prepared to walk out if the bike dies....

And stay out of the silt beds.... :no:

durrelllrobert - 1-29-2013 at 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
No I didn't know they were building a Shriners in TJ. When I was a pre-teen, I had this friend who invited me a few times to go to the "Rainbow Girls". Her dad was a Mason, but the degree that you mention, I have no idea of rankings, etc. Believe me, I tried to ask questions, but it was all "secret". I still do not see why a Mexican hospital in Cabo would have a Mason as its president, and do they get funding from Shriners in the US?

The Shriners children,s hospital in TJ has been there for years. They are currently adding a new 2 story wing. If you are in the Ready Lane backup at Otay border crossing you go right past it.

durrelllrobert - 1-29-2013 at 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
Dr.
Total Cost $61 Dollars Operation and 1 week.

It turned out that the Director of the General Hospital was a 32 nd Degree Mason as I found out later all General Hospitals have a 32 nd Degree Mason as its Director.

Skeet/Loreto

the Director of the Military Hospital is a General in the MX Army and had his Orthopedic traing in the US.

Skeet/Loreto - 1-29-2013 at 11:10 AM

The 23 Shriners Hospitals take any and all Children.
Transportation Cost from Mexico was getting expensive so the Shriners so they decided to increase the hospital in TJ.
As well at the Burn Hospital in Galvaston transportation cost are high to get the Kids out of Mesico

Dr. It is not a Screat Society!
In Baja sur, and la Paz there is a 32 Degree Temple across the way from the Mission Plaz, there have been 7 new Lodges formed North and around Constitution in the past 10 years.
If you look at the History of Constitution you will find that the mexican Govt. moved complete Lodges from the Mainland to settle Constitution when Water was developed

I have been a Mason for 51 Years and Shriner for 45 It is the best thing to happen in my life next. to my Wife..
Any of you men can go to any Masonic Lodge and ask all the questions you like and find out about, It.

Skeet/Loreto

EnsenadaDr - 1-29-2013 at 11:36 AM

Which military hospital? I did my internship in the Military Hospital in Ensenada and no one seems to speak English there, plus they encourage all Americans to seek treatment in other hospitals.

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert

Quote:

the Director of the Military Hospital is a General in the MX Army and had his Orthopedic traing in the US.

mtgoat666 - 1-29-2013 at 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Get a SPOT and the SAR and evacuation insurance options

http://www.findmespot.com/en/

Good advice :light:

So SPOT will dispatch Mexico military SAR? How fast do they respond? They respond to all "911s" from SPOT transmitter? Or is it the deal where someone with connections needs to first call and get the wheels turning.

I am a fan of SPOT for notifying designated contacts, but have my doubts about the service activating government SAR promptly, domestically or internationally, without some or many intermediate steps.

Really curious to hear how it works in Mexico...

Should have qualified that

durrelllrobert - 1-29-2013 at 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Which military hospital? I did my internship in the Military Hospital in Ensenada and no one seems to speak English there, plus they encourage all Americans to seek treatment in other hospitals.

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert
the Director of the Military Hospital is a General in the MX Army and had his Orthopedic traing in the US.

THAT was 7 years ago when they treated my broken arm. Forgot the Director/ Orthopedic surgens name but that is what he told me in Englsh.

Skeet/Loreto - 1-29-2013 at 11:47 AM

Several years ago I had some "Bad Experiences with Med=Vac. Waited one day over 10 hours on the Tarmac at Loreto Airport. Did an investigation and found that several of the Air\Vacs were bidding on the trip causing the Delays.

I would hope they have inproved/

I would suggest that anyone who is going to spend any time in Baja to get to know the local Doctors and clinic.

In addition to saving my wife's life they did a good job on me when I had a heat Stroke at San Nicholas my friends took me to the Clinic at Loreto where I stayed a week consuming 10 bottles of "Juice" finally got a Shot of Potassium and save me. No Cost involved!!! I was over 65 at the time.

Skeet

EnsenadaDr - 1-29-2013 at 12:00 PM

Yes well things have changed and they don't admit American patients.

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert
the Director of the Military Hospital is a General in the MX Army and had his Orthopedic traing in the US.

THAT was 7 years ago when they treated my broken arm. Forgot the Director/ Orthopedic surgens name but that is what he told me in Englsh.

DavidE - 1-29-2013 at 12:30 PM

Seguro Popular kept me 9 days in La Paz with a badly broken arm. Turned out the one and only surgeon kept bumping me back day by day. Reset bones and drilled and pinned them. Total cost eqvt. 900 dollars after an uproar was made that 7 of the nine days was the hospital's issue (the wait). They made sure every centavo was paid before I was released. Learned a lot. Absolutely ZERO analgesics administered or offered NOT EVEN TYLENOL. ANY and ALL oral medications have to be purchased by the patient OUTSIDE the hospital. The drugstore across the street charged absolute maximum permitted price even on the generics. The hospital did when asked, re-adjust the cost of the treatment to fit the income of the patient. The original cost of my stay was eqvt 3,630 dollars.

Returned to the USA and after 7 hours and three bone assembly trials a ten inch titanium plate was fitted after the surgeon re-breaking the bone. Two hundred eighty-thousand dollars total including rehab. I now have regained around 70% use of the hand and arm after 17 months. The estimate the Seguro Popular got from Mexico City for the same operation was 40 - 60 thousand dollars (650,000 pesos) and I WOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES have access to pain relievers stronger than Tramadol, everything else of course, extra cost on top of the above estimate.

WTF is it with the Mexican medical community and opioids ADMINISTERED DIRECTLY BY A DOCTOR? Why the ban? As an EMT 2, I can state with a fair degree of confidence that severe pain often leads to shock which of course frequently leads to the patient dying. This is BOGUS MEDICINE.

EnsenadaDr - 1-29-2013 at 12:50 PM

David, I know a Doctor here in Ensenada who can prescribe opioids and other controlled medications. He said there is no problem just that you need to be monitored by a Government agency, and most Mexican doctors don't want the hassle of the bookkeeping etc.

DavidE - 1-29-2013 at 01:18 PM

Finding these doctors is a hassle and I don't mean merely an inconvenience. The docs wanted seventy pesos per DOSE administered just for oversight. I do hope things have changed since then. 5 administrations daily of 10 mg of Oxycodone then would have cost me EIGHTY six dollars a day. It would have been more cost effective to go out onto the street and find a source of Black Tar Heroin.

Is there a COFEPRIS link or other MX website where I could perhaps review the mechanism needed to obtain legally prescribed opioids? It's no fun being bedridden some days and screaming curses as I crawl from the bed to the bathroom. I do possess a loaded CD disk with MRI images of the herniated disc taken at Scripps. Of course then again the cost of the meds might be beyond me.

EnsenadaDr - 1-29-2013 at 01:24 PM

It's all a matter of philosophy, David. Many Mexican doctors don't believe in giving opioids for pain, or benzodiazapines for anxiety. Dr. Raymundo Esquer, in Ensenada, will do just that. There is no mechanism. You apply at the office of Salubridad in the Secretaria of Salud for an additional controlled receipt prescription pad once you have your medical license, or your cedula professional.

motoged - 1-29-2013 at 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

So SPOT will dispatch Mexico military SAR? How fast do they respond? They respond to all "911s" from SPOT transmitter? Or is it the deal where someone with connections needs to first call and get the wheels turning.

I am a fan of SPOT for notifying designated contacts, but have my doubts about the service activating government SAR promptly, domestically or internationally, without some or many intermediate steps.

Really curious to hear how it works in Mexico...

Goat,
My comment is a recollection from a conversation with the SPOT center a few years ago.

When we used it this summer up here in BC when a rider was in serious condition in the middle of BFNW, it took 4 hours for the co-ords to get to the medvac chopper....we still don't know which of 5 different SPOT users 911's went through :wow:

So....users need to know how to use the device and know that satellite contact is poor in "shadows" (i.e. valleys, tree coverage, etc) and that it can take up to 20 minutes upon initialization for sats to hook up.

It seems that the SPOT sends a signal to the SPOT headquarters which then relays the call to local organizations such as police, military, etc.

Give SPOT hq a call....see what they say these days.

EnsenadaDr - 1-29-2013 at 02:21 PM

I believe the SPOT hq is at the University of Arizona Hydrology department...Goat can make the necessary adjustments as needed. :lol:

bacquito - 1-29-2013 at 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Did you read my thread on Seguro Popular? Where are you thinking of settling? My honest opinion is to live near the border, but travel and visit all those faraway places..

[Edited on 1-28-2013 by EnsenadaDr]

Yes, I agree!

EnsenadaDr - 1-30-2013 at 09:33 AM

I truly think there is somewhere between the most modern medical attention available to mankind and "when your time has come" available in Baja. First get Seguro Popular. Second, find a doctor that would be capable of coordinating emergency care, in case you got extremely ill or needed immediate medical attention. If you have a heart problem, in Ensenada for instance, do a dry run as to what you might need to do. For instance, if your Doctor was Dr. Sussarrey of Cardiomed, you could call him on his cell phone 24 hours a day, and he would have staff waiting for you at Cardiomed. This situation would be better than Seguro Popular because he has clot busters, and emergency angioplasty available in case of a heart attack. If you are in other areas, find the nearest facility and make sure you have a physician you can contact and know what is available. Seguro Popular is great if you don't have anything else, but the nearest hospital for Seguro Popular is Hospital General Ensenada, and they don't do angioplasties there. You need to get proactive and make these plans ahead of time. It is always good to have a private physician as well outside the Seguro Popular plan, and someone who is knowledgeable enough to direct emergency or intensive care situations.

bajaguy - 1-30-2013 at 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666
So SPOT will dispatch Mexico military SAR? How fast do they respond? They respond to all "911s" from SPOT transmitter? Or is it the deal where someone with connections needs to first call and get the wheels turning.

I am a fan of SPOT for notifying designated contacts, but have my doubts about the service activating government SAR promptly, domestically or internationally, without some or many intermediate steps.

Really curious to hear how it works in Mexico...

SPOT HQ is a 24/7/365 operation.

In the US, when you punch the 911 button, SPOT notifies the closest to you emergency response agency, usually the county sheriff. They also coordinate between the sheriff and the state office of emergency services (for in-state assetts) and the First US Air Force, who handles all SAR requests for military assistance to include the Coast Guard and the CAP (Civil Air Patrol). 1stAF then can dispatch military assets to assist local resources. SPOT stands down when they are notified that the 911 event is resolved. From SPOT 911 activation to the contact of responders is usually minutes.
I know.....been there, done that, have the T-shirt.

The SPOT 24/7/365 Comm center is staffed by personnel that have a former military/law enforcement/emergency services background.

In a foreign country such as Mexico, SPOT contacts the agency charged with SAR (the military). Once SPOT contacts the SAR agency, SPOT monitors the progress of the event and can assist with other assetts, such as dispatching an air evacuation ambulance to the closest avilable/useable airport to the inital treating medical facility. Don't claim to know how other countries handle their SAR requests.

SPOT SAR is handled by GEOS:

http://www.geosalliance.com/whatisgeos.html

http://www.geosalliance.com/sar/

SPOT is my go-to emergency response in both the US and when I travel out-of-country

[Edited on 1-30-2013 by bajaguy]

KurtG - 1-30-2013 at 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged

Quote:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=544857
This is a link to a rescue initiated by a Spot 911 call which was responded to by the Mexican military. I carry a Spot when riding Mexico primarily to keep family and friends informed of my whereabouts. I have never used the 911 nor do I take extra chances due to carrying one. Nonetheless it is worth the cost if a severe circumstance merited its use. I have also never used the "need help" message which only goes to pre-selected email recipients but when riding around Mulege, for example, I have a local friend on that list with the understanding that it would not be used unless really merited. At that point he gets an email stating "need help at this location, not life threatening". A couple of friends and I do the same thing in our local area to notify each other in case of a breakdown, this has worked well for us and of course no public agencey is involved. The email recipients of the "need help" message can be changed at the Spot website at any time so with the approval of the recipients I can change it as I travel.

onemoreplease - 1-31-2013 at 03:52 PM

I might feel like I could chime in here, I went to a clinic in Mulege because I am recovering from my third major shoulder surgery with hardware and total joint infection. It has been feeling great until I re-injured it surfing. I went to the clinic looking for some help and pain relief after three nights of not sleeping. I waited for an hour and the nurse came out with a piece of paper that I was supposed to take to the Farmacia. The doctor didn't even see me as the nurse could see how fresh the scar was on my shoulder and a stage three separation of the clavicle. The farmacia gave me Tylex cd 30mg tablets. It cost about $70 for maybe 5 days of relief. worth every peso, but I still have another month here and am in Loreto now and not sure if I should try to find another doctor here or just take the old bottle of tylex in for a refill. So far the medical help is interesting to say the least.