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Things are different in Russia.
Accept it ‘cause you can’t change it! True, but some aspects of medical care here are worse than in America and they can be improved.
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But first, remember that Russia continues to have quite a bit of free medical care without any insurance premiums... including doctor home visits, hospital, and clinic care. The doctors are well-educated, intelligent, and caring.
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So, what are you talking about?
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Way back when…
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In 1993 Lorraine O’Sullivan was killed in a car and truck accident on the Washington DC beltway. She was a great kid, and a runner, so her friends and parents organized an event. It was to honor her memory and raise funds for improving truck safety.
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I was sure that I could complete the course. After all, I was a jogger for many years, and used to talk while running… which would make my friends crazy as they gasped for air!
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A sudden change…
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That beautiful spring day was different. To my surprise I had to walk slowly to the finish line. Soon after I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy… a (usually) gradual weakening of the heart muscle, caused by heredity or a virus… maybe both.
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People saw me as ready for the grave. I was self-employ, so suddenly my only employee (me!) was disabled.
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For the next 7 years, I had frequent, expert, and organized medical care mostly in semi-rural Hunterdon County NJ. Over the years I was able to work hard enough to cover my expenses.
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Russian medical care is less organized…
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So, here’s the point… the way my medical care was organized is very different from what I have experienced in Russia. Here treatment is often disjointed and lacks the continuity I had in the States.
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No medical receptionist…
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First, doctors in St Petersburg usually do not have secretarial help. Even my heart surgeon took his own phone calls. Next time you are at your GP’s office, take a moment to appreciate how the secretary/nurse helps you (and her employer) by keeping appointments on time, helping patients with forms, and maintaining records … often with a typical American smile.
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It’s much harder to find the doctor you need…
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In Russia a need for secrecy trumps other goals. It’s difficult to find a number for a name in St Petersburg. Most people are not listed in the phone book.
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They never think to look in the phone book to find a doctor (as they don’t have a directory), and besides the listings are incomplete. We have one which I bought at the bookstore a few years ago which Larissa refuses to consult.
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So people get numbers on little pieces of paper, call friends, and slowly find through word of mouth the doctor they need.
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No appointment cards…
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The doctors and dentists I know do not have printed appointment cards. They use scraps of paper… prescription blanks, whatever, to jot down the next appointment time, or they expect you to write it down.
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They present a good appearance and work in clean spaces, but don’t see that to continue this impression it’s important to use a printed card.
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The Russian and American attitudes…
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Russians still have a collective mentality. Most doctors don’t view you as unique, but part of a stream of patients for whom they try to do their best.
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In America, doctors see each patient as someone with whom they hope to have a long term relationship. American doctors were Following patients long before Twitter!
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Russian practitioners don’t appreciate that keeping a patient loyal can reap benefits. They do not build a practice but rather add to their credentials to gain more status in their hospital and clinic. The take home pay of a clinic or hospital doctor isn’t linked to the number, or difficulty, of the patients she sees each day.
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A trend towards medicine as a business…
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Some doctors now have their own office, as well as hospital/clinic work. This trend towards private for profit care has been slow… except for dentists (who usually make more than doctors). There are good and bad aspects to the private practice system… a mixed bag… which overall may not be a good thing for the Russian patient.
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Poor continuity of care…
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It’s difficult to have just one family doctor or specialist who will regularly see you. If you become sick in St Petersburg, you either go to the neighborhood clinic or call Null Tree (zero three), the ambulance/home visit service. Either way you have little chance of seeing the same doctor often.
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An exception…
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The NW Russia Cardiological Center, called Almazova, after an early doctor, has doctors trained in cardiology who will see patients consistently on a routine basis. I had a wonderful doctor there who has since died. Now instead of this option, I have had the attention of a top expert in cardiomyopathy for the past few years.
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My Russian Cardiologist …
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She has an intuitive ability to adjust my medicines so I can keep enjoying life. Unlike the money machines in American, she has never billed me or asked for money or gifts. She likes to use her good English with me, and finds my case interesting.
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Now, she is swamped with conferences in Western Europe and research and hospital work . She has no time to spend on appointments. So, except for an emergency, she asked that I find another specialist.
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The quest for a consistent cardiologist…
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Before we left for the village, we saw a recommended cardiologist. She took a medical history but seemed to be having trouble staying awake. After a second confusing visit, I told Larissa I wasn’t going back to her.
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On October 7 we have an appointment with another cardiologist who has a top reputation. We already know his fee will be 700 rubles, around $23. How much would you pay to see a top specialist in New York or Los Angeles?
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I’m satisfied with my medical care…
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Overall I am happy with the healthcare in St Petersburg. Even with a less efficient medical system… no secretaries to answer the phones, no appointment cards… the quality of the doctors is impressive.
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I believe that I have received medical care in Russia equal to, or better, than I did in America.
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WE ENJOY HEARING FROM YOU!
So, if you are in Russia, what has been your experience?
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What’s good or bad about healthcare in America, or wherever?
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What does a visit to a cardiologist cost?
Please Click comments on the next to last line of this post.
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Technorati Tags. Russian health care, medical care limitations,cardiomyopathy,organized medical care,treatment continuity,medical receptionist,finding doctors,appointment cards,Russian attitudes,American attitudes,medical business,doctor fees,doctor quality.
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