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I think this could have happened in any rural setting. We live a relatively close 45 minutes from a major US city and its health care. Several years ago we had an emergency that presented like a heart attack in the middle of the night. I made the phone call to 911. The local rescue squad arrived in about 10-15 minutes. They checked conditions and transported to a small local hospital. We were seen immediately but it was decided to transport to the city hospital. We were now 1 hour from the event. Transport added another 40 minutes. Again we were seen immediately. But we were three hours from the event by the time we saw a specialist who could read all the heat monitors. IF the event had been a heart attack the time delays would have be too much. Luckily it was just a reaction to reduced medication. But we are CLOSE to medical care. There are much more remote areas all over the U.S. If you think you are going to need “instantaneous” care then you must consider your choice of where to live.
On the other hand, we have followed an ambulance on the 2 hour drive from San Jose to Alajuela. In CR nobody pulls over for the emergency vehicles. We made the trip in the same time as the ambulance, which I assume had to make the return trip the same way. Four hours before getting to the hospital. . . Could be the same in the U.S. unless you are transported by Helicopter. . .
Emergency care is the same everywhere. If you think you are going to need it then you need to plan for it. I know this is not always possible or affordable. But some people plan their life around such things. I know my ex-wife does. That is one of the many reasons she is and EX. There are many gambles in life. Every time we get into an automobile we risk our lives and statistically shorten our lives considerably. So I work at a job that makes a LOT less than if I was willing to travel every day. But you cannot avoid all risks. And not all of us want to live in a city next to a major 24 hour medical center. That is a choice. A choice that may reduce the length of one’s life.
Costa Rica is primarily a rural country unless you live in one of the few major cities. It is also a poor country with limited resources. Those are among the things that result in a low cost of living. But those are also things that have unseen costs or risks.
This is not a “dark side” of Costa Rica. It is simple reality. Yeah, there are places with more more more. . . but there are other MORES that make people want to leave those places and move to Costa Rica.
I think it is reasonable to expect to have adequate care for most emergencies in many rural settings in the Central Valley. My place is rural yet is an 11 minute drive from the Red Cross ambulance garage in Palmares and a 25 minute drive to the nearest CIMA hospital in San Ramon…and there is a local clinic 5 minutes away for less critical care in a small village.
Great feedback Guru and it’s amazing how each person can have very different experiences with the same event…
While Guru says that “In CR nobody pulls over for the emergency vehicles” yet, my experience has been TOTALLY different where everyone pulls over very quickly…
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com[quote=”Scott”]This was posted in the wrong place and reposted here by Scott
costaricafinca
Posted Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 10:59 AM from 201.203.217.70
My condolences go out to you and your family, TicoRealtor
I was very sorry to read that TicRealorssister in law had died during childbirth due to the lack of a doctor to perform a Cesarean birth. I would presume the baby died also.Fortunately, the baby did not die. This young mother left other children as well. Please keep TicoRealtor and his extended family in your thoughts and prayers…
Jerry[quote=”2BNCR”]Hey Sprite,
I have never heard of a CIMA hospital in San Ramon.[/quote]
My error. The CIMA hospital is about 40 minutes away from San Ramon. I meant to refer to the San Ramon Hospital, which is NOT a CIMA hospital.
[b]ottfog [/b] thank you for posting this information! I am sorry for jumping to conclusions…and hope this family can go forward with the help of all concerned.
Here in Cuba the doctors are great cause they have nothing but time to study. They are not under the gun to graduate. The problems here is the facilities. I use the estranero hospital in Santa fe/Miramar. Cheap by my standards and the Cubans, unlike the Ticos, actually really like Americans, as they see through my non-Cubano accent.
I predict very shortly that most of the US overseas investment and retirement money will be pouring into Cuba afetr the demise of Fidelito. Actually I hope he lives for ever as Cuba will go the way of Costa Rice like a grey hound on Red Bull.
Things are fine here with the 8+ $20 hiniteras and the dysfunctional infrastructure. Black market is thriving and the living is easy.
Don Diego living big living out his days con la communistas. Yeah comrade me to death my love.
Don Diego,
The Cuban revolution was never able to develop enough velocity to escape the gravity of the world monetary system. It did not have a philosophy which would permit a divorce from that system, rather it remained enmeshed in the world economy of scarcity, trying to circumvent its most vicious attributes with socialism. But the dysfunctional world economic system is as pervasive as stage IV cancer. Recently, Fidel remarked that the Cuban revolution no longer works for Cuba. The terminal stage of the disease of Capitalism is upon us all. Black markets may well grow but even they require material support.
I would not be reveling too much. The easy life is coming to an end.[quote=”sprite”]Don Diego,
The Cuban revolution was never able to develop enough velocity to escape the gravity of the world monetary system. It did not have a philosophy which would permit a divorce from that system, rather it remained enmeshed in the world economy of scarcity, trying to circumvent its most vicious attributes with socialism. But the dysfunctional world economic system is as pervasive as stage IV cancer. Recently, Fidel remarked that the Cuban revolution no longer works for Cuba. The terminal stage of the disease of Capitalism is upon us all. Black markets may well grow but even they require material support.
I would not be reveling too much. The easy life is coming to an end.[/quote]it appears that someone is on the other side of the circle.
I’m from miami.and most of my friends are cuban.when you sit,and listen,then read,and watch and listen.the story is much as you say.wow,and my friends say the revolution was for the benefit of few,at the expense of many.I also live in Miami and visited Cuba several times in the late 70’s and early 80’s. My impression of those Cubans who left for Miami after the revolution is that many of them were the very ones who were exploiting others. Then, as the Cubans say, “LLego el comandante y mando a parar”. (The comandante arrived and ordered an end to the exploitation.)
All governments have corruption, some more more than others. Cuba must have some as well. But it surely pales when compared to the absolute corruption of the U.S. system…and I mean absolute.
The Ticos’ belief in their democracy is endearing but it is naive. I have lived my whole life in “el monstro del norte” and that has been an education. I can’t shake my jaded view. Any governments and people laboring under the world monetary system are doomed to continued corruption and slavery. And all major governments participate to varying degrees, including Costa Rica and Cuba.
Interesting thread.
I suffered from chronic tachycardia for about 15 years.I’d get attacks 3 to 5 times per years and have to go in for an adenocard conversion. I saw every useless S.O.B. “cardiologist” in Miami, Hotlanta and Buffalo.
They all wanted to get me a radio frequency abla$$tion.I moved down here and within a couple of months, sho nuff, I had an attack.245 pbs.
My neighbor is a cardiologist Tico and happened to be at his second home here on the lake. We ran over to the little clinic in Tilaran and he stayed with me while a most excellent Tica doc hooked me up. She and my neighbor discussed options.I told him my history. He rolled his eyes and told her to “load me” with Isoptin and put me on 400 mg/day. I went back in about 2 months and she cut it in half and demanded I call her immediately if I felt like I was on the edge of another attack. She cut it in half again, 3 months later.
I’m on 80 mg, once a day. No attacks in 5 years now.Everyone has a different story. A good friend of mine is a Cuban doc that moved here 9 years ago from Havana. His specialties are kidney and gastro surgeries.He has an office in his house and works at the Liberia hospital with his scalpel during the day.
Best damn doc I ever had in my life.
Pura Vida.Don Diego still reveling away… I have been here on and off for about 10 years now. It has regained its old form. Plenty of action, girls everywhere, the economy here is better than it has been for years. Revel revel revel. So, if the part comes to an end then I will just switch hats and buy up all the best properties I can. If it does go capitalist and I can’t stand it, then I’ll just sail off to another warm water port. I have docked this ship in many a port and they have all been good, although I must say that some are diffinately better… arr arr arr … revel revel revel.
Don Diego,
I have had a strong affinity for Cuba for decades. I used to visit the island in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I married into the culture and even moved to Miami to stay close to it without having to leave the States.
But as much as I respect the Cuban people and their revolutionary attempts, I would find it very difficult to adapt to living there. I have been too conditioned too long by
this consumer society here and Cuba has been pounded by an economic blockade for too long. Life was hard there in the 80’s. I can only imagine it is even more difficult now. Even Fidel seems to think so these days. Why are you still in Cuba? Why not move to Costa Rica where the standard of living is easier and the women are prettier? Of course, the Ticas may be less likely than their Cuban sisters to tolerate any machista attitudes. Perhaps that is why you are still in Cuba.
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