My First Medical Experience in Shanghai

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yu888
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Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18042
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: Mar 25, 2004 - 03:38 PM
Post subject: My First Medical Experience in Shanghai

Well, after being here for over a year, I guess it was about time that I had to utilise the medical facilities here in Shanghai. I had a little cold last week that somehow blossomed into a fever that just would not go away. 3 days later, I decided that it was time to bite the bullet and go see a doctor. I had heard good things about HuaShan Hospital's Foreigner's Clinic, and so when I got confirmation from Leifeng that indeed it would also be his choice, I went for it.

I called ahead to make sure I was going to the right place. I called the clinic and was told that if I had a fever, that I would first need to go to the main hospital's fever ward (uh oh). Ok, I figured, I can speak Chinese so I'll make it work. (Later I was told that If I did not speak Chinese, I could have gone to the Clinic first and they would have sent an english speaking nurse along with me back over to the fever ward)

So, off in a taxi i went to the main hospital. I found the address they gave was the emergency ward...hmmm, but then I saw (in Chinese of course) a sign directing those with fever to go to the left and enter a seperate ward.

When I got there, the masked nurse gave me a thermometer and asked me to sit still. 3 minutes later, she asked to see it...yep about 38˚. I was sweating at this point so I knew my body temp was actually dropping. They had me pay a 12.60rmb registration and sent me over for a blood test which set me back another 18rmb. then when I came back the doctor examined me, asked a bunch of questions and when he realized I had phlem too, he asked me to get a chest xray "just in case" That set me back a whole 64rmb! At this point I was still under 100 rmb, but I had gotten my blood test reslts back, been told that my white blood cell count was high indicating an infection, a normal chest xray result back so I knew it was not pneumonia, and all this in like 25 minutes! Each time I had to go get a procedure done, a nurse brought me to the station, called the attendant and I was taken care of. I am uncertain what all the other people in lines outside the doors I walked by were waiting for, but no one looked too peaved at me. (maybe i was looking really sick as I was still sweating)

When I finally came back to the fever ward again, the doctor there took one look at my tonsils and said it was his opinion that an IV drip of antibiotics would be the most effectove treatment. Now given that I dont like needles, I asked him about options and he did say that oral antibiotics while slower would likely help as well.

It was at this point that since I was a foreigner, I needed to be transfered back to the Foreigner's Clinic. The locals ward of this hospital is fairly old with trazzo floors that look like they have years of dirty mop water embedded in it, but the service attitude of the staff was tremendous. And it was nice to see sterilized instruments being used (whew)

But when I went to the Foreigner's clinic (once again escorted over) that place is like any other western clinic. Spotless, staff are uniformed in western style uniforms, and the staff all speaks English.

So it was here that I had to see another Doctor who was very good about looking over the other results and then offered me the choice of the IV or tablet introduction of antibiotics. Since i really dont like needles, I opted for the tablets understanding that if it did not work, I would have to return to deal with an IV drip. He prescribed an antibiotic, a fever reducer, and a cough supressant. Meds cost 165rmb, and the short visit with this doctor was 150rmb.

Great experience overall, yeah, i probably should; have just had them do the treatment over in the local ward as paying the extra 150rmb to me was not necessary, but it was nice to see it so that I could share the contrast of places with everyone else.

So, if anyone needs medical attention, I highly recommend the HuaShan WorldWide Medical Clinic specializing in care of foreigners. They are located at 12 Central Urumchi Rd and can be reached at 62489999 x 2531

hope this helps!