Having packed the passports necessary for successful admission to the clinic, or ER, we set off on our journey fairly early by argentinean standards, and arrived at the Hospital de Clinicas just before 10:30 am.
The place was already bustling with activity.
Happily, the "urgencia" guard recognized us from yesterday, and ushered us into reception. The receptionist also remembered us (a definite advantage of traveling with "los gemelos rubios"!), and immediately began copying down our passport info onto his list.
Our paperwork complete, we were directed to a large hall with a small waiting area comprised of several rows of hard, wooden benches. Mercifully, it was a little cooler than yesterday, and so the wait--while somewhat lengthy--was not altogether unpleasant. We had brought some word work activities and the boys' math books with us, as well as the chapter books they are currently reading, so we found an empty bench and settled in for a morning of "home school a-la-hospital"!
Every now and again an intern would come out into the hall and call a family name, and some folks would leave the hard wooden benches and follow the good doctor into the bowels of the hospital.
The place was already bustling with activity.
Happily, the "urgencia" guard recognized us from yesterday, and ushered us into reception. The receptionist also remembered us (a definite advantage of traveling with "los gemelos rubios"!), and immediately began copying down our passport info onto his list.
Our paperwork complete, we were directed to a large hall with a small waiting area comprised of several rows of hard, wooden benches. Mercifully, it was a little cooler than yesterday, and so the wait--while somewhat lengthy--was not altogether unpleasant. We had brought some word work activities and the boys' math books with us, as well as the chapter books they are currently reading, so we found an empty bench and settled in for a morning of "home school a-la-hospital"!
Every now and again an intern would come out into the hall and call a family name, and some folks would leave the hard wooden benches and follow the good doctor into the bowels of the hospital.
Eventually it was our turn. Well, sort of our turn. They called Alex into paediatrics, where a doctor had a quick look at his foot, pronounced the problem due to his shoes, and wrote us a script for dermatology, second floor.
But first it was back to the waiting area for us, to await my name call.
But first it was back to the waiting area for us, to await my name call.
That wait was not long at all, and I was soon looked after by the young Alejo, who suggested an antibiotic-resistant bacterial bladder infection.
He ordered a urine culture and wrote a script for yet another type of antibiotics (I've had three kinds in the last month!), and sent me in my way.
He ordered a urine culture and wrote a script for yet another type of antibiotics (I've had three kinds in the last month!), and sent me in my way.
After the obligatory pee in the cup, we wandered the dark hallways to find the "bacteriologica" drop off--it took us a while to remember that the "first" floor is actually the second here in Argentina!
Once there, we were told that I was required to pay for the test--down the hall to a booth, off to the cashier, on another floor, back to the booths.... It all seemed a little overwhelming, and it sounded like the payment was just for a printout of the results, which I didn't feel I needed, since the amicable Alejo had indicated I should come back to see him early Monday morning, and he would take a peek in the lab... So I elected to skip the payment. For now. (I kept the paperwork, just in case.)
Once there, we were told that I was required to pay for the test--down the hall to a booth, off to the cashier, on another floor, back to the booths.... It all seemed a little overwhelming, and it sounded like the payment was just for a printout of the results, which I didn't feel I needed, since the amicable Alejo had indicated I should come back to see him early Monday morning, and he would take a peek in the lab... So I elected to skip the payment. For now. (I kept the paperwork, just in case.)
Then we embarked on the hunt for Dermologica, to get Alex sorted out. That dept was located on the "entre piso", or floor between floors--the mezzanine.
At first, they insisted they don't deal with children; that we should go to paediatrics. I, however, insisted they see us, brandishing my urgencia-pelaediatrician-issued referral to their dept in the air. The fellow behind the counter finally succumbed, and offered us a lat Feb time slot. We gratefully accepted the appt, and headed off in search of a farmetica, to pick up my antibiotics. Then it was back to the subte for the crowded, sweaty ride home.
At first, they insisted they don't deal with children; that we should go to paediatrics. I, however, insisted they see us, brandishing my urgencia-pelaediatrician-issued referral to their dept in the air. The fellow behind the counter finally succumbed, and offered us a lat Feb time slot. We gratefully accepted the appt, and headed off in search of a farmetica, to pick up my antibiotics. Then it was back to the subte for the crowded, sweaty ride home.
As accurately reported in many places online, the public hospitals in Buenos Aires are run down physically. Peeling paint, chips out of walls, water damage and aging equipment are not uncommon, as testified to in my photos here. But access to care is free for all who want it (many Argentines and expats prefer to avail themselves of the still-reasonably priced medical care in the far more beautiful private clinics sprinkled throughout the city), and the doctors seem no less knowledgeable or caring here than they do in Canada. The hospital was well staffed, and the wait was not super long.