Yesterday, I had my first experience with the Korean medical system. In short, I have a little sinus infection, so nothing to serious (don't worry Mom ;-)), but just as the length of this post is pretty short, so too was my experience at the hospital, because to cut right to the chase, the medical systeme here is quite efficient.
So, I walked into a hospital. Doctors all work in hospitals, and private practices are very rare. Once you check in at the front desk they process your NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE card, and then escort you to the appropriate specialist. In my case, that was the Otolaryngologist. After waiting less than 5 minutes, the doctor brought me into his office, asked me about my symptoms, asked me if I had ever had similar symptoms and if so the diagnosis. I told him, it felt like a sinus infection and that I've had them before. I also told him I've been swimming quite a bit, getting quite a bit of water in my ears, etc, and that I was pretty certain that it was a sinus infection. To my surprise, he was very receptive to my self-diagnosis, and told me that it sounded like a sinus infection but that he should double check to make sure. So, he looked in my nose, ears and throat, and two minutes later agreed with me, wrote me a prescription, and then he sent me on my way. All said and done, I met with him for about 10 minutes. Then came the accounting department and my bill. As I'm used to the astronomical cost of health care services in the U.S., I was prepared to pay at least $50 for my visit, but when the bill came to only $5, I was blown away. So, I payed the woman behind the counter, took my prescription to get filled at a nearby drug store, and was done. By the way, the 4 medicines the doctor gave me all of which I have to take three times a day for the next 5 days cost $8. Come on America, get your act together.
And, aside from how amazingly affordable the experience was, I was also amazed at how much trust and value the doctor put in my self-diagnosis. Surely if his examination should many contraindications to my claims he would not have agreed w/ me, but at least he used my own feelings as a jumping off point for his examination. Back in the States, every time I go to the doctor I feel as though I tell the doctor my symptoms and then she/he basically has the attitude of "well let me check you out and see if what you are telling me is true." Hmmm...on paper I guess the two scenarios don't sound too different, but being in his office and feeling how much respect and consideration he gave my self-diagnosis, it was definitely different than home.
And just to play the devils advocate, maybe this doctor who gave so much creedenc to my self-diagnosis was only able to do so in the context of SoKo where illicit drug use is almost non-existant and where (at least as far as I've seen) drug abuse is minimal too. And...surely had I gone into the hospital complaing of pain wanting some super strong pain killers, I'm sure the doctor would have been a bit more skeptical too, but regardless, I felt respected, acknowledged, and valued as a patient in a way that I've never felt before.
So, that's it. If you get sick here, aparently, to get the medical care you require, you don't need much time or money, and when you meet with the doctor, you likely won't feel as though your self-diagnosis is worthless in comparison to the doctors years of medical school, but rather that your self-diagnosis is yet another piece of the puzzle which the doctor uses to piece together and answer to the question of, what's wrong with this patient.
That's all for now.
Oh, wait, one more thing. They have a brownie mix here in SoKo that you basically cook in the microwave. So, after taking maybe a minute or two to add water to the dry ingredients and then mix them into a smooth batter and then microwaving them for another 3 minutes, you can have fresh-baked, no wati, fresh-microwaved brownies (which taste FANTISTIC) in 5 minutes all said and done. Again, America, what's the deal? Not only does SoKo have a more efficient medical system, but they have a more efficient way of making brownies that taste just as good as the ones back home.
Aight, that's all for now.
No more America bashing, I really do love (and miss) the states ;-)
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