Yes, it was odd. In five years of running these trips these were the first and, so far, only hospital visits. Two of the injured were older (70+ and 85+) folks who tripped and fell inside the hotel. The third was a younger woman (40-ish) who was crossing the street in front of the hotel at dusk; a guy on a scooter came flying down the street and clipped her hand, resulting in a broken thumb. The total group size was 40 people.
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Medical care in Italy
- Thread starter chiaro di Luna
- Start date
I agree, it is. We're so distracted by everything new around us that we just do dumb things. My brother's father-in-law had to be med-evac'ed home from Turkey once because he was having his picture taken and kept backing up so his friend could get the picture framed right ... he wound up going backwards over a small wall and breaking his hip.
chiaro di Luna
100+ Posts
Now, that I am back from my recent trip, I can add my first hand experience with the Italian Emergency Medical System. I had an emergency hospital visit in Rome with no charge. They only asked to see my passport and the wait was less then 1/2 hour. Thorough examination and referral to hospital emergency in Venice in 3 days time.
In Venice, the hotel receptionist read the doctor's note and recommended that I go for my emergency follow up in Mestre's new hospital. I was fast tracked because of my type of emergency and the doctor's report I had from Rome. Less then an hour wait. A specialist did a very thorough examination, did an ultrasound and wrote a prescription. The fee was 40 euro (resident told me charge was for the test).
I was very impressed with the thoroughness and kindness shown to me in both places.
In Venice, the hotel receptionist read the doctor's note and recommended that I go for my emergency follow up in Mestre's new hospital. I was fast tracked because of my type of emergency and the doctor's report I had from Rome. Less then an hour wait. A specialist did a very thorough examination, did an ultrasound and wrote a prescription. The fee was 40 euro (resident told me charge was for the test).
I was very impressed with the thoroughness and kindness shown to me in both places.
A client of mine just returned from Italy where he had fallen in southern Tuscany and fractured his pelvis....better than the feared diagnosis of broken hip. They managed to drive to Florence where the went to the orthopedic hospital , stayed a couple of days and was released with instructions to stay off his feet. They were able to secure a wheelchair and they stayed for another week--visiting Chianti, Siena, Lucca and Bologna.
So far as I know there was no charge for any treatment at the hospital. They were fortunate that I had Italian colleagues in Florence who were able to facilitate the hospital stay and the subsequent touring.
So far as I know there was no charge for any treatment at the hospital. They were fortunate that I had Italian colleagues in Florence who were able to facilitate the hospital stay and the subsequent touring.
Ann R
10+ Posts
Did you see this in the NYTimes? http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/opinion/sunday/dislocation-italian-style.html?emc=eta1&_r=0
italian excursion
100+ Posts
No, just read it, Ann. Freakie, to say the least, especially for Americans who are used to controlling such things. Thanks for the share.
Ciao,
Cheryl
www.italianexcursion.com
Ciao,
Cheryl
www.italianexcursion.com
davythefatboy
10+ Posts
I cut my hand last year when I was in Venice. The emergency room was very good, I got twelve stitches on my hand and fingers. They did charge me around $250, the largest part was for local anesthesia. It was a tiny fraction of what it would have cost in the USA.