Experience in Santo Tomas Hospital, Panama City

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Contributed by Clyde Jenkins, Panama.

My experience with gall bladder surgery at Santo Tomas Hospital.

On Monday morning the 28th of October my gut was so distended and I was
having such excruciating pain that my novia took me to Santo Tomas
Hospital. The first day there is somewhat of a fog as I was hurting so
bad. It turned out that I was passing some gall stones and my pancreas
was inflamed and I had to have my gall bladder removed, but they had to
wait to get my pancreas stabilized first. After 5 days of constant IV
feedings with antibiotics, pain killers and all those other goodies they
fill you up with, they did the surgery on Saturday at 2:30. The
surgery, a laparoscopy which is done without cutting the abdominal wall,
but with 4 small incisions for the light, camera and tools, was done
under general anesthesia and lasted a little over an hour. I was
released from the hospital at noon on Monday, feeling quite well. The
cost for this whole procedure was an outrageous $746. Just joking
folks.

What did I get for that $746? Let me break it down.

First, the exam room and admission cost me $2.00 And then I had
about every blood test imaginable, about two dozen in all during the
week I was there. Add in a lot of medication and the total
miscellaneous charges came to $54.00. These by the way were all
itemized and were paid for up front.

There was $300 for general surgery which included the hospital room
for 8 days, 2 cat scans, 3 x-rays, an ultrasound, two doctors exams per
day and at least 20 IVs with all the goodies. None of the $300 was
itemized so I can’t break it down for you.

The cost of surgery itself, which covered the surgeon, his assistant
and the anesthetist came to $392.

When it came time to pay the bill and get released I was allowed to pay
$100 cash and agreed to pay $100 per month. No hassle, no promissory
note, no first born child, just my word. No Toto, we’re not in
Kansas any more. I have no idea what that would have cost in the
states, but I’m sure it would have been at least ten times as much.
If someone here is privy to those costs I would appreciate hearing from
you. I might add that I had used Santo Tomas about a year or so ago
with a bout of bronchial pneumonia. I was there for a day of inhalation
therapy, total cost $27 which included a chest x-ray.

Now as to the hospital itself. It’s COOOOLD there, like all of
Panama they really crank up the air conditioning. If you go, be sure to
take a couple of blankets and a pillow, as they only provide thin
sheets, if you`re visiting wear a coat. Also take some pajamas or
you’ll have to wear the gown with your butt showing. Things
don’t look as bright and shiny as we’re used to in the U.S., but
I have no reason to believe that they’re any less sanitary. My one
complaint is that they left my arms and hands a mass of bruises because
of difficulties in finding veins for IVs, but then at 72 I guess
that’s to be expected. The doctors and nursing staff were
outstanding, I felt that they really cared. Of course it may have been
that I was a gringo and somewhat of a rarity. I didn’t see any
other gringos while I was there. The doctor who did the actual surgery
examined me every day so he knew my exact condition prior to the
surgery. I only met two doctors and one nurse who were actually fluent
in English, but there were some who could speak passable English. I
would highly suggest that anyone going there take an interpreter with
you if you don’t speak passable Spanish.

For those of you who can’t qualify for health insurance in Panama
because of pre-existing conditions or age and can’t afford to use
hospitals like Paitilla or Pacifica, Santo Tomas is certainly your best
alternative.

Clyde
Thank you to Clyde Jenkins for contributing this story.

Note: Santo Tomas Hospital is a public hospital and is open to those with Panama social security as well as anyone paying with cash or using credit card.

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