We had discussed, but eventually decided not to get, rabies shots before we left the US. Cost was a big deterrent- $250 per shot each for the three shot series. That's a total of $1500 for both of us. Of course Medicare wouldn't cover it unless we got bitten by a rabid animal first which seemed like a drastic step. But when we got here we were strongly encouraged to get them if we are going to Bali.( of course we are!). Why rabies? Bali is largely Hindu and they don't like to kill animals so there are lots of feral dogs and aggressive monkeys. So we arranged with dr Albert to start the shots. He would meet us at Mitra Hospital and administer the shots.
We ran into trouble right way as the taxi driver wanted to know which Mitra Hospital. We didn't know there were two. We had had the tour the previous week and the coordinator was a young lady named Dewi who spoke very good English. She had given us her business card and Tom had put her number in his phone so he called her and she got the taxi driver straightened out. When we got to the hospital she was waiting in the lobby for us to see how she could help. We explained about the shots so she had us sit while she found Dr. Albert. After a bare minimum of paperwork we went into the emergency room and sat on a bed in a cubicle. He explained about the shots, took our blood pressure, and asked if we had any allergies. That was it for a medical history.
Then we had to go to the pharmacy in the hospital to pick up the vaccine. Dewi went along and showed us how to take a number and wait to be called. After a few minutes we went to the pharmacy counter, paid for the medicine, and went back to the emergency room. Dewi reminded us that we should check the expiration date on the meds. The shots were administered and we took our bill to the counter to pay. Dewi was still with us and she made sure we understood the charges and got a receipt and then called a taxi for us. It was extraordinary customer service. I asked her what her job was and she answered that it was to be of service however she could. It's been a long time since we had customer service like that in the US.
Oh yes, the bill was $56. That's not each, but for the two of us-vaccine, doctor, and hospital inclusive. The whole thing took less than 30 minutes.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Getting a Rabies shot
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It always amazes me when I hear from friends traveling about how the healthcare in other countries is so much cheaper but the standards are still up to par. I wish our healthcare system were more efficient like other places!
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