My wife and I were in Italy about three years ago and picked up a nasty crud (Guy sneezed on us the first day in Rome). Eventually, we had to seek medical attention for steroid bursts to calm our coughs. My wife was seen in Florence, while I had a house call from a doc in Rome. Appts, labs, Xrays, and meds totaled 70 euros (that's for both of us). Care, as you've described was attentive and competent. Like you, Cheryl, we're medical and continue to wonder why American voters support the guys who think healthcare is a privilege. As you point out, the Red Scare it seems to provoke is contradicted by the embrace of Social Security, Medicare, public schools, and publicly regulated utilities.
“Socialized medicine kicks ass, baby.” Indeed. My wife is a nurse practitioner, so I hear the other side of that, and it ain’t pretty. American medicine is a clusterfuck. That’s unlikely to change any time soon. Why? ‘Cuz it’s not about healthcare; it’s about money.
Terrific post, Cheryl. I'd love it if more Americans knew how health systems like ours here work. I got a huge response when I posted about doctor visits--the thought that a doctor would actually pick up the phone, express concern, and ask me to come visit that very afternoon apparently touched a nerve.
Thanks, Anthony! Yes, it's the interest in the patient rather than the money that (some) Americans don't understand. Once when we were waiting on lab results and I found out they'd come in on a Saturday, my doc said to WhatsApp them to her that day. No waiting for Monday!
I went to a prominent lung specialist, and he told me to text him in a couple of weeks to let him know how I'm doing. My NY doctor's office does not give out my doctor's cell number, yet I have my in town doc's cell and his home address. And he says he checks Facebook for messages.
Thank you for such a wonderful account! I'll share it to my FB. It certainly highlights the things we, as Europeans, take for granted when it comes to healthcare! I'm pleased that you had such a good experience of the health service in Italy. I do hope they correctly identified and treated accordingly your illness. Ciao.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing! For the most part my experiences have been good, so I consider myself fortunate. It makes me sad that human beings don't always have the right to good healthcare. During my last few years in the US I was always thinking that all it would take was one hospitalization and I'd be bankrupt. It's awful living under that cloud. Glad you're here in Europe!
Awww, thank you, Stacey. My dog is just fine, thank you (and much happier now that I gave in and bought a Pinguino). You've got some fascinating posts on your Substack that I'm looking forward to reading—I've been really busy lately and have fallen behind. Pian piano!
Yes, surely it would be more. I said at least that because that was my deductible, but we all know it wouldn't end there! Thanks for reading and (maybe) sharing!
Excellent summary...informative AND enjoyable! I appreciate your comparison with the US health system...when I try to describe it to Europeans they are incredulous; can't understand why we put up with it. Neither do I, now.
Thanks, Robin. Yeah, it's a pretty incomprehensible thing, isn't it, that healthcare in the US isn't a right? Telling Europeans about the realities of American health insurance is the fastest way to get them to drop the idea of the American dream. Thanks for reading!
Great read, thank you! We are hoping to move from the UK to Italy at some point over the next few years so I am loving your Italian writings. Had to chuckle though - Brits are still Europeans by definition, we only left the European Union - a politic and economic single market construct for member states, originally post war unifying process, but didn't become what it is now formally until as recently as 1993 . Interestingly the Vatican is also a European state but not in the EU (there are also others) I think the UK might be the first to leave it though - I'm not sure. 😊
Oh, I know, but I hear Brits making a point of saying they're still European, just as an anti-Brexit thing, so that's what I was getting at. But maybe I'll take that part out. Anyway, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for reading. Have fun planning your move! I hope all goes well.
This is wonderful. Only you could make a week+ in the hospital an enjoyable adventure! I, too, had a hospital experience in Italy, when a wrist I fractured in the United States (complete with pins protruding) had become infected in Italy and required surgery. Thank you, Cheryl!
My wife and I were in Italy about three years ago and picked up a nasty crud (Guy sneezed on us the first day in Rome). Eventually, we had to seek medical attention for steroid bursts to calm our coughs. My wife was seen in Florence, while I had a house call from a doc in Rome. Appts, labs, Xrays, and meds totaled 70 euros (that's for both of us). Care, as you've described was attentive and competent. Like you, Cheryl, we're medical and continue to wonder why American voters support the guys who think healthcare is a privilege. As you point out, the Red Scare it seems to provoke is contradicted by the embrace of Social Security, Medicare, public schools, and publicly regulated utilities.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Steven—I'm glad it was a positive one!
“Socialized medicine kicks ass, baby.” Indeed. My wife is a nurse practitioner, so I hear the other side of that, and it ain’t pretty. American medicine is a clusterfuck. That’s unlikely to change any time soon. Why? ‘Cuz it’s not about healthcare; it’s about money.
Turns out we have it backasswards. 😳🤷🏻♂️
Yes, and unfortunately money seems to drive everything in the U.S. Turns out capitalism wasn't the best idea after all.
Terrific post, Cheryl. I'd love it if more Americans knew how health systems like ours here work. I got a huge response when I posted about doctor visits--the thought that a doctor would actually pick up the phone, express concern, and ask me to come visit that very afternoon apparently touched a nerve.
Thanks, Anthony! Yes, it's the interest in the patient rather than the money that (some) Americans don't understand. Once when we were waiting on lab results and I found out they'd come in on a Saturday, my doc said to WhatsApp them to her that day. No waiting for Monday!
I went to a prominent lung specialist, and he told me to text him in a couple of weeks to let him know how I'm doing. My NY doctor's office does not give out my doctor's cell number, yet I have my in town doc's cell and his home address. And he says he checks Facebook for messages.
Exactly!
Thank you for such a wonderful account! I'll share it to my FB. It certainly highlights the things we, as Europeans, take for granted when it comes to healthcare! I'm pleased that you had such a good experience of the health service in Italy. I do hope they correctly identified and treated accordingly your illness. Ciao.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing! For the most part my experiences have been good, so I consider myself fortunate. It makes me sad that human beings don't always have the right to good healthcare. During my last few years in the US I was always thinking that all it would take was one hospitalization and I'd be bankrupt. It's awful living under that cloud. Glad you're here in Europe!
Absolutely fabulous. I’m going to share it on my Facebook wall. You are such a gifted writer! I hate that you were sick, though--and HOW’S YOUR DOG?
Awww, thank you, Stacey. My dog is just fine, thank you (and much happier now that I gave in and bought a Pinguino). You've got some fascinating posts on your Substack that I'm looking forward to reading—I've been really busy lately and have fallen behind. Pian piano!
$6500 for eight days in US hospital? Oh no, at least double that. Triple?
Great reading of your experience. Am saving to share with others. I did know much of this generically but really enjoyed your details.
Yes, surely it would be more. I said at least that because that was my deductible, but we all know it wouldn't end there! Thanks for reading and (maybe) sharing!
Excellent summary...informative AND enjoyable! I appreciate your comparison with the US health system...when I try to describe it to Europeans they are incredulous; can't understand why we put up with it. Neither do I, now.
Thanks, Robin. Yeah, it's a pretty incomprehensible thing, isn't it, that healthcare in the US isn't a right? Telling Europeans about the realities of American health insurance is the fastest way to get them to drop the idea of the American dream. Thanks for reading!
Great read, thank you! We are hoping to move from the UK to Italy at some point over the next few years so I am loving your Italian writings. Had to chuckle though - Brits are still Europeans by definition, we only left the European Union - a politic and economic single market construct for member states, originally post war unifying process, but didn't become what it is now formally until as recently as 1993 . Interestingly the Vatican is also a European state but not in the EU (there are also others) I think the UK might be the first to leave it though - I'm not sure. 😊
Oh, I know, but I hear Brits making a point of saying they're still European, just as an anti-Brexit thing, so that's what I was getting at. But maybe I'll take that part out. Anyway, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for reading. Have fun planning your move! I hope all goes well.
Oh no, please do leave it in. It's an interesting observation - maybe I am actually that stereotype but I just hadn't realised it! 😁
Terrific, in the English sense, not the Italian.
Haha, thanks!
This is wonderful. Only you could make a week+ in the hospital an enjoyable adventure! I, too, had a hospital experience in Italy, when a wrist I fractured in the United States (complete with pins protruding) had become infected in Italy and required surgery. Thank you, Cheryl!
Thanks, Michael! I hope your experience was good. Where were you?
Sora, province of Frosinone. This was back in 2004 and it was an amazing experience, eye opening to another way.
Glad to hear it!
Thoroughly enjoyed!
Thank you, Georgia!
Thoroughly enjoyed!