Medical care in the islands
Jun 2nd, 2006, 07:01 PM
#21
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Jamaica isn't known for having wonderful medical care, however, there is a relatively new (1997) hospital in Montego Bay, located on the grounds of the Half Moon resort, that might suit your needs:
http://www.mobayhope.org/
There is an ewmail address there so I assume you can get answers to specific questions about your son. Good luck.
(Half Moon is a lovely and very large resort, close by is also the Ritz Carlton and the Wyndham Rose Hall)
http://www.mobayhope.org/
There is an ewmail address there so I assume you can get answers to specific questions about your son. Good luck.
(Half Moon is a lovely and very large resort, close by is also the Ritz Carlton and the Wyndham Rose Hall)
Jun 3rd, 2006, 07:48 AM
#22
oh, I forgot to mention, T&C, (as well as other islands) are condo type units with full kitchens and small dining areas. IGA supermarket has all the american brand foods, etc, so you can totally control what your son eats!
Jun 5th, 2006, 03:03 AM
#23
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jspen--
Sorry for the delay in responding--we were travelling
We stay at the Buccaneer in St. Croix and love it but it's not cheap and doesn't have kitchen facilities. People on this board and tripadvisor seem to like Gentle Winds condos on the North Shore of STX. I always think that the condos at Coakley Bay look very nice but you rent them directly from owners, I believe.
Also, I would think twice about Puerto Rico (though it doesn't sound like you were considering it and I really like the island). A classmate of my daughter's lost his father to pancreatitis after incredibly awful health care in Puerto Rico (they don't triage there--it's more like take a number and we'll get to you when it's your turn). It's a long horrible story with a terrible ending. Definitely gives you pause. Wish they had simply gotten on a plane and flew home to the States.
Sorry for the delay in responding--we were travelling
We stay at the Buccaneer in St. Croix and love it but it's not cheap and doesn't have kitchen facilities. People on this board and tripadvisor seem to like Gentle Winds condos on the North Shore of STX. I always think that the condos at Coakley Bay look very nice but you rent them directly from owners, I believe.
Also, I would think twice about Puerto Rico (though it doesn't sound like you were considering it and I really like the island). A classmate of my daughter's lost his father to pancreatitis after incredibly awful health care in Puerto Rico (they don't triage there--it's more like take a number and we'll get to you when it's your turn). It's a long horrible story with a terrible ending. Definitely gives you pause. Wish they had simply gotten on a plane and flew home to the States.
Jun 5th, 2006, 01:27 PM
#24
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I appreciate all the suggestions! Thanks, everyone.
Caribtraveller: I imagine most people don't think about hospitals when travelling, but for us, it's one of those things to figure out before a trip: where to stay, where & what to eat, and where the closest hospital is. Such is life...
MIM04: Yes, we could consider staying Stateside, but I was just wowed by the Caribbean when we went to GC and wanted to see another island. But we may have to reconsider if the medical care really isn't reliable. I know Hawaii has good hospitals, and we have a family friend who's an ER doc there, so maybe we should consider that--though it's a LONG trip from Boston with two small kids!
liza: I'll also look into Jamaica--thanks for the tip on Half Moon Bay--though I thought that most places there are AI resorts, and we're not really looking for that.
If I can find out more about medical care in the USVI's, that may be one way to go. Thanks ccrosner for your condo suggestions on STX!
We're not going anywhere for awhile, so this isn't urgent. But it's good to know what our options are. So many islands sound wonderful, but I'd hate to find myself "up a creek without a paddle," so to speak.
Caribtraveller: I imagine most people don't think about hospitals when travelling, but for us, it's one of those things to figure out before a trip: where to stay, where & what to eat, and where the closest hospital is. Such is life...
MIM04: Yes, we could consider staying Stateside, but I was just wowed by the Caribbean when we went to GC and wanted to see another island. But we may have to reconsider if the medical care really isn't reliable. I know Hawaii has good hospitals, and we have a family friend who's an ER doc there, so maybe we should consider that--though it's a LONG trip from Boston with two small kids!
liza: I'll also look into Jamaica--thanks for the tip on Half Moon Bay--though I thought that most places there are AI resorts, and we're not really looking for that.
If I can find out more about medical care in the USVI's, that may be one way to go. Thanks ccrosner for your condo suggestions on STX!
We're not going anywhere for awhile, so this isn't urgent. But it's good to know what our options are. So many islands sound wonderful, but I'd hate to find myself "up a creek without a paddle," so to speak.
Jun 5th, 2006, 02:13 PM
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There are a lot of AI resorts in Jamaica, but also a lot of non-AI resorts (out of 15 or so trips we've stayed AI only once) and small hotels, etc. Half Moon offers an AI plan but it is optional.
There are several hotels nearby that aren't AI, I guess your choices depend on how close to the hospital you'd want to be.
There are several hotels nearby that aren't AI, I guess your choices depend on how close to the hospital you'd want to be.
Jun 5th, 2006, 05:56 PM
#26
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jspen,
I'm not sure that any of the smaller Caribbean islands can provide you with the emergency services you may require. Is this something you can discuss with your doctor? Perhaps he/she might have some pertinent advice for you. I'm not sure if you would need experienced personnel or sophisticated equipment.
And you could look into evacuation insurance.
I hope you find a successful resolution to all of the issues.
CW
I'm not sure that any of the smaller Caribbean islands can provide you with the emergency services you may require. Is this something you can discuss with your doctor? Perhaps he/she might have some pertinent advice for you. I'm not sure if you would need experienced personnel or sophisticated equipment.
And you could look into evacuation insurance.
I hope you find a successful resolution to all of the issues.
CW
Jun 6th, 2006, 03:55 PM
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jspen - I agree with CW, I would definitely discuss with your Dr at home. Honestly there are a lot of places I would be afraid to be with a kid with allergies of that nature. Hope you come up with something great!
Jun 7th, 2006, 02:37 PM
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I also have life threatening food allergies - seafood, shellfish, anchovy paste, etc and carry epi-pen - and yes, I have chosen destinations based on medical care available. Even if you use your epi, you often need immediate follow up care.
I always do several things:
Check out the listing of hospitals on the state.gov page under the consular sheets and see what they have to say.
If they list the hospitals individually, I google each hospital and see if I can track their medical assesment that way -
I also google "hospitals in suchandsuch" and research that a bit.
If I decide to go, I always have a letter with me, written in the native language/s of the area I am visiting that state my allergy and the concerns
(anaphylactic shock translates very well in most languages to "your guest could die"
to give to the chef. They have always been most accomodating.
I also have a letter from my physician explaining his preferred treatment should I need it.
There is also a company you can register with that has a link up from all over the world that any hospital can plug into to get medical info you have supplied, which I ahve not done as an adult, but you might want to consider investigating for you child since there may be times in the future he will be traveling without you.
This being said, it hasn't stopped me from traveling all over the world to many wonderful destinations, but it has made me choose perhaps a different island, or a different city in a country if I do not feel I would be absolutely comfortable in what I could eat or not.
It has sometimes been that I choose to go and my diet varies to accomodate the travel.
It isn't just people with allergies who think about these things, my friend who dives also always makes sure there is some special chamber on the island he will be diving from in case of an accident to avoid the delay of having to be air lifted to a nearby island that indeed does have one.
You can also ask your physician and your local travel clinic. I know the travel clinic in our city has a special computer link up, and when my son was traveling to South Korea, the info they could access was incredible not only concerning the latest on immunization decisions but also on local hospital/clinic care and locations.
Perhaps if you are near a major city, one of your hosptials has such a travel clinic that could assist you.
I always do several things:
Check out the listing of hospitals on the state.gov page under the consular sheets and see what they have to say.
If they list the hospitals individually, I google each hospital and see if I can track their medical assesment that way -
I also google "hospitals in suchandsuch" and research that a bit.
If I decide to go, I always have a letter with me, written in the native language/s of the area I am visiting that state my allergy and the concerns
(anaphylactic shock translates very well in most languages to "your guest could die"
to give to the chef. They have always been most accomodating.I also have a letter from my physician explaining his preferred treatment should I need it.
There is also a company you can register with that has a link up from all over the world that any hospital can plug into to get medical info you have supplied, which I ahve not done as an adult, but you might want to consider investigating for you child since there may be times in the future he will be traveling without you.
This being said, it hasn't stopped me from traveling all over the world to many wonderful destinations, but it has made me choose perhaps a different island, or a different city in a country if I do not feel I would be absolutely comfortable in what I could eat or not.
It has sometimes been that I choose to go and my diet varies to accomodate the travel.
It isn't just people with allergies who think about these things, my friend who dives also always makes sure there is some special chamber on the island he will be diving from in case of an accident to avoid the delay of having to be air lifted to a nearby island that indeed does have one.
You can also ask your physician and your local travel clinic. I know the travel clinic in our city has a special computer link up, and when my son was traveling to South Korea, the info they could access was incredible not only concerning the latest on immunization decisions but also on local hospital/clinic care and locations.
Perhaps if you are near a major city, one of your hosptials has such a travel clinic that could assist you.
Jun 7th, 2006, 02:43 PM
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oh, just scanned the thread again and see you are near Boston as I am - I have often used the travel clinic at Logan Airport, there are also travel clinics at several of our major hospitals in Boston, you may want to speak to your pediatrician about the best one for you,
Our pediatrician has sent my son several times to the one at Logan (for his South Korea trip and upcoming trip to India) - I have been very impressed with the time, care and thoughtfulness they gave deciding on what he needed, didn't need, and what emergency precautions he should take.
FOr the upcoming trip to India, I am investigating one of those online/24 hr fax/internet access medical history services just in case......
Our pediatrician has sent my son several times to the one at Logan (for his South Korea trip and upcoming trip to India) - I have been very impressed with the time, care and thoughtfulness they gave deciding on what he needed, didn't need, and what emergency precautions he should take.
FOr the upcoming trip to India, I am investigating one of those online/24 hr fax/internet access medical history services just in case......
Jun 8th, 2006, 11:27 AM
#31
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escargot: Thanks so much for your suggestions! We are still in the planning stages, so the info is still timely. We managed to go to GC in April without incident, but are now thinking about the next destination... For that trip, we brought quite a bit of food from home and then cooked in our condo while we were there, so had no problems.
I was not aware of the travel clinics you mention, so that's definitely something I should check out. I will also look into the info on the State Dept. website--that seems like a good resource as well. This would be a trip for next spring, so we have some time to plan. It's always good to hear what others with allergies do when travelling--most of our travels up until now have been within the US and Canada, so this is new for us.
Thanks!
JS
I was not aware of the travel clinics you mention, so that's definitely something I should check out. I will also look into the info on the State Dept. website--that seems like a good resource as well. This would be a trip for next spring, so we have some time to plan. It's always good to hear what others with allergies do when travelling--most of our travels up until now have been within the US and Canada, so this is new for us.
Thanks!
JS
Jun 8th, 2006, 12:36 PM
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Glad it was of some help. If you ever need or want a letter explaining the allergy in the language of where you are visiting - If I don't have someone I personally know who can do it, I've had good luck asking/writing/emailing the embassy office of that country or a local college who has been able to find me a professor of that language who could do it.
People always seem willing to help with that - and if it has been a friend who wonders if her ability is a bit rusty, I ask someone at the hotel when we arrive to give it a quick lookover.
Good luck - it's tough sometimes = the reason I started bringing a letter - although sometimes you don't need it with so much english being spoken around the world - was because when I'd begin explaining the allergy there were times a waiter cut me off saying "Oh, I know I hate fish too" and I'd say no, no it isn't that I hate it, and it isn't that I get hives or a rash - I could literally stop breathing !"
Plus, easier to hand the letter before I am seating and get it all squared away without having to go through my speech while a server is juggling many tables.
I find most chefs go overboard to help, but giving them a heads up when I arrive, also gives them time to get a plan going if they have to clean a part of the grill off or get some pans ready that haven't previously sauteed fish !
All the preparation makes for a more relaxing vacation for me !
People always seem willing to help with that - and if it has been a friend who wonders if her ability is a bit rusty, I ask someone at the hotel when we arrive to give it a quick lookover.
Good luck - it's tough sometimes = the reason I started bringing a letter - although sometimes you don't need it with so much english being spoken around the world - was because when I'd begin explaining the allergy there were times a waiter cut me off saying "Oh, I know I hate fish too" and I'd say no, no it isn't that I hate it, and it isn't that I get hives or a rash - I could literally stop breathing !"
Plus, easier to hand the letter before I am seating and get it all squared away without having to go through my speech while a server is juggling many tables.
I find most chefs go overboard to help, but giving them a heads up when I arrive, also gives them time to get a plan going if they have to clean a part of the grill off or get some pans ready that haven't previously sauteed fish !
All the preparation makes for a more relaxing vacation for me !
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