MM Six: The Doctor

I had my first experience with a French doctor this past week.  This may be a bit of an awkward post, but I'll try to keep it comical too! :)


So, because of my lovely HMO back in States, I couldn't go get my yearly "well-women" exam before we left since I had gotten it last January, which is the same "calender year".  I debated going to the American hospital here, but decided that it was time to embrace French culture and experience what French medicine is like.  And let me tell you, it is quite different!  First of all, there are no real "clinics" or centers of doctors here, instead they have offices on the block that look like they could be a residence.

Example of doctor's office...looks like an
entrance to an apartment!

I found one in my neighborhood that was listed on the American Embassy website as speaking English.  After a very broken conversation of French and English with the receptionist, trying to explain what a "well woman" exam is, I found out I could get in the next day.  (Wait, what?!? This would NEVER happen in the U.S., unless it was an emergency.  I was lucky if I could even get the receptionist to answer or call be back at my U.S. doctor.  But that's a whole other story!)

I arrived at the office about 10 minutes early, expecting to wait. But, no! After taking my passport for my information, the doctor led me into her office immediately!  After asking me some questions about my health history and what I was there for (in pretty good English!), she told me it was time for the exam.  I was expecting a gown, like in the U.S., but that was not to be.  Instead it was just strip down and get on the table for the exam.  A little weird, especially since there were paintings of naked people on all the walls.  Maybe this is supposed to make you feel more comfortable?

After a short exam, she wrote me a new prescription for an equivalent to what I had in the U.S.  (You can't get the exact replacements here.)  Even after paying for my visit, which without insurance was less than $100 (although general doctors are much, much less here!), it had only been 20 minutes since arriving at the office.  Considering that in the U.S. it pretty much required a half day to go to the doctor (drive, wait 30 minutes after checking in, wait for the dr. to come in after that nurse, etc, etc.), I was pleasantly surprised at this contrast!  The French definitely have their system down!

Our local pharmacy, although you can find
one about every 2 blocks!

Then, it was off to the pharmacy.  It isn't too hard to find one here--just look for the bright, green cross!  I'd visited the pharmacy one other time when I had jet lag and found that pharmacists earn their keep here: tell them your symptoms and they recommend a medicine. I was a little excited to take my prescription in because I'd read online that pills here can be about 2 euros a month.  Mine, were not quite that cheap, because they are name brand, but I still only paid 10 euros for one month--with NO insurance.  Compare that to the $35 I paid in the U.S. WITH insurance!  AND, I didn't have to wait for it to be ready--I just walked in, they stamped my prescription for one month, and I walked out!

All, in all, I'm pretty impressed with the healthcare system here so far! C'est bonne!