NATIONAL GINAGRAPHIC
  • iGallivant
    • "UltimateKhamTrek2019!"
    • Travel: Eastern Tibet & China 2018-19
    • Moving to China? How to Survive in China! >
      • The Hard Part: Documentation, Banking and more HASSLES! (Pre- and Post-arrival)
      • Arrival & Settling In & Daily Life
      • AQI, health, safety, etc.
      • 我喜欢中国的东西!iLvChina!
      • Chengdu - Giant Panda City
      • NomNomNom
      • Teaching in China
      • The Great Leap Forward
    • Increase Your China IQ
    • Gallivanting in China!
    • Gallivanting outside of China >
      • Aussomeness!
      • India
  • BlahBlahBlog
    • MBSR & Gratitude >
      • 我能行 2018!
      • 365gratitude 2016-17
    • Misc Blather
    • Life Savant
    • Hip Gnosis
    • Banchan - Stories and Poetry
    • Mortality As Fiction
    • Quotes That Resonate
    • Yummies 4 ur Tummies
    • ggTV
    • Tao
    • I Am That
  • detours de Force
    • Bon Jour Paris!
    • Yogaville 2016
    • 내 김치 키스 2013-14 >
      • Life in Korea
      • 학생 안녕하세요!
      • Put it in my belly!
      • gadabout...
      • Video Diaries >
        • VidLoGs Korea
      • Teaching English in Korea
      • Signs of Fun
      • Pre-departure Essentials
      • K Drama
    • All My Exes Live in Texas
    • Climbing Chronicles
    • Sycling Singularites
    • Pirate of the Caribbean 2002-2010
    • Panama 2010
    • Florida Crackers 2003-2005, 2011-2013
    • The Euro 2003
    • Chic on a Bike 2008- Eternity
    • Chic on a Boat 1999-2013
    • The Gallivanting Goddess
  • About Moi

Health Care and Doctor Visits

2/8/2014

0 Comments

 
     My second visit to the doctor was as easy as the first, back in December.  Last Sunday I had the misfortune of tripping while visiting a temple, well, really,  my foot slid off a step sideways while I was distracted and walking (blonde: and chewing gum, a deadly combination for a blonde!)  Luckily, it was a minor sprain, unlike the other two times I've torn ligaments and been down for a year.  Ugh! 
     Luckily for me, the clinic is right next door to my Academy, and the MD speaks excellent English.  After an examination and discussion of my symptoms, he instructed me to refrain from running and hiking for two weeks, walk carefully, and go next door for a "Chiropractic" treatment.  I'm unsure as to why it's called Chiropractic, but perhaps that's the closest English word--I'm guessing only, and don't know the true reasoning.  The Doc's Assistant, who is a Physical Therapist, as my Director claims, directed me to one of 5 or 6 beds while he gathered supplies.  One woman was resting supine, undergoing a pressurizing treatment for her legs.  I've seen these "bags" while in nursing school: they envelope the lower extremities and enhance circulation by alternately filling with air and then emptying.  Another patient was prone, with "suction cups" on her back, connected to a machine that looks similar to a TENS Unit that provides electric current stimulation to muscles.  I believe the "suction cups" provide a treatment similar to acupressure/acupuncture.  I was about to find out!
     First, he brought a heated pack for the bed, had me lie down on it, and covered me with a blanket.  how nice!  Lying on the hot pack was so relaxing, inducing a sense of relaxation and calm, and I'm sure, encouraged the healing process to begin. [If only US medical facilities offered such treatment instead of the conveyor belt, rushed, stressed feeling accompanying a medical treatment.]  Then he prepared my ankle with some salve before placing the cups on my ankle and lower leg.  As he adjusted the suction, he asked if it was too strong or acceptable.  It was definitely an odd feeling, but not one I would describe as uncomfortable in any way.  You can see the result in the photos.
    The medical facilities are so modern (more modern than in the US, in my opinion), and there is never much of a wait, even when the waiting room is full of people.  Again, I am not yet covered under the Korean Health Insurance so my visit was "quite expensive": $10 for the visit, and $8.50 for the meds.  Yeah, $18, that's right!  While Americans are being FORCED to pay into the so-called "Affordable Care Act", costing citizens of the US $200-300 PER MONTH (which will go to Insurance Companies and Drug Companies, not to the Docs or Nurses who provide care by the way!) Don't get me started on the US Health Care Debacle.  In Korea, the health insurance costs are income based.  When I'm finally signed  up, I think it's going to cost me about $50/month, then my Dr. visits will be $3-4 and meds the same.
     My ankle has healed quite quickly, so I'm really pleased.  And the health care  and health care system of Korea is superb!  Just another reason it's a great place to live here!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    iGallivant...

    ...is moving to South Korea to teach English, fulfilling a dream of many years.

    Archives

    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    Affordable Care Act
    Cultural Differences
    Doctor Visits
    Effective Teaching
    Esl
    Food
    Hanguel
    Health Insurance
    IHerb
    Information
    IPhone
    Korea
    Korean Health Care
    Korean Language
    Lesson Planning
    Living In Korea
    Medical Care
    New Teachers
    Online Teacher Certification
    School
    Shipping
    Studer Education
    Teacher Certification Courses
    Teacher Ready
    Teaching
    Teaching English In Korea
    Tips
    Tongyeong-si
    University Of West Florida

    RSS Feed

Currently wandering around the Down Under! ​

FB & IG "National Ginagraphic"

    Hit me up! DM: 

boing!!