Retirement in Puerto Vallarta - Afraid of Medical Care South of the Border?

Ten years ago, the fear of need urgent medical or dental care, while south of the border ranked near the fear of running out of gas while crossing the tracks, both have had you calling for spiritual guidance! In 1997, shortly after we moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, called PV or Vallarta by the locals, friends elected to have a considerable amount of cosmetic surgery done here in PV. At that time, there were a large number of small hospitals and clinics in the city, but only two that thought.

is one of the 50-harvesting and other more like a 60-by as the window air conditioners in three patient rooms. My son, surgical veterinarian in California, was reluctant to practice his specialty to other hospitals and clinics! surgery at our friend was satisfactory, although none of the nurses spoke English, the attention and care received during recovery were excellent. At that time, good medical care is hard to find in Vallarta and if anyone needed major medical care, they should go to Guadalajara or fly to the United States. In 1997 there were a number of dentists in PV, but they were pretty scary looking places, like the ones you saw in the '60s, though few of them had a window air conditioner. Ten years ago, when a broken arm, toothache, etc., that you were best off flying back to the good old U.S. of care.

Now, ten years later, we have two large, ultra modern, fully equipped hospitals and one smaller, but still modern hospitals in Vallarta. Of course, many small dilapidated hospitals still exist, but should not be considered in North America. Mali AmeriMed hospital is fully capable of handling most emergencies, performs most of the testing, and is suitable for all but the most serious problems. Across the street from the new AmeriMed San Javier Hospital which was built five years ago. This ultra modern hospital is capable of handling just about every imaginable medical problem.

They have recently performed an emergency open heart surgery on a passenger cruise ship. San Javier is a MR, cardiac catheterization, angioresonance, neuroradiologic, mammography, ecosonographic, etc. equipment. Of course, the patient recovery rooms meet the highest standards and equipped with everything you would expect in a fine U.S. hospital. The newest hospital is the cornerstone of the hospital that was built two years ago and meets the same standards as the new cornerstone of hospitals in Texas. Stone is only Radiology Clinic in Western Mexico with state-of-the-art CAT scan and MRI equipment. It is a center for dialysis and lithotripsy, as well as emergency child care, full cardiac services, ophthalmology department, 24-hour emergency room, intensive care unit, on-site pharmacy, recovery room, and beautiful, almost plush, patient rooms .

Between San Javier and stone, are fully covered for any matter relating to orthopedics, trauma, nephrology, urology, anesthesiology, internal medicine, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, endocrinology, rheumatology, neurology, cardiology, general surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, hematology, dermatology, and just about anything that ails you. These hospitals accept most all international insurance and most U.S. veterans benefits. In fact, the veterans here have shown that they are receiving better care than the PV overcrowded VA facilities in the United States.

Almost all the doctors and nurses in these hospitals speak English. Furthermore, most doctors have received part of their education in America or Europe. There are two main differences between these hospitals and those in the United States, they are price and service! Surgical procedures and hospital services are the third half of what they are in the United States. attention, care and follow-up far exceeds that in the United States. doctors and nurses really care and treat each patient as a friend. They seem to be more interested in curing and treating a patient than they are in raising money. Most doctors carry mobile phones and are available for consultation 24 hours a day.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery has become so popular in the PV that many Americans and Canadians come here specifically for a sip and tuck. So, that big spa specializing in post-operative care is currently in the planning stage, enables those on the market come to Paradise for a week or two and return home looking ten years younger!

Today, there are very few dentists in Vallarta, each with state-of-the-art offices meeting U.S. standards. Root canals, caps, crowns, and implants are done on a daily basis in a beautiful, high-tech, and sterile offices. Again, they are all fluent in English and their prices are the third half of what they are in the United States. For this reason, many North Americans have also come here for the new caps, crowns, implants, and-perhaps the same people who come for cosmetic surgery!
We should not expect any new medical clinics, state-of-the-art hospital, or a modern dental clinics, but if and when the time comes, we will certainly not be afraid of medical care south of the border!