I have lived in Costa Rica for almost 20 years, and I had to use the facility of Hospital Calderón Guardia only three times, twice in the emergency room and just a few days ago for a four-day stay.
I had never been beyond the emergency room facility until this particular time, so therefore I wasn’t really familiar with any other part of the hospital except the emergency facility. My wife, Blanca, had three serious operations in this hospital on three different occasions and she always assured me that it's a top-rated hospital.
My opinion of this hospital now having a first-hand experience is the following.
It would rival any first-class rated hospital in the U.S., and I mean every word I am about to say. I was diagnosed with pancreatitis which can be very severe, and the pain, on a scale of one to ten, one being slight, ten being excruciating, was definitely a ten.
While in the emergency room facility, I was sent for several different tests, five x-rays, sonogram and several blood tests. It was determined that it was indeed pancreatitis and that I would be required to spend some time in the hospital for treatment and further testing.
I was admitted and brought up to the fourth floor in a large room shared with six other patients and an ample size bath facility and shower. Part of the patient’s room was shared with a duty nurse who occupies a desk and devices to perform her/his duties and still be able to monitor the patients.
The meal schedule is incredible. The breakfast is served and then a few hours later a light snack and beverage and then lunch is delivered around noon and then an afternoon snack and beverage, the evening meal is of course next and then a beverage before bedtime.
The staff which includes doctors, nurses, technicians, kitchen staff, cleaning crews, maintenance crew are extremely well organized, compassionate, intelligent, professional, and energetic beyond anything I have witnessed here in Costa Rica or the U.S. and would definitely rival anything in the States.
It was a pleasant surprise to me because as I have mentioned I had never been beyond the emergency facility and as all emergency and trauma facilities go anywhere in the world they are a bit chaotic and of course overtaxed with emergency treatment.
I would rate the doctors and the nursing staff and all the support staff as excellent and very professional and
dedicated far beyond anything I have seen in the States and others countries where I have lived. It almost seems that practicing virtues is part of their curriculum. I have never witnessed such compassion to all the patients suffering from every conceivable ailment or disease.
This hospital is, of course, part of the socialized medicine system which Costa Rica has demonstrated works with great proficiency both economically and socially. They could be a great lesson to the U.S. and other countries of the world. But of course most countries because of their own ego problems wouldn’t consider using a smaller country as a model to their own health care systems.
The first doctor who saw me said that it would take about 48 hours of no food for the body to heal my condition. He went on to say that the human body has wonderful capabilities to heal itself and that all they need to do is diagnose the problem and assist in the healing process, through proper medications, therapy, and or surgery.
A team of doctors would visit me at the foot of my bed, all eight of them, and ask me questions relevant to my case and then confer between themselves and make a group decision. It reminds me of the very popular TV show “Dr. House.” Only this is real life. Their diagnostic skills are world class and they would rival the fictional character Dr. House himself.
It is so incredible that a staff of doctors, nurses, and all the support staff can have such energy, dedication, caring mindset, compassion, all while maintaining very professional work ethics and still manage to have nice broad smiles on their face when you come in eye contact.
All I have to say is that Costa Rica is fortunate to have this wonderful hospital and its incredible staff from the administrator, doctors, nurses, technicians to the support personnel which makes this hospital run like a fine tuned and well oiled machine, and I hope the Costa Rica citizens as well as foreign visitors are very thankful for that. God bless the entire staff at Calderón hospital.
By Alan Charles Johnson*
Special to A.M. Costa Rica
Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway
