The level of care we received at this facility is nothing short of wonderful…read more
We were referred here by our insurance company (DKV). [Note: we had to buy a private plan upon moving to Spain, as we didn't pay into Spain's social healthcare system - we didn't move here until after we'd retired.] It was our first hospital experience here (and hopefully our last), but - WOW. I've lived in the States most of my life, and American health care is all that I've been accustomed to. THIS was certainly not THAT. While I don't mean to disparage the US healthcare system, here's what we found:
Background: Sunday night of a holiday weekend, my wife trips and falls, breaking her upper humerus. We didn't realize it was broken, and she didn't want to go get X-rayed... until I insisted on Tuesday. She was seen by a traumatologist at our local clinic, who after examining the X-rays, scheduled her surgery for Thursday. It turns out the bone had broken in several places, and the humeral head had rotated. Eek.
We were greeted at the hospital by her surgical team: an anesthesiologist and two surgeons - each of which spoke passable to very good English. They explained the procedure, and off she went to the OR! I stayed in her private room (this hospital doesn't have traditional multiple-patient rooms) and awaited word. The nurse checked on me a few times to see if there was anything I needed. (Really? Checked on me?!?)
When my wife was through recovery, both of the surgeons accompanied her into the room to explain what they found, and how they had repaired the break - but also to explain what to expect during the healing process; the physical therapy, etc. They were very thorough, and repeated whatever I needed them to.
The nurse was available almost instantaneously. Any time my wife or I rang the buzzer, it would be answered within 30 seconds, and the nurse would be in the room in under one minute. Every. Time. It didn't matter what shift, or what time of day - the nursing care here was far superior to anything I'd ever experienced in the States. And NO, this is not a slap at the American nursing community - they are some of the hardest working people I know! It's just that this hospital has SUCH a wonderful staff-to-patient ratio, that it makes this "personal" care possible. For our floor there was one nurse for every three patients during the day, and one for four overnight.
Speaking of overnight, each room is equipped with a full sized sofa which opens into a single bed for family. Instead of chasing visitors away when "visiting hours" are over, here they encourage a family member to stay, comfortably, to help the convalescing process. I was stunned!
Let's talk hospital food: Since my wife's surgery was orthopaedic, they did not put any dietary restrictions on her. The food tasted like restaurant food. Real, honest-to-goodness, flavorful, plentiful food. They also asked if I wanted a tray for myself!
One of her surgeons visited her on Friday and Saturday, and remarked on her progress. My wife asked when she could go home, and the doctor said she could leave that afternoon, unless she WANTED to stay another day. This was NOTHING like the revolving-bed practices I've seen in the States!
Granted, this hospital is NOT a part of the social Spanish health care system. We were not eligible for that. I am SO GLAD that my wife was cared for at Clinica Corachan!