Follow up to Medical availability thread

That last thread got long and interesting, but I don't think the info some of us need was ever actually found.

There is apparently a recent problem with the medical services at some of the resorts who use a contractor who charges unbelievable high prices at times for simple services. My long time
plan when in Jamaica if I (or someone with me) had a serious illness or injury was to get a taxi and head for MoBay Hope Medical in MoBay (Half Moon shopping area), but that same company that has been called out by lots of people who were overcharged now operates that same clinic. We did not have a confidence-inspiring experience at the clinic at Sav, my one trip to Cornwall with an injured friend was far less than ideal. Someone in the other thread about this mentioned that they use reliable independent doctors in the Negril area but I've never been able to find out who they are, how to contact them, or what the best and most reliable medical options are in case a need arises. I know people who have been vacationing in Negril even longer than I have and some of them have simply felt they could no longer vacation there as their medical situation has gotten more complicated over the years.

What I wish I could get from some of you experts is this.... Assume you are in Negril on vacation and have a serious medical issue (illness or injury)... what do YOU do? What do you think the best options are for reliable medical treatment if something serious happens?

Thanks very much!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoyinNC

Assume you are in Negril on vacation and have a serious medical issue (illness or injury)... what do YOU do? What do you think the best options are for reliable medical treatment if something serious happens?

Thanks very much!

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This is why Nurse Beth started her business, Comforts Of Home. She's the best first-call option for medical treatment. Nurse Beth comes to you with medical supplies and actually provides care while assessing and arranging further assistance.

Is there a phone number for Nurse Beth? This is a great thread to start, thank you.

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http://www.j.mp/comfortsJA

You can get her contact # on the link and also, if you have an upcoming trip you can use the Contact Form to tell her your dates, known medical issues and where you are staying.

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Her link can be found in our Market section!

Thanks! I take see she is a nurse... is there a doctor associated with her business as well?

They all said above that she does triage with a view to examine the situation and get you to proper care as deemed necessary. I myself on last visit just was sick with sinus infection … trying to fight it but felt much better with a fellow frequent visitor connecting me to the Vet antibiotics. I was sick … I will forever bring 10-14 days of amoxicillan and I will share. Yup, I will burn in hell for sharing but I was in dire straits and a fellow traveller shared.

The odd thing is that there are apparently competent doctors in the area but no one seems to know who they are or how to contact them directly. Having said that, it sounds like Comforts of Home is a really great idea in an area that has a need for this kind of service. I hope it thrives! As I read the list of what they do it makes me wonder how many employees they have since they do Personal Shopping,
Event Promotion & Marketing, Pet Sitting/Property Management. Rental Search Assistance, and Excursions too. Hard to label a business that does all these things.
Thanks again for the info and link to ComfortsJA.

Indeed it is different. How interesting that so many hats are worn. Early early advice was that the health care system is burdened; be prepared and if you can get home for proper care, it is likely best. Truly, the vet worked for me in the short term. We all know that those are few and far between.

Warmest regards and I'm so pleased to share in all wisdom.

I recommend that you consider Travel insurance for medical emergencies that require evacuation. I got ours through AAA from the same company that said they didn't offer it on their web site! I wasn't in the AAA office for more than 10 minutes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoyinNC

The odd thing is that there are apparently competent doctors in the area but no one seems to know who they are or how to contact them directly...

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On the bottom of each of the Negril.com main menu pages are the local clinics/doctors listed with their phone contacts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marblehead

I recommend that you consider Travel insurance for medical emergencies that require evacuation. I got ours through AAA from the same company that said they didn't offer it on their web site! I wasn't in the AAA office for more than 10 minutes.

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I agree, and we always have medical insurance and medical evac insurance every time we travel outside the US. But having that insurance and being evacuated are far from the same thing. The problem is that you can't decide for yourself that you need to be evacuated, they require a physician assessment to start that process. I keep hearing there are good doctors in the area, but no one seems to be able to say who they are or how to contact them. I have come to think (after visiting both) that the clinic at Sav and the hospital at Cornwall are not great places to start this process unless there is just no other way. And I understand that there may be no other way, but since many think there are better options I'm just trying to find out what those options are. I could be wrong but I don't think most companies would evac you based on the assessment of a nursing company that also babysits, pet sits, house sits, and arranges tours. Comforts of Home sounds awesome and I wish them nothing but success, but they must have some doctor somewhere they work with in order to begin the evac process I would think.
Roy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoyinNC

I agree, and we always have medical insurance and medical evac insurance every time we travel outside the US. But having that insurance and being evacuated are far from the same thing. The problem is that you can't decide for yourself that you need to be evacuated, they require a physician assessment to start that process. I keep hearing there are good doctors in the area, but no one seems to be able to say who they are or how to contact them....

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On the bottom of each of the Negril.com main menu pages are the local clinics/doctors listed with their phone contacts.

Thanks Rob!

Well amoxicillin is NOT the correct treatment for many infections! Careful of any reactions also or you can set yourself up for trouble like that...

EXACTLY! What you HEAR carrying some weight in trust. So once again...I provide first responder nursing assessment HANDS ON, referral if needed and collaborate with whatever Drs are available to speak to....will get you where you need to be if so. The Drs vary, the services vary depending on time of day/night and I use whatever I can to help you get through the night or get where you need to go! I work with ethical services and physicians and do my best to give you Plan A and Plan B for keeping costs down. I know who to call and who NOT to call. It has been three years and I have NEVER had anything but gratitude from clients that needed my help. I have helped, sent off and travelled with people to bring them where they need to go because they don't know area and I can get them through the process quicker with my being their advocate by their side! It has been the busiest season ever and I hope you link with me via my website! I am under MARKET section here but here ya go again...Nurse Beth
Comforts of Home Nursing Services Limited
www.j.mp/comfortsJA

Drs and clinics are NOT 24 hours..even during the day they run clinic so I am usually first responder I carry private numbers to Drs and services that I have built a relationship and trust with to use when clinics are closed
I have transport services I trust. Even with evacuation travel insurance, you need clearance to travel usually through a Dr here
and this can tie you up here for a bit!
Nurse Beth
876-464-2894

I DO NOT arrange tours, I may accompany on excursion for special needs guests or people with medical issues
I CAN house sit/ pet sit and continue to do my 24 hour emergency triage nursing services
I WILL sit with ill child/adult so family can go to dinner or out on excursion

You DO underestimate my contacts and services here

Clinics close in the evening There is no hospital here I am the only HANDS ON 24 hour nursing triage responder (carrying medic bag and AED) you can call for assessment/referral, unless you want to resort to calling an ambulance which many hotels will automatically do! (Private $$ Local to Sav or Cornwall??) I can call physicians/services during the night for consult and to make a plan. I can arrange transport by van or ambulance that I TRUST and less expensive. Ambulances are never cheap ANYWHERE anyways. I try to make the best plan and keep costs down. I many times travel with clients that don't want to sit around and don't know the ropes or the area they are traveling to! Many times services can take quite some time to arrive at night! I can assure you I am first call for MANY hotels day and night, since the Drs are in clinic or out of area at times!
I will always tell you what you need to do and work with you to make you feel safe and have that COMFORT OF HOME here.
There is no guarantee on who is in Negril, what is open here or other cities and what services available!! I make tons of calls and facilitate everything when I arrive. Who knows how many ambulances are running here on any given day. You must call daily and know!!! I am proud to say, If you want help...I AM your best call for help to start!
Now please know I do local services also. I get call for blood pressure and other tests, wound dressings, check elderly when I get calls to do so. I charge local fees and if I get a tip or supplies I use these for care here! I do what I can do here to fill in the gap in Negril and collaborate with many physicians. They call me to go do some calls they get because they DO NOT need a physician, this save money to the client, YOU.
SOOOO on that note, let me feed this dog I am watching for someone that is on vacation and then go to an appointment I have hahahaha If I get a call I am READY!:cool:

Nurse Beth,
I guess I misunderstood some of the things on your website about pet sitting and such, and if that is the case I apologize for that. As I have mentioned more than once your business looks like it is filling a great need in the area and I wish you nothing but success with it. I seem to have misunderstood some of the things on your list of services.
24-Hour hotel calls (limited service to private homes/apartments)
Adult/Child Sitting (Home & Hotel)
Education (Business & Community)
Health Care Consulting/Auditing
Hotel/Clinic Contracts
Event Nursing Support
On-Site Visits (blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol tests, etc.)
Post-Clinic/Hospital follow-up care
Private Nursing/Travel Care
Personal Shopping
Event Promotion & Marketing
Pet Sitting/Property Management
Rental Search Assistance
Excursions

Sorry if I misunderstood the meaning of these services, but hopefully you can see why I might have.
I wish you and your business all the very best and appreciate you doing what you do in an area where it seems hard to find a doctor. I've been asking for a year and still have not found the name of a doctor in Negril, so I understand that it's a tough thing to do.
All the best-
Roy
Negril again in the Spring... just being there helps my blood pressure! :)

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I'm confused. On the home page is this: "Medical Information: Negril Health Centre (Govt): 957-4926 - Doctor's Medical Clinic (near HiLo): 957-3770 - Omega Medical Clinic (near Roundabout): 957 - 9307". Are these not medical doctors?

They are clinics that obviously have doctors there at times. If there are certain reliable doctors that work there they are not listed. It may be a rotation of a variety of doctors, or there may be a couple of doctors who work there regularly. Not sure. I see what you are saying, but these are clinics. not doctors. A subtle distinction I know. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoyinNC

I've been asking for a year and still have not found the name of a doctor in Negril, so I understand that it's a tough thing to do.
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Roy, I'm confused also...outside of Beth running an excellent service...Rob has given you the phone numbers to the clinics in Negril twice in this thread alone, when you've asked. If you phone the clinic numbers, they'll tell you which doctor may be working there that day.
Are you just looking for names of Doctors in particular that work in Negril? I'm not sure how that helps outside of having given you the phone numbers to the clinics...but a few names around town... Dr. Grant (she's mentioned regularly on negril.com), Dr. Foster, Dr. Reddy...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoyinNC

...but these are clinics. not doctors. A subtle distinction I know. :)

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There is no subtle distinction, all the doctors you can contact in Negril work at a clinic. What you may be thinking of as a doctor's office is referred to as a clinic in Negril.

Thanks Bnewb,
Do these doctors have their own offices and contact information or are these the doctors that work and the clinics Rob lists (or a combination of those things)?
I think the real question I have been asking has become lost along the way... Where do the people with an inside knowledge of the medical situation in Negril go or do if something serious happens other than Sav or Cornwall? Having been to both I am wondering if there are better options in the area, and if so... what are they? I visit Jamaica often, but just for a week at at time and even after 35 or so visits I know that the people on this board know far more than I do about everything in Negril. I was hoping I'd ask my question and someone would say something like,

"If I had a serious medical situation when I was in Negril I would definitely do/call ..... because this is the most reliable option in the area if you have a serious illness or injury and they can authorized use of your medical evac insurance if needed."

But I have also learned that it's just not as simple as I was hoping it would be. That's my actual question and I have gained some excellent info about the services provided by Nurse Beth and now know that unless someone else comes up with a better option she should be the first call for someone visiting the area. It sounds like she has the information I am asking about and provides a valuable service to help someone access the options that do exist in the area.
Thanks for your reply.
Roy

Yes they are. The healthcare center closes approx 5pm The clinic hours vary upon days and close in evenings, with the physician coming in different times in the day- also each offer different peripheral services ea clinic. One offers 24 roving nurse with skills in hospitality and customer service, but last I heard from hotels and saw on their flier...the nurse gets insurance info and calls that DR or ambulance. There is NO hands on allowed (they listed cannot give over the counter, take blood pressure and doesn't carry any supplies) which really isn't providing any nursing service. There is NO guarantee to reach physicians 24 hours or have a rig available in town so be prepared. There are more clinics than listed and many do not come out at night. I work with whatever is at hand and deal with the issue at hand, you aren't alone to figure it out. I say have travel insurance but read fine print ( evac qualifications), carry cash as well as credit card with large limit (25,000) and keep my number handy.
Bless

Yes, as we all do in Jamaica, wear multiple hats! No problem. I make myself available for many services. Nurse Beth

I understand the frustration, hence I began this business years ago! I try daily to get something going 24 hours here and lots of talk and no action means I am on the clock 24/7. I help to the best of my ability to take care of each situation. Many people call and want me to tell them what to do, but this isn't a phone service. I respond and make a plan. The physicians that DO let me call them in the night want me to come , assess and make sure they need to come OR get you through the night or where you need to go. The run clinic (the Dr office) and have their own families and do not do 24/7 really. I have built relationships to get here their trust and take also assist them when they ask me to go do a home/hotel call for them. Having me go assess reduces cost instead of physician fee or transportation out if you really do not need a physician! If you do need a physician I can facilitate when/where you should go depending on the situation. I can consult to make sure it is the correct plan and advise upon my experience here what we need to do...even if it is playing the insurance game to get you off the island or riding along to get through all the BS I truly am the only service like this, and will always prioritize my calls to level of urgency. I am sure you will hear more about my services since this has been my busiest year ever and I have sent 4+ people home already this season! If you don't need to go great...if you do, you WILL hear it from me! Many people are emailing through my website, their dates and where they are staying, as well as important medical history to be prepared. Nurse Beth
www.j.mp/comfortsJA

I'm curious too. The one by Hilo was closed the Sunday I felt the worst and resorted to reckless behaviour that I have been appropriately lectured upon. Did this not start from some having unsatisfactory treatment at clinics, expensive, or a monopoly at hotels … not pleased. I would have been there irregardless … other options and I am happy to know that we are connected with someone who can connect us with someone. Nice to know that we have options.

I can vouch for nurse Beth's response to my situtation . Because I knew she was a boardie and was 24/7 I needed something as I was suffering with belly pain . Nothing was open and a call to the front desk would have probably meant a ride in an ambulance to the nearest emergency room . But I called Beth at 4 in the morning and she was at my villa in 20 minutes and was assesing me . She had the connection to Dr. and made appt. for me . Although my situation was not easy to diagnose I felt she was my strongest advocate there was ! She was also well prepared to do triage if needed . She is truly frustrated about no 24/7 clinic that can be accessed in the Negril area . Thanks Nurse Beth for that early morning visit.
Farmer

Well I know I have added her contact information in my phone. You never know when you are going to need some help!

Thanks for the information!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoyinNC

That last thread got long and interesting, but I don't think the info some of us need was ever actually found.

There is apparently a recent problem with the medical services at some of the resorts who use a contractor who charges unbelievable high prices at times for simple services. My long time
plan when in Jamaica if I (or someone with me) had a serious illness or injury was to get a taxi and head for MoBay Hope Medical in MoBay (Half Moon shopping area), but that same company that has been called out by lots of people who were overcharged now operates that same clinic. We did not have a confidence-inspiring experience at the clinic at Sav, my one trip to Cornwall with an injured friend was far less than ideal. Someone in the other thread about this mentioned that they use reliable independent doctors in the Negril area but I've never been able to find out who they are, how to contact them, or what the best and most reliable medical options are in case a need arises. I know people who have been vacationing in Negril even longer than I have and some of them have simply felt they could no longer vacation there as their medical situation has gotten more complicated over the years.

What I wish I could get from some of you experts is this.... Assume you are in Negril on vacation and have a serious medical issue (illness or injury)... what do YOU do? What do you think the best options are for reliable medical treatment if something serious happens?

Thanks very much!

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www.j.mp/comfortsJA I come and provide nursing service to care for you and if need be, advise you what you need OR and where to go. I have MANY physicians I collaborate with in and outside of Negril. They agreed to be available for my business, and even this changes day to day and I research alternative plans as needed!!
I can asses who is available where, what services you need by consulting with many area physicians and assist you threw the process by traveling with you or getting transport for you. This IS NOT an easy process because services/physicians vary day to day and can be tricky and delay what you need...I will assist you through it. Physicians are overwhelmed in office and some won't come out at night so i am the place to start. No answers where given to you probably because there ISN'T one! Every day is different. PreRegister so I know where you are and something about you BEFORE you have a healthcare urgent need! I cannot stress enough how important it is to have an advocate on your side to do triage nursing services OR get you what you need in Negril! You never know what services are available or who is or isn't in office...until the day(or night) comes and you need help. I will do my best to make a plan with you!!! Nurse Beth

Just a comment on this....Drs work in clinics, but their hours vary and it is difficult for them to up and leave clinic for hotel calls OR you may have to sit for long periods of time to be seen. IF you have illness or injury make sure you get someone right away! It is best to have someone there to assess the situation. Waiting to get in or for Dr to come can delay care! As a gentleman spoke about in this thread...he waited, and it wasn't the best choice. I can advise and make a plan A and plan B but truly it is best to go with what is advised.

Comforts of Home Nursing does accept donations.
We donate when we notify Nurse Beth with our location, dates and any issues to give her a heads up just in case. Fortunately we have not had to contact her in the past.
We feel fortunate that she makes herself available because when she's needed it will be important to have someone with medical and local knowledge.
Disclaimer: we are not affiliated in any way with Comforts of Home.

As far as I know, MoBay Hope closed and was replaced with Hospiten.

http://hospiten.com/en/hospitals-and...ego-bayhttp://

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alibop

Comforts of Home Nursing does accept donations.
We donate when we notify Nurse Beth with our location, dates and any issues to give her a heads up just in case. Fortunately we have not had to contact her in the past.
We feel fortunate that she makes herself available because when she's needed it will be important to have someone with medical and local knowledge.
Disclaimer: we are not affiliated in any way with Comforts of Home.

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Just to clear some things up. On my website there is a payment button to pre register which allows you to enter all your info and that goes in my carry log book(dates/place of stay, allergies and medical history) This is an option, and it is important especially if you want me to know something about you before you arrive! Otherwise you can call me unexpectedly and this requires information gathering at the time of your call, on medical history, etc... and even where you are located!! Your choice but I encourage you to pre register!

There is also a payment button if you want to make payment towards supplies/transportation for cheap or free local care which I do frequently! This all is at my expense as I work alone covering this need. I do my best to be there for you!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yardie

As far as I know, MoBay Hope closed and was replaced with Hospiten.

http://hospiten.com/en/hospitals-and...ego-bayhttp://

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There is some work being done now on Hope, but nothing open...I will let you know if and when that happens! I will do my best to be there for you to assess the situation and make a plan!

Hi Yardie!
The link you shared didn't work for me but this one did for Hospital in MoBay

http://www.hospiten.com/en/hospitals...en-montego-bay

The season is in full swing! Reaching out again to make sure you have my information. I will be your advocate in case of illness or injury. This is my fourth year and it is definitely the busiest season! I continue to collaborate with physicians and services 24/7 to assist you in case of illness or injury. I have create a NEW OPTION this year to assist MORE than one person if needed and give you access to me for telephone triage.

PreRegistration is an option now! For a small fee ($50 in paypal= approx $45) you will have access to me for telephone triage 24/7 AND fill out form with pertinent information. With your information I will know something about YOU so I can try to assist over the phone especially if I am tied up! Without PreRegistration I cannot advise because I do not know anything about you, so I would need to come and assess you to make a plan (standard medical process). This is highly recommended for people with PreExisiting medical issues or to give you peace of mind "Comforts of Home" feel during your stay!! This is a small price to pay for access to someone to help and remains a popular OPTION, your choice to make. www.j.mp/comfortsJA

Here are suggestions of information to send after PreRegistration:

Dates of Travel and Where you stay
Home emergency contact name/number
Medical travel insurance plan/number
Allergies/PreExisiting medical issues and concerns
Medications
**I will respond after registration with any other questions and put your information in my file