Medical Care alternatives?

[Chris B]

Accompong... I'm glad you had a good outcome and recovery from your health crisis. I don't think anyone questions quality of care on the island. In fact, I'm very impressed with articles I've read about quality of care in the Caribbean Basin, and indeed around the world, compared with that available here in the States.

Personally, I'm more concerned about access and availability of critical care for maladies such as heart attack, or for serious injuries incurred while using transport services. Response time to obtain that access is also a concern.

Your story reflects your familiarity with people and services in the area, and that's good on you, to be sure! But for the vast majority of us more casual shorter term visitors to the island, and please understand that I'm not trying to be dismissive, the experience you describe may provide small comfort.

As noted previously, some of us have been visiting the island we love for decades. We may be young at heart, but our bodies betray us. Your story does highlight an alternative, to be sure... but what is the regional plan for the Negril area to provide the alternatives many of us would expect? There are plans and projects aplenty for development, but what about health care?

[Accompong]

Accompong... I'm glad you had a good outcome and recovery from your health crisis. I don't think anyone questions quality of care on the island. In fact, I'm very impressed with articles I've read about quality of care in the Caribbean Basin, and indeed around the world, compared with that available here in the States.

Personally, I'm more concerned about access and availability of critical care for maladies such as heart attack, or for serious injuries incurred while using transport services. Response time to obtain that access is also a concern.

Your story reflects your familiarity with people and services in the area, and that's good on you, to be sure! But for the vast majority of us more casual shorter term visitors to the island, and please understand that I'm not trying to be dismissive, the experience you describe may provide small comfort.

As noted previously, some of us have been visiting the island we love for decades. We may be young at heart, but our bodies betray us. Your story does highlight an alternative, to be sure... but what is the regional plan for the Negril area to provide the alternatives many of us would expect? There are plans and projects aplenty for development, but what about health care?

Chris B,
I totally understand your concerns and you have a lot of good reasons to be concerned. I worry more when in Negril than I do in other areas of Jamaica. With Cornwall Regional and Savana La Mar being the two closest hospital alternatives doesn't do much to calm those concerns.

Negril is pretty much a "frontier village". What I mean is that it is not a major area close to a medical hub so a heart attack or a major injury is a little riskier to survive due to it's fringe location resulting in length of time before competent treatment. If I had a truly life-threatening event while in St. Elizabeth, I probably wouldn't make it either. A major heart attack would surely be fatal. My best bet would be Mandeville Hospital if I could last long enough to make it there.

I have been visiting Jamaica for 4 decades as well and I feel a lot more vulnerable as each year goes by but I am a person who lives his life in the moment. I accept the risks for the reward I get from living in Jamaica.

As I get older and perhaps a little more vulnerable, I will consider moving to a house across the street from the Mandeville Hospital.

Jamaica is a lot bigger than just Negril.

The human body has limitations. The human spirit is boundless.
- Dean Karnazes

I hope you find the answer that will calm your concerns.

Peace and Guidance

[Chris B]

Excellent response... thank you for your insight!