Ambulance phone number

The best thing is to have a plan. Be self sufficient and don't depend on agency. Get to the closest highest level of care immediately for stabalization and go from there. 

Having the new hospital will be good. The plan for cardiac is to stabilize and then transport to a Guad cath lab via their transfer ambulance, do procedure, then transfer pt back to hospital here for recovery.

Cardiologist Dr. Garcia Garcia will move here full time and work out of the new hospital. 

I think this will be an improvement in our emergency care. The hospital will have an ER.

Trailrunner wrote:What we really, really need here is an independent Advanced Life Support ambulance staffed with a paramedic driver and an emergency physician in the back and fully outfitted with equipment and drugs that is on duty 24/7 who will come to you and initiate Advanced Life Support and continue it all the way to a real ER in Guadalajara that has a cath lab and all the necessary advanced life saving capabilities.

I've had many conversations in all the years I have here regarding this, docs all agree, studies have been done, and the final answer is there is not the population nor call volume to support the amount of money it it would take to provide this level of care service 24/7.

Been there done that.
A few years ago a group of Gringos had the same idea as your suggesting.
They bought an ambulance and in conjunction with Ajijic Clinic, who agreed to staff it.
That is the Ambulance that is parked in Ajijic Clinic.
There was some disagreement as to how to run the operation and the project never took off.
Perhaps someone with a better memory than I can fill in the blanks.

Regarding ambulances taking people to the Joco SP Hospital. At one time I recall reading that folks like Cruz Roja had to call ahead and get permission to deliver patients..or not..all very confusing set up
If it was me with a stroke or severe heart attack, I would like to go to a "full service facility" and not mess about in a "lower tier" cottage hospital

lakeside you are probably right. Last December a friend on mine's father (80 year old Mexican) was mugged (bashed severely on the head) in Chapala and thrown in an arroyo. The family took him to the SP hospital in El Chante. They said the family had to take him to a hospital in Guadalajara. They gave the family the wrong address. This was after dark and they wandered around a bit before they got the father to the right address. The SP hospital there fixed him up for 9,000 pesos and he is fine now.

Lakeside7, I remember that well and was involved in that too. I choose not to go into details on that publicly.

I agree with you guys, it's a tossup over taking that first critical hour to drive up to an ER in Guad or go to a high level of care here for stabilization first. That is why I want to see an ALS ambulance because it can accomplish both at the same time.

I still say, if it's critical, stop here for initial treatment - think heart attack - you need nitro to dilate the coronary arteries and reduce the load on the heart, oxygen to oxygenate whatever heart muscle is left, and maybe morphine to stabalize then get up to Guad for the rest. Or, you might not make the trip up.

The poor old man with the severe head injury may have done better at Cruz Roja but needed a cat scan, which we don't have here. The new hospital will have one!

Another point I've seen here is some of these clinics will keep you too long when they should send you up Guad for higher levels of care. It's up to the pt and/or family to make that decision and insist. You can always hire Cruz Roja to transport you up to Guad as well.

So this is what the lady who knows everything at the hospital in El Chante had to say today.
If you have an emergency don't phone the Cruz Roja.
-drive there yourself
-or phone the Cruz Verde at 387 763 1920 They work out of the Clinica Municipal in Joco.
-or phone the Proteccion Civil y Bomberos in Joco at 387 763 1804. Their ambulance isn't working at the moment but they will find one for you.
They can evaluate your situation and stabilize you at El Chante. They have 14 rooms. If they have medications you need in their dispensary they are free. If you need other medications someone has to go to the nearby Guadalajara Farmacia and get them. You pay for them.
If you need to go to Guadalajara their ambulance will take you. You pay for their gas. If necessary they can call out a helicopter from Guadalajara (who pays what?).
Your Poliza de Afilacion is your ticket for free treatment. Bring 3 copies of it with copies of your visa attached to each one.
-You do not need to register with a local clinic in San Juan Cosala unless you are having on going treatment.

I live in San Juan Cosala. So those of you who live in Chapala would have to do it differently. Phone Cruz Roja? (it sounded like they did not take them in El Chante) or phone the Bomberos on the libremiento? or drive to El Chante or go to a SP clinic in Chapala? The emergency number for the Secretaria de Validad y Transporte Sub Regional is 376 765 4747.

Trailrunner - have you kept up with some the costs of these private services? I would say double in the last five years.These doctors think they have hit a gold mine. I used to work in an office with an ancient Actuary, specializing in Life insurance. He advised many insurers, I don't know why, but I was interested in this, and spent a lot of time with him. From the little he taught me, I can see premiums from $10,000 to $15,000 per year, per person to make these insurance plans work. With the so called "medical inflation" I think we are already there in Mexico. Not much difference from the U.S.A pricewise. No bargains anymore.

If time is money, then Mexico is still a bargain. If not having to worry during the time that you no longer have to wait then Mexico is a screaming bargain for nearly all medical procedures. Anything you need that's reasonably elective, you can get it done pretty much within a week.
It's the "emergency transportation" that seems to be a problem.

CHILLIN wrote:Trailrunner - have you kept up with some the costs of these private services? I would say double in the last five years.These doctors think they have hit a gold mine. I used to work in an office with an ancient Actuary, specializing in Life insurance. He advised many insurers,  I don't know why, but I was interested in this, and spent a lot of time with him. From the little he taught me, I can see premiums from $10,000 to $15,000 per year, per person to make these insurance plans work. With the so called "medical inflation" I think we are already there in Mexico. Not much difference from the U.S.A pricewise. No bargains anymore.

Huh.....you have definitely been living here too long Chillin. Medical costs are the same in Mexico as in the US?? They are about 8 times higher there and about 3 times higher in Canada. Perhaps I misunderstand your statement?

Appreciate your time and comments cypress.
But it just confuses the issue more for us in ajijic.
If someone has a serious emergency and lives alone impossible to drive. Many older folk wont drive in the dark.
The bomberos ajijic and now joco ambulances are out of operation. We cant use cruz roja ambulance. ( i wonder why? Even though a poster of community standing on tob says otherwise).
There is an ambulance in ajijic hospital but seems out of action.
I dont mind paying but would like to get to a hospital before i die.
What a farce.

[quote Huh.....you have definitely been living here too long Chillin. Medical costs are the same in Mexico as in the US?? They are about 8 times higher there and about 3 times higher in Canada. Perhaps I misunderstand your statement?[/quote]

The last time I checked medical inflation in the U.S.A per year. was 4% per year, Mexico was 16% and it has since risen higher. 5 Times 16 to 20% is double, within five years. Sorry. The worst part is that the Mexican insurance companies lobby the Senators for these price increases, and somehow mysteriously get them. It stinks. Hard working, younger professional people like my doctor friend pays $10,000 U.S. per year -thinks nothing about it.

hickton wrote:Appreciate your time and comments cypress.
But it just confuses the issue more for us in ajijic.
If someone has a serious emergency and lives alone impossible to drive. Many older folk wont drive in the dark.
The bomberos ajijic and now joco ambulances are out of operation. We cant use cruz roja ambulance. ( i wonder why? Even though a poster of community standing on tob says otherwise).
There is an ambulance in ajijic hospital but seems out of action.
I dont mind paying but would like to get to a hospital before i die.
What a farce.

The ambulance in the "cage" at Ajijic Hospital has been out of commission for many years. Over 12+ years ago when some folks obtained the ambulance and were trying to set up a procedure for all to use, they ran in to many problems.... Had an emergency in my own house 11years ago and since the ambulance was purported to be fully staffed, advertised and articles in local papers, that is who I called. After many phone calls, it did indeed show up - with only a driver and no medical personnel.

Some of you remember the short lived Cruz Roja ambulance parked near Dona Lola restaurant. While it did cut down on the response time to western areas, funding and staffing became a problem... and I believe that the number of calls also did not warrant the upkeep.

can only hope one of the new hospitals will have a service.
Was a shame about cruz roja in ajijic. I had a minor accident and they helped out.
Edit. Not samur thats who is in spain..theres is a name similar and i have seen ambulance occasionally lakeside.

Chillin', that is not what I'm seeing at all. Dr. G charges the same thing he's been charging for the last at least 6 years.Same with the docs I've seen. Some docs and places charge more than others!

Ferret, the big gap in EMS is a rural thing. In DF, Guad, etc the EMS is excellent! We live in the boonies. Well, semi-boonies now.

Cypress, thanks for the report! Good work. I agree with your findings except for the part about Cruz Verde in Joco. They have to take you to the Joco Muni clinic first before transferring you to the SP hospital. I agree. Drive yourself or get someone to take you. The ambulance people here are not as highly skilled or equipped as 911 EMS in the states so - just get to the closest place for stabilization. Hopefully that will be all you need!

If Chillin thinks he can go into a walk into a clinic in the US and see a doctor for $20 bucks (like you can here) he is sadly mistaken. Its a minimum $75 in BC and probably $200 in some states in the US.......

And that's if they let you in at all! In the states you could get triaged out if you are not sick enough.

They don't really have clinics in the US which is why the ERs are so swamped all the time and health care is so expensive. You don't feel good? You call your PMD and they tell you they can squeeze you in next Thurs. So next morning you are worse so where do you go? ER. Those are the choices. There ARE free standing Urgent Care places, known as doc in the box, but they're not well trusted and usually not much in the loop.

Trailrunner wrote:
Ferret, the big gap in EMS is a rural thing. In DF, Guad, etc the EMS is excellent! We live in the boonies. Well, semi-boonies now.

Oh I totally agree Trailrunner. The big gap in EMS has always been in rural areas and it doesn't matter what country you live in. We used to live on the Redwing side road about 15 minutes outside of Thornbury, Ontario. Rural with a capital R. Closest hospital was Owen Sound about an hour away... or Collingwood which was also an hour away.
This situation is no worse. In a way, it's better 'cuz I, at least, have a Doctor's home number and cell number and he makes house calls at all hours of the day and night. Viva Mexico!

CanuckBob wrote:If Chillin thinks he can go into a walk into a clinic in the US and see a doctor for $20 bucks (like you can here) he is sadly mistaken. Its a minimum $75 in BC and probably $200 in some states in the US.......

Try and see a specialist in the states for 50 bucks or go to an emergency room for stitches and shots for 20 bucks. Just try it. I found his assertions about cost seriously delusional.

hickton wrote:Appreciate your time and comments cypress.
But it just confuses the issue more for us in ajijic.
If someone has a serious emergency and lives alone impossible to drive. Many older folk wont drive in the dark.
The bomberos ajijic and now joco ambulances are out of operation. We cant use cruz roja ambulance. ( i wonder why? Even though a poster of community standing on tob says otherwise).
There is an ambulance in ajijic hospital but seems out of action.
I dont mind paying but would like to get to a hospital before i die.
What a farce.

I agree it is a farce. Strange about the Cruz Roja. I've heard that the SP hospital will accept Cruz Roja sometimes but does the CR first want to go back to their station in Chapala? The only other choice is to have someone drive you as the taxis seem to quit pretty early. My doctor of many years does not make house calls. All she does is tell you to call an ambulance.

A highly qualified specialist at Quality Care will cost 700 pesos per visit. To compare emergency services with regular specialist services is not fair. A pint of blood here will cost you $10,000 to $14,000 (San Xavier). According to this article a pint of privately donated blood in the U.S.A. sells for $900 U.S. and starts going up from there. https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1iota1/eli5_why_are_hospitals_allowed_to_sell_blood_to/.

That is pretty basic isn't it? I know people can donate blood, etc., etc.

Then there is the cost of medicines, anything "special" from Europe,or new is very costly. Just spent $12,200 pesos a month's worth of pills which have made me sicker than have for many years.

I just spoke with someone in the admin of joco hospital.
They tell me that they must accept anyone who needs emergency treatment,wether you arrive in cruz roja ambulance or another means.
Suggested that the best way is 911 to get emergency service. I dont know if english is spoken.
However the hospital has funding problems mainly due to elections next year.
Some treatment has been suspended and they are short of basic supplies. Syringes for one..roof and walls have some leaks and not being repaired.
They can probably stabalize someone but then will transfer you to gdl for more expert care.

Thanks, hickton.