[QUOTE=SavePros321]Has anyone ever been to the Hospitals in the DR (more specifcally, the ones in Puerto Plata)? I ask because I'm just curious what they are like as far as setup and operation.
A chica I talk to from time to time went to the Hospital with her cousin who had a fever. At first the aunt was there, but once the aunt returned she had to go be with her cousin all night. To me it seemed as if they were doing 24hr rotating guard shifts or "watch standing" (for ex-military heads) for the cousin. Is this done because if no one is with the cousin then she runs the risk of being neglected treatment in the hospital? Here in the States most of us just drop their asses off (family members) and expect that they will be well taken care of by the hospital staff (or risk being sued).
Also, I know fevers are not contagious, but whatever is causing the fever could be. Most of us are not going to rack up unnecessary medical bills over a fever. Most people I know (family and friends in the States) just stay at home until it passes unless it becomes severe. This DR chica lives with a lot of youngins in her household (her kids, sisters kids, prima's kids, Tia's kids, etc.). Having the cousin go stay in the hospital a few days for a fever seems like a knee-jerk reaction to me, but is it (Dominican) wisdom that it is better for the sick person not to be in the house so as not to infect everyone else in the home? Or is treatment there cheap enough to where they can go to the hospital for every little thing? (I don't say this last part to sound petty. It is just that the Aunt was sick once and they went to the hospital. They were there no more than two hours, lol).[/QUOTE]
UPDATE: Through PM's I am Finding that it is mostly just customary for a family member to stay with someone in the hospital full time. From what people have been telling me the care is pretty good despite having to wait for long periods of time before you can be seen.
