Kirkland D

Language: English
References: 0
Page: 40-40
PDF size: 24.53 Kb.

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As a nurse and doctoral candidate, I learned from my research in and about Cuba that the country has an international reputation for having an excellent health system, providing universal care for its citizens, with major indicators—such as life expectancy—rivaling those of industrialized countries, including the USA. Little did I know that I would be accessing this health care system myself.
Prior to my September 2018 trip to Cuba, I visited my primary care physician who referred me to a gastroenterologist for chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. After approval from my insurance company, the specialist conducted high-tech procedures, including a colonoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdominal CT. All tests came back negative. I left the specialist with no diagnosis or treatment, other than advice to follow up with my primary care physician. My insurance covered my medical expenses, but I was responsible for fairly substantial co-pays. I departed for Cuba, relieved that nothing had been found, but still perplexed about the cause of my symptoms.