Health Care in Korea

Each time I live overseas, I seem to end up at the local facility for some type of health care.  I find each experience immensely fascinating while comparing the ease, time, facility, quality of care and the expense. 

While walking into the facility, I saw a gentleman about to cross the street with IV-pole in hand, as he wheeled it along.  I believe I remember being told that here, food isn’t a given.  Family is expected to provide food. So it is not unusual to see someone in hospital garb within a block or two at a local restaurant. 

As always, we walked inside and registered.  This registration was easy - it was in the “international clinic,” so our nurse/guide spoke English.  She took us individually through the entire process, even walking us where we needed to go (whether that’s the norm or a slow day, I’m not sure).  We were taken to the pediatric unit.  There was a playground (like one you’d see outside for young children).  A few children were crawling around in it, the rest (15-20) were sitting with their mothers, waiting to be seen.

We were originally told we’d have to wait until after everyone who had appointments was seen.  I’m not sure what happened, but our daughter was immediately weighed and measured then brought straightaway to the doctor’s office.  His office was a typical office -- not of a doctor, but of an executive in Asia.  We sat on chairs - there was a sofa in the room - and chatted with the doctor. 

He analyzed the situation, wrote down his diagnosis and prescription.  But he kept it.  We were a bit confused that we weren’t given the Rx.  But we were told to go to the international clinic again (I believe).  We walked out a bit perplexed and returned to the nurse’s station.  They told us  that the Rx will be typed up and ready at the “cashier’s box.”  The international clinic then took us to the “cashier’s box” (booth) and we paid our fee: 35,000 won ($35) and received our receipt with all the information and another woman printed out the Rx.  We were told to exit the facility and we’d find a number of pharmacies to fill the Rx. 

The pharmacy was across the street and filled two Rxs for 15,000 won ($15). 

We returned to our car in the parking garage, showed the lady our ticket.  She asked for our hospital receipt.  We showed that to her.  We exited without a charge (for parking) and the entire outing was exactly one hour long.

That one hour included:

• Parking
• Finding where we went
• Registering as a new patient
• Walk-in appointment to see the doctor
• Paying in full
• Walking off the grounds to purchase the Rx - and purchasing it
• Returning to the car and driving out

Total expense ($50) included:

• International Clinic (translation/walk-through service)
• Doctor’s visit - not co-pay - but amount in full
• Two Rxs
• Parking (which was free)
  

I am currently researching South Korean health care system.  I’ll give an update on what I find out.  I'm attaching two PDFs I found, but they are a bit dated.  I'm going to explore more recent analyses.
www.stanford.edu/group/ethnoger/korean.html

I found an interesting blog on Korean Health Care.  Very in-depth.   Takes a while to read and some comments are a bit off-point and bias, but the author and some of the contributors discusses the issue very well.

http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2010/01/healthcare-system-in-korea.html 

Korean Kindness to “Kinder”

I was leaving the home to pick up my husband and go to a couple’s night at a friend’s home.  I had daughter in an old (not very good) carrier. I had in one hand a huge bag filled with our version of the potluck for the evening at a friend’s house.  I had in the other hand the entire Pack ‘N Play.  Everything was huge and bulky and I was struggling. 

A middle aged Korean woman (somewhere between 50-60 years old... they age so gracefully here, I’m afraid to guess age but definitely a grandma), shared the elevator with me.  She was all dolled up.  She was tiny, and wearing huge practically-spiked heels and a gorgeous long fur.  She was beautiful and dressed to impress. 

As the elevator landed at the car-level, she saw my dilemma.  Without thought or warning, she grabbed the Pack ‘N Play.  Now, if this was a huge male, I would have graciously accepted.  But this was a little -- very little -- lady (who was my elder) all dressed up and in heels. 

I tried to take it back.  She wouldn’t allow it.  I pursued as she walked ahead of me to the cars.  She wouldn’t let go of the PnP.  And the language barrier didn’t matter, it was clear I was trying to get it back and clear she wasn’t about to give it back.

I finally conceded and showed her where we were parked.  She helped me put it into the trunk and made sure I was OK putting in my daughter. 

Wow!  That was so thoughtful. 

People are very kind -- and don’t have the slightest hesitation to intercede -- when it comes to children.  Be it helping to make them warmer in the winter, playing with them, or keeping them safe.  One man gave me his umbrella when I was caught in the rain with her in the carrier (I was lost and SO grateful to him -- and he just disappeared).  I am touched by their kindness.  Yes, sometimes -- oftentimes -- the warmth advice falls on ungracious ears, but it did help me realize how cold it was and how cold she was when I received it the first time.

So, I am repenting of my cultural annoyance of Korean intercession with parenting.  Kamsamnida (thank you), little lady with the beautiful fur.  You made my life so much easier for that brief moment.

Korean Standard Time

It's early!  This is the only place where, when they tell you a time, you need to be early. 
For example:

• The piano tuner arrived one hour earlier than he said.  
• The cable guy arrived 15 minutes earlier than his 3 hour time allotment in which he said he'd come.  
• The last Korean language class I attended had already begun when I walked in the door -- and I was on time (for an American -- I was in the door the minute or the minute before the class was to start).

Fur... for furry friends

Last I knew, furs in the States have been put to rest. It became almost forbidden to wear such inhumane products thanks for animal rights activists. Leather is somehow semi-acceptable, but fur is a no no. I entered one five star restaurant and after the coat man took my jacket, we began chit chatting. He explained to me that he will not even take the coat of someone adorning fur. "They have to hang up their own!"

Then we moved to Korea. We saw a few furs while walking out of the subway. This caught our attention (contrasting to NEVER seeing fur anymore in the States). While walking up the stairs of the subway, my husband commented, "Fur is so tacky." He then looked up and suddenly explained, "Except of course on the hood of a normal parka." I raised my eyes to where his were. The lady just in front of us was wearing just that. Oops. Egh, she probably didn't speak English.

We went to a popular market area. Throngs of people -- and at least 5-10% were wearing fur! They were on sale (well, the fake ones) outside multiple shops.

On our way home, I saw a small dog on a walk -- no joke -- adorning a fur coat. (I hear dogs have shoes here as well.)