LaurenLake Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I've looked on this site and Ning and can't find any details on where/how to get an annual physical exam. A couple of posts suggest that Hospital Chiriquí does a great one if you sign up for their insurance plan, but we already have insurance. Any idea about where to make an appointment? Cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyS Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Can't you just pick a doctor and ask for one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaurenLake Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Sure, if we knew the name of a doctor there who had an English-speaking receptionist to set up an appointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Admin_01 Posted February 8, 2016 Administrators Share Posted February 8, 2016 Check here: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaurenLake Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 I did look at that list, but can't find a single reference for a general or internal medicine person at the hospital who speaks English. Many of the entries don't say anything about language skills. I was hoping someone on this list had recently done a physical at the hospital and could recommend someone and give me some idea about price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoSailors Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 If you have insurance with MS Panama, formerly Hospital Chiriqui Ins. call and ask them....775-1068. You get a free exam once a year after your first 12 months... and teeth cleaning. We had blood/urine lab work, EKG, Chest xray, consultation, and doctor exam to sign up for our insurance. Total cost for the both of us was $180 back in July. In Boquete we use Dr Gomez... he speaks English and you just show up after 8 am, 6676-7132. He is at Dr Chen's clinic across from Melo.Another great doctor is Dr Liliana Boya she is on the list that the ADMIN posted above. The list above is very thorough and most doctors listed there are respected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaurenLake Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Thanks for the pricing information. We don't have their insurance. Ours is Cigna and doesn't cover annual exams. But I will call their number and ask anyway. Perhaps they can refer me. I agree about Dr. Gomez. We've used him for several minor issues. Maybe he can just order all the tests we need and review the results with us? Or do you think it's better to find a doctor at the hospital? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoSailors Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Since you are already a patient with Dr Gomez, why not go with him? He can also give you referrals if you have specific needs for a specialists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 1 hour ago, LaurenLake said: Sure, if we knew the name of a doctor there who had an English-speaking receptionist to set up an appointment. It doesn't require fluency in Spanish to ask for an appointment. I think you will find that at least a minimal knowledge of the Spanish language is necessary to live here with any measure of happiness. You might want to consider enrolling in a class or seeking out a tutor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyS Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 2 hours ago, LaurenLake said: I did look at that list, but can't find a single reference for a general or internal medicine person at the hospital who speaks English. Many of the entries don't say anything about language skills. I was hoping someone on this list had recently done a physical at the hospital and could recommend someone and give me some idea about price. There are two doctors in Boquete, maybe more, who speak English, Dr. Digna Diaz and Dr. Gomez. Dr. Diaz is an internest. Call her on her cell phone, and you don't have to deal with a receptionist. 6615-6740 One of the scariest things when you first come here is using the phone. It is rare to get an English speaking receptionist, so just prepare ahead of time what you want to say, and ask the person to speak slowly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaurenLake Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 I agree with JudyS, dealing with Spanish speakers over the phone is hard. My Spanish is good enough for chatting with someone on the street, but the minute you add unusual words like medical terminology, and remove my ability to use visual cues like pointing and demonstrating, things go downhill. I've been able to book appointments in person in Spanish, but doing so over the phone is a lot more difficult. And I love when you ask for "un poco más despacio" and you get "un poco más fuerte, pero muy rápido" Thanks for the input everyone. My takeaway is that you can get a full physical, with hospital tests if needed, by requesting it through one of the docs at the local clinics, and it's not necessary to find a doctor based out of Hospital Chiriqui. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Dr. Chen speaks very good English. Dr. Gomez is usually in the office in the mornings and Dr. Chen in the afternoon. They are both excellent doctors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 The last time we were in to see Dr. Chen or Gomez, neither were available. There was another doctor (from Brazil) who took care of me and he spoke incredibly good English. I have no problem with going to Dr. Chen's office, and just accept whoever will see me. Our last visit was about 5 weeks ago. I cannot recall the new doctor's name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luise Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 I feel constrained to point out that almost all the evidence suggests that there is virtually no value to an "Annual Physical" unless you have chronic conditions, in which case having good ongoing medical care and episodic care for new symptoms is now recommended. Of course, it's an individual decision. I do want to second Judy's suggestions about making appointments by phone. I used to write out exactly what I wanted, introduce myself, explain that my Spanish was not good and ask them to speak slowly. You can write it out and use Google translate or use a phrasebook that would include phonetic pronunciations. "Muy buenos dias, me llamo xxxx...yo vivo en yyyy y no hablo Espanol muy bien. Hablas Ingles? No? Entonce, Por favor, hable lentamente. Necesito una cita para examen (medicamentos, laboratorios, rayos-X etc). Quel dia es disponible? Y que hora?" Have a day (date)(s) and time(s) in mind to suggest. Ask them to repeat if you don't understand what they've said, or by this point they may have decided to hand you off to anyone who speaks English! OTOH, if they are local and you can go and ask in person you will have the benefit of sign language, pointing, they may even notice that you are green or yellow or ghostly and need to be seen quickly. I can speak to Dr. Digna Diaz's qualifications. She is Chiricano, but fully fluent in English, of course, well trained in internal medicine and with added qualification in aesthetic medicine. She has several offices that she uses both in Boquete and in David. I would recommend her without reservation (I'm a doc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottie Atwater Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Where are her offices (or office) in David? And do you have a phone number for the David office? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 1 hour ago, Dottie Atwater said: Where are her offices (or office) in David? And do you have a phone number for the David office? "..Call her on her cell phone, and you don't have to deal with a receptionist. 6615-6740" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottie Atwater Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Thanks, Keith! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franagain Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 (edited) I recently needed the ''over 70'' letter from a doctor in order to renew my drivers license and Geovana www.askgeovana.weebly.com referred me to Dra Digna Diaz, who has an office next door to La Reina in downtown Boquete. I am soooo glad to know about her! Dra. Digna speaks perfect English and is pleasant, professional and helpful and will be my physician from now on. I can recommend her... as well as Geovana, who is my ''bridge'' to anything I need help with! Edited March 8, 2016 by Franagain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottie Atwater Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 Thanks for the info, Fran. I guess I can get to Boquete in the same time as to David. I'd prefer to see her in David, though, because I always have other things to do in David. I will try her when I need something. I don't trust most doctors at all. I've never had one suggest anything but drugs for any malady. Of course most know nothing about nutrition or alternative medicine. And I doubt they ever do any research after graduating as a "doctor." They prescribe what the drug reps tell them to prescribe. Before taking ANY drug, I suggest doing research about it on the internet. There are a lot of deaths caused by prescription drugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 Fran says Dra Diaz's office is next door to La Reina in downtown Boquete. When did she move. For a long time her office was across the street from Mike's Global Grill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franagain Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 Dra. Diaz is in Boquete only two days a week (Tues & Thurs, if I remember correctly). I assume she is in David otherwise. There is still a doctor's office across from Mikes, but it's not this Dra Diaz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottie Atwater Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 Thanks for the info, Fran. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I saw a Dra. Diaz at the clinic across from Mike's Grill a couple of months ago for my over-70 checkup. She is here only on either Tuesday or Thursday. Can there possibly be two Dras. Diaz, both of whom are internists qualified to give the over-70 test? It seems unlikely. Maybe she's moved. I did notice that the medical office next to La Reina appears to have been rehabilitated (Dr. Sue and Dr. Moo). The medical community is figuring out that there's money to be made in Boquete, with all us old folks living here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deborah Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Bonnie, it is the same person. She used to alternate between the two locations. I do not know if she has settled on just the one next to La Reina, but that is where I have seen her twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 (edited) Dra Digna Virginia Diaz 6615-6740 Office locations: next to La Reina's and across from Mike's Global Grill Days in Boquete: Tuesday's, Thursday's and Saturdays She also does home visits My husband and I went to see her yesterday at 4:00 and she was there and on time. She was very thorough, professional and nice. We both really liked her. She reviewed ALL our medical records (lab tests) back to 2003! She did a physical exam and talked to us for quite a while. We did not get out of her office until 5:30. She speaks perfect English and lives in Alto Dorado. Her fee is $44, but well worth not driving to David. She and other local doctors have organized an after- hour emergency network. The number is 6619-7911 She is our new Dra. Edited March 18, 2016 by Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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