Visit to the doctor in Geneva

So now it is my turn to experience the health system. Upon return from SF, I got a very bad pain in my left calf, no swelling, just like a very bad cramp. After 5 days, I finally decided to go and have it check out by a doctor (because people at work kept telling me about the possibility of blood clot). So here I am at the medical center, friday nite 5:45pm..(fyi, medical center closes at 6pm!). The doctor there tells me that she needs to rule out blood clot, so need to do blood work and injection of anti-coagulant as a preventive measure. Left the center, without paying (they told me they'll send me the bill). The doc calls me late friday nite, results shows possibility of blood clot, so she scheduled me for an ultrasound at the hospital first thing Saturday am - in the meantime she gives me her cell number just in case I need to call her (really? you are giving me your cell phone number?). Went to HUG (Hopital Universitaire de Geneve) - , did the ultrasound, I am clear of blood clots (phew!), being put on strong pain killers and schedule to see a soft tissue specialist on monday. Again, they just tell me we will bill you...

Note: my ultrasound specialist was a doctor from Eastern Europe I think, with the cutest accent, keep apologizing for being late and a little stressed, then when she had to write the report, she asked me to correct her french because her grammar and spelling are not up to the part...How funny! I need to tell you that her supervisor did come and cross-check her findings. Then she called me later in the day to check on how I was feeling. My regular doctor called me to on saturday to check on my progress.

Basically, here in Switzerland, there is limited exchange of money between the patient and the doctors office if you live here. They kind of trust that you (or your insurance will pay up). So that's nice because they treat you no matter what. My experience so far has been rather positive - responsiveness of the staff (doctors and nurses alike).