Guadalajara Reporter

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Written by GR Staff
Saturday, 01 March 2008
Thank you for your response to our IMSS dilemma (GR February 23-29 edition Mailbag). We signed up for IMSS health care three years ago but have never opened a file. Today, following your advice, we went to the Chapala office at 12:30 p.m. We went to the Archivos and showed them what we had, explaining this was our first time and that we wanted a consulta general. They took our tarjeton and noted C-2T/V and 13:30 p.m. on it and sent us back downstairs. I believe we could have shown up any day at this time but we decided to proceed anyway. We showed the card to someone at a desk and she said "wait" pointing to a chair. So we waited. Finally someone came in to the waiting room and made an announcement, which we stupidly did not understand. Most of the people waiting rushed up to her and she took their cards, got some files and weighed them. So we approached the person at the desk again and she pointed to the room where the lady was weighing people. When she was finished we approached her with our tarjeton. Again, we were sent upstairs and told to return at 2 p.m. so someone could interpret for us. We dutifully returned and eventually someone came and took our papers and proceeded to open a file. We didn't need any pictures but we did need a photocopy of the paperwork that we received when we renewed our IMSS in January. When we returned after getting the required photocopies, the file was completed and we were told to go back downstairs to wait. At 3:15 p.m., along with a few others, we were told to return at 4:30 p.m. Just to be safe we returned at 4 p.m. and at 5 p.m. we were directed to the emergency area. After waiting a brief time, a doctor arrived and our names were called. At last, we thought! We went into the consultation room and when it was clear that communication was going to be a serious problem, the doctor asked for someone who spoke English to help us. A very nice woman came to our aid, explained that it was our first visit and that we wanted a consulta general. We were told that we did not need a consulta general and did not need to see a doctor unless we had a specific problem. In that case, we needed to come to the clinic at 1:30 p.m. and wait for an appointment. When we asked if there was a number we could phone to make a specific time, we were greeted with laughter and told that this was Mexico. The good news is that IMSS now has a file for us. The bad news is that it took five hours. But hey, we realize if we spoke Spanish we could have done it in one hour. We are still a little confused as to whether we actually need to see a doctor but a least we have a file. If IMSS doesn't have a file for you, you should probably get them to open one. Take a photocopy of everything you received when you last paid and take a patient Spanish-speaking friend with you if you don't habla español. Marilyn and Peter EDITOR'S RESPONSE: Well done on the waiting and coping with adventure! Our sources at the 34th Clinic in Guadalajara tell us that "those rural folks don't always do things the same way over there in Chapala," hence the inability to reserve appointments by phone and the slightly different terminology. The phone number for the Clinica 40 (Chapala) is 765-4990 and the switchboard operator there can provide basic instructions to your patient, Spanish-speaking friend if you are ever unsure about your IMSS services and don't want to make the trip there. As part of your IMSS coverage, you can and should go in for medicina preventiva: in the case of men, this means diabetes, hypertension and cancer screenings; in the case of women, there will be diabetes and hypertension screenings, Pap smears and breast exams. In the Chapala clinic, medicina preventiva is near the front entrance, and is open between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you want to screen for diabetes, show up early and don't eat breakfast beforehand. Ask the nurses how often you should do these preventative checks. No appointments are needed for this. In Chapala, as you mentioned, you get a consulta general with the doctor only when you are feeling unwell (otherwise, you deal mostly with nurses). On your tarjeton/IMSS card, you should be able to find the number for your consultorio. In Chapala, those registered to consultorio 1, 2, or 3 can be served in the morning, beginning at 7 a.m. (show up early to get an appointment ticket). Those in consultorio 1 and 2 can also be served in the afternoon, beginning at 1:30 p.m., and should get an appointment ticket before 1:30 p.m. on the day you need to see the doctor. Judging by your tarjeton code, you are probably assigned to Consultorio 2 (C-2), turno vespertino (T/V), or the afternoon shift. Keep up the excellent work, and, as you mentioned, don't forget that Spanish-speaking friend, who will make your life infinitely easier.