Over the weekend an uninvited house guest came to stay with us…influenza. He arrived in the early morning hours on Saturday morning and hung around until Monday night. Of course, it was every parent’s nightmare, a holiday weekend and a child with a fever of 103.8.
We do have what is called the “Guardia Medica” here, doctors who are available in the evening, all day Sunday and on holidays, so I was able to call them on Sunday afternoon when I had a concern about Luigi’s fever returning too quickly. I had given him fever reducer, but the instructions said to only give it every 8 hours (based on his weight). When his fever returned after 5 hours, I called the Guardia Medica and they were able to tell me that I could give him some more. They would have come to the house too if needed.
On Monday, forgetting that it was a holiday weekend, I called the pediatrician on his cell phone. He explained that he wasn’t in the office, but he spent a good 10 minutes on the phone with me, asking what Luigi’s symptoms were, explaining that I could give him some medicine after 4 hours had passed and telling me that if the fever should return on Tuesday to call the Guardia Medica right away.
At first, I was a little peeved that he told me to call the Guardia Medica thinking that he’s the pediatrician, it should be him that sees him. Then I sat back and thought about it a bit. Here I had called him on his cell phone on a holiday weekend. How many pediatricians give their cell phone numbers to their patients’ parents in the states? Maybe I’m mistaken, but I figure that’s pretty rare. To get him care in the states, I wouldn’t have been able to call anyone for an answer to a question, I would have had to take him to the Emergency Room full of sick people, and forget about having someone come to the house.
Fortunately the fever passed and I didn’t have to worry about getting him further care, but it’s nice to know that the Guardia Medica is there for house calls and my pediatrician is just a cell phone call away.
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Sorry to hear that Luigi was sick! (I’ve been away from the computer for weeks, pretty much.) I love the Guardia Medica. Just knowing that they’re there makes me mush less stressed about Kathy getting sick.
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I too have been out of the loop on the blogs! Hmm, this must be another of those city vs. smaller town things, but while I do have a cell phone number for my pediatrician, she only answers from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the morning M-F. That’s the only number she has for making appointments, questions, etc. and it’s basically ALWAYS busy. Or off. So she’s useless. We called the Guardia Medica once and they told us they no longer serve our area. Keep in mind that I’m right on the outskirts of Milan – ten minutes by car to the Duomo and the center of the city. My friends in the U.S. seem to always be able to get their pediatricians on the phone day or night. Even if the pediatrician doesn’t answer, there’s a nurse or another doctor on call 24 hours a day. Granted, that is provided you have health insurance and can afford to go to the pediatrician there. But overall, I’ve been incredibly unimpressed with my pediatrician and the health services on offer in Milan for children.
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Mary Reply:
January 14th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Since the medical system is managed on a regional level, I think there are quite a few differences between regions and even between cities. I’ve heard the best medical care is in the Bologna area. That being said, I have no complaints about my care or Luigi’s care. I get better care here than I did in the last area I lived in the US. I would be interested to hear from people in the US about their pediatricians. Do many people have a number where they can reach someone 24 hours a day?
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