Comments on: Por Que Hospital Chiriquí http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/ "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." - James Dean Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:11:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » Blood Donation in Chiriquí http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27318 Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » Blood Donation in Chiriquí Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:48:15 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27318 [...] I posted on a problem of people donating blood in Hospital Chiriquí. Here is the post in Boquete Guide, that explains [...] [...] I posted on a problem of people donating blood in Hospital Chiriquí. Here is the post in Boquete Guide, that explains [...]

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27257 Don Ray Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:21:04 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27257 Thanks for providing the information. This problem at Hospital Chiriquí should be a concern to anyone living or moving here. Hopefully with some focus being placed on the situation, Chiriquí will solve this problem. Thanks for providing the information. This problem at Hospital Chiriquí should be a concern to anyone living or moving here. Hopefully with some focus being placed on the situation, Chiriquí will solve this problem.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27256 Kathy Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:14:48 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27256 Hi Don Ray: in response to your question, yes, my husband gave blood at Hospital Chiriqui. I would advise anyone who needs blood but is able to get to Panama City, to do so. I recently had surgery at Punta Pacifica Hospital and my doctor told me they had 14 pints of blood set aside in case I needed it. Thankfully, I didn't need that much! Evidently they maintain their own blood bank. I remember what a nightmare it was for Kath when she needed blood and platelets. No one that ill should have to go through the process she was put through in David. Hi Don Ray:
in response to your question, yes, my husband gave blood at Hospital Chiriqui. I would advise anyone who needs blood but is able to get to Panama City, to do so. I recently had surgery at Punta Pacifica Hospital and my doctor told me they had 14 pints of blood set aside in case I needed it. Thankfully, I didn’t need that much! Evidently they maintain their own blood bank. I remember what a nightmare it was for Kath when she needed blood and platelets. No one that ill should have to go through the process she was put through in David.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27222 Don Ray Sun, 30 Sep 2007 02:55:25 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27222 Thanks Laura. Thanks Laura.

]]> By: Laura http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27220 Laura Sun, 30 Sep 2007 02:40:00 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27220 I'm reposting this here from the Gringos in David site, at Don's request: A recent incident has revealed that blood availability at David hospitals is not a given. In fact, it appears that Hospital Chiriqui does not maintain a blood bank, and that patients needing blood must find donors to come to the hospital to donate. Furthermore, when my husband went to Hospital David to donate for a friend, we were told that the hospital does not have the equipment to collect platelets for the patients, and therefore must harvest 6 pints of blood to be centrifuged in order that the patient may receive one unit of platelets. To make matters worse, once you donate whole blood, you are prohibited from donating for another 6-8 weeks. Alternatively, platelet donors can donate every 3 days. Hospital Regional (the government run hospital in David) does maintain some type of blood bank, but it appears that blood from its stores are not available to Hospital Chiriqui patients, according the the technician in Hospital Chiriqui's laboratory. This is something the community needs to be aware of in emergency situations. Also, if you're insured at Hospital Chiriqui and are required to use that hospital in an emergency or for surgeries, you may want to investigate this further. As with everything here, this is information is based on our recent experience and I'm relying on the accuracy of the information provided by the workers in Hospital Chiriqui's laboratory. So, it's possible that there may be inaccuracies in my statements, but we all need to ask for more information if we have to rely on medical care here in David. I’m reposting this here from the Gringos in David site, at Don’s request:

A recent incident has revealed that blood availability at David
hospitals is not a given. In fact, it appears that Hospital Chiriqui
does not maintain a blood bank, and that patients needing blood must
find donors to come to the hospital to donate. Furthermore, when my
husband went to Hospital David to donate for a friend, we were told
that the hospital does not have the equipment to collect platelets
for the patients, and therefore must harvest 6 pints of blood to be
centrifuged in order that the patient may receive one unit of
platelets. To make matters worse, once you donate whole blood, you
are prohibited from donating for another 6-8 weeks. Alternatively,
platelet donors can donate every 3 days.

Hospital Regional (the government run hospital in David) does
maintain some type of blood bank, but it appears that blood from its
stores are not available to Hospital Chiriqui patients, according the
the technician in Hospital Chiriqui’s laboratory.

This is something the community needs to be aware of in emergency
situations. Also, if you’re insured at Hospital Chiriqui and are
required to use that hospital in an emergency or for surgeries, you
may want to investigate this further.

As with everything here, this is information is based on our recent
experience and I’m relying on the accuracy of the information
provided by the workers in Hospital Chiriqui’s laboratory. So, it’s
possible that there may be inaccuracies in my statements, but we all
need to ask for more information if we have to rely on medical care
here in David.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27202 Don Ray Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:42:21 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27202 Hi Kathy. Was that donation here in Panama? Hi Kathy. Was that donation here in Panama?

]]> By: Kathy http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27201 Kathy Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:37:29 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27201 Hi Don Ray: I was very surprised to hear about the over 60 restriction. My husband is 69 and he was allowed to give blood twice for our dear friend, Kathryn. I believe the only restriction was a 4 month interval between donations. Kathy Hi Don Ray:

I was very surprised to hear about the over 60 restriction. My husband is 69 and he was allowed to give blood twice for our dear friend, Kathryn. I believe the only restriction was a 4 month interval between donations.
Kathy

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27175 Don Ray Sat, 29 Sep 2007 02:48:06 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27175 Thanks for leaving a comment Ron. Thanks for leaving a comment Ron.

]]> By: Ron http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27174 Ron Sat, 29 Sep 2007 02:46:18 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27174 I give blood all the time in Virginia. There used to be a very long list of questions asked about your travels. I used to have to state where I had traveled (Panama) and to what part. They always took my blood. The last time (2 months ago) there was no travel questions asked. I give blood all the time in Virginia. There used to be a very long list of questions asked about your travels. I used to have to state where I had traveled (Panama) and to what part. They always took my blood. The last time (2 months ago) there was no travel questions asked.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27124 Don Ray Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:56:22 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/09/27/por-que-hospital-chiriqui/#comment-27124 Hi VonDell. Thanks for the comment. That is good information. I guess there would still be a problem if the person was unable to sign a document. Hi VonDell. Thanks for the comment. That is good information. I guess there would still be a problem if the person was unable to sign a document.

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