Friday the 13th weekend trip report: the American Hospital in Paris
Apr 15th, 2007, 04:17 AM
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Friday the 13th weekend trip report: the American Hospital in Paris
Those of you who have read some of my other posts know that I’ve been living in Paris for almost two years with my husband. I’ve posted several trip reports on our weekend trips in France and Europe. This time I thought I’d report on our Friday the 13th weekend trip to the American Hospital in Paris, especially since some of you might be interested in knowing what kind of emergency care is available should the need arise.
Friday the 13th itself was rather uneventful. We started the weekend with what has become an almost weekly tradition: a half bottle of champagne from our continually growing collection (despite regular consumption) of champagnes from small, independent producers. We went to sleep late, looking forward to a grasse matinee (sleeping in).
Unfortunately, our cat had other plans. We were woken up around 5:30 am in that 0-to-60 fashion that, for a couple without children, only a hairball puking cat can effect. We leapt out of bed and started to clean up. I found the experience much more nauseating than usual (usually I just find it gross, not sick-making) because I had acquired a whopping migraine during the night. I headed off to our kitchen in search of pain medication and liquids to rehydrate - and that’s the last thing I remember.
My husband, in the meantime, had a heard a bang and then come to the kitchen to investigate since I hadn’t answered him when he called. He found me collapsed in a tangled heap on the floor; I must have passed out, fallen backwards and hit my head and shoulder hard on the kitchen door. I came to fairly quickly, although I was disoriented for a minute. A whopping goose egg had already started to develop at the back of my head, and my shoulder was very painful (although clearly, it wasn’t broken or dislocated.)
We considered going back to bed but decided instead that it would be prudent to call my sister (an experienced emergency and critical care nurse who lives in Washington State) for advice. She said that I was probably ok, but since the headache had come on quickly, the nausea was unusual and it was the first time I’d ever fainted like this, I should probably go to the hospital. Since we were already up, we’d probably get more attention in an emergency room at 6 am immediately after the accident than we would if we strolled in the next afternoon (apparently , part of getting good patient care is marketing).
We could have looked up a regular, local hospital in our neighbourhood (the 16th, ) by calling SAMU (15) but decided instead to go to the American Hospital, since we weren’t sure our French was up to the challenge of an ER visit. We called to check that the American Hospital has an ER (they do), explained what had happened and turned down the offer of an ambulance. We decided to splurge on calling a taxi (usually we just go out on the street to find one, because in France you get charged from the minute the taxi is dispatched to your house). Alas, our taxi-calling skills weren’t well developed, and when we called a dispatcher, we were surprised to hear him say that he couldn’t send someone to our house in the 16th. So, down to the street instead, where we found a bench for me to sit on while my husband looked for a taxi - and then off we went. (Actually, not immediately. I suddenly remembered that we might need the chequebook, so my husband went upstairs to get it. The taxi driver politely asked me if everything was all right and I explained that I’d fallen and hurt my head and shoulder. He made appropriate soothing chitchat (pauvre petite madame, etc) until my husband returned.
Friday the 13th itself was rather uneventful. We started the weekend with what has become an almost weekly tradition: a half bottle of champagne from our continually growing collection (despite regular consumption) of champagnes from small, independent producers. We went to sleep late, looking forward to a grasse matinee (sleeping in).
Unfortunately, our cat had other plans. We were woken up around 5:30 am in that 0-to-60 fashion that, for a couple without children, only a hairball puking cat can effect. We leapt out of bed and started to clean up. I found the experience much more nauseating than usual (usually I just find it gross, not sick-making) because I had acquired a whopping migraine during the night. I headed off to our kitchen in search of pain medication and liquids to rehydrate - and that’s the last thing I remember.
My husband, in the meantime, had a heard a bang and then come to the kitchen to investigate since I hadn’t answered him when he called. He found me collapsed in a tangled heap on the floor; I must have passed out, fallen backwards and hit my head and shoulder hard on the kitchen door. I came to fairly quickly, although I was disoriented for a minute. A whopping goose egg had already started to develop at the back of my head, and my shoulder was very painful (although clearly, it wasn’t broken or dislocated.)
We considered going back to bed but decided instead that it would be prudent to call my sister (an experienced emergency and critical care nurse who lives in Washington State) for advice. She said that I was probably ok, but since the headache had come on quickly, the nausea was unusual and it was the first time I’d ever fainted like this, I should probably go to the hospital. Since we were already up, we’d probably get more attention in an emergency room at 6 am immediately after the accident than we would if we strolled in the next afternoon (apparently , part of getting good patient care is marketing).
We could have looked up a regular, local hospital in our neighbourhood (the 16th, ) by calling SAMU (15) but decided instead to go to the American Hospital, since we weren’t sure our French was up to the challenge of an ER visit. We called to check that the American Hospital has an ER (they do), explained what had happened and turned down the offer of an ambulance. We decided to splurge on calling a taxi (usually we just go out on the street to find one, because in France you get charged from the minute the taxi is dispatched to your house). Alas, our taxi-calling skills weren’t well developed, and when we called a dispatcher, we were surprised to hear him say that he couldn’t send someone to our house in the 16th. So, down to the street instead, where we found a bench for me to sit on while my husband looked for a taxi - and then off we went. (Actually, not immediately. I suddenly remembered that we might need the chequebook, so my husband went upstairs to get it. The taxi driver politely asked me if everything was all right and I explained that I’d fallen and hurt my head and shoulder. He made appropriate soothing chitchat (pauvre petite madame, etc) until my husband returned.
Apr 15th, 2007, 04:20 AM
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The American Hospital is located at 63 avenue Victor Hugo, just outside the city (beyond the peripherique), in a lovely, leafy suburb called Neuilly. At 6 am, there was one other family dealing with the receptionist on call. We were able to sign in in 5 minutes. The formalities were very simple. The bilingual receptionist (a nurse) explained / pointed to some signs on the wall (English and French) regarding costs and had my husband fill out a single page form. We were happy to see that they took Amex (which means I’ll get Air France frequent flyer miles!). I showed her my health card (my employer isn’t part of the regular French health insurance system) - and we were escorted to a large, comfortable room within a few minutes.
The receptionist took a brief history and a few minutes later another principally French-speaking nurse showed up to take my blood pressure, pulse and temperature. I attempted to explain the situation in French: “Je suis tombe, j’ai frappe la tete et l’epaule” (I fell and hit my head and my shoulder), but I think I told the nurse that I’d lost my conscience instead of my consciousness.
The attending doctor (a Scot) arrived a few minutes after that to check me out and told me he’d order x-rays for my shoulder and a CT scan for my head. He was very pleasant and reassuring. 5-10 minutes later, another woman came to do an EKG and then I was able to settle down in bed to nap, while my husband tried to get some homework done. Bloodwork was done, an IV was offered for rehydration, as were painkillers (via the IV), and these were arranged swiftly.
Our timing was fortuitous, because the CT technicians would be arriving soon and the doctor was able to get me in to see them before they had processed most of their regular caseload. I was taken off and back for my x-ray (wheeled in my bed) by one very friendly young man (my husband was allowed to come with me) and taken off and back for my CT scan by another. Neither attendant seemed to speak a lot of English, but that might be because we didn’t need them to. They started off speaking to me in English and then switched to slow French as soon as they realised we could speak enough French go understand.
The receptionist took a brief history and a few minutes later another principally French-speaking nurse showed up to take my blood pressure, pulse and temperature. I attempted to explain the situation in French: “Je suis tombe, j’ai frappe la tete et l’epaule” (I fell and hit my head and my shoulder), but I think I told the nurse that I’d lost my conscience instead of my consciousness.
The attending doctor (a Scot) arrived a few minutes after that to check me out and told me he’d order x-rays for my shoulder and a CT scan for my head. He was very pleasant and reassuring. 5-10 minutes later, another woman came to do an EKG and then I was able to settle down in bed to nap, while my husband tried to get some homework done. Bloodwork was done, an IV was offered for rehydration, as were painkillers (via the IV), and these were arranged swiftly.
Our timing was fortuitous, because the CT technicians would be arriving soon and the doctor was able to get me in to see them before they had processed most of their regular caseload. I was taken off and back for my x-ray (wheeled in my bed) by one very friendly young man (my husband was allowed to come with me) and taken off and back for my CT scan by another. Neither attendant seemed to speak a lot of English, but that might be because we didn’t need them to. They started off speaking to me in English and then switched to slow French as soon as they realised we could speak enough French go understand.
Apr 15th, 2007, 04:40 AM
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We were finished with tests by 8:45 am. They suggested I stay in bed for another 20 minutes or so, so that I could finish the IV drip. Once that was removed, a nurse came by to make a sling for me. I thought it was very French of her to be so concerned that I would find the scarf unattractive (it was a bright blue square of a paper-type material like a tablecloth). It seemed equally French of her to recommend that I swap the sling for a scarf when I got home - and to assume that I would have an assortment of silk scarves from which to choose.
Check-out certainly was a lot simpler than our recent hotel stay in La Rochelle. We waited for less than 5 minutes in the waiting room, and then processing our paperwork took about another 5 minutes. I don’t know how much it would cost to visit a private hospital’s ER in the US, but we paid about 425 euros all in (and expect some of that to be covered by my health care plan at work). We were finished in a little over 3 hours.
Our ER doctor also arranged for us to go see my eye surgeon (who happened to be on call that weekend at the Hospital) that morning for a further check-up, because I recently had retinal surgery. We caught a taxi (easy to find at a stand just outside the ER entrance) and headed back to the 16th, to Trocadero near my eye doctor’s office. She was delayed by some other work, but she called us to let us know so we decided to spend the waiting time at a café.
We chose the closest one at Trocadero (the furthest west on the north side), in part because it seemed to have a view of the Eiffel Tower. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm already at 10 am. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fully appreciate the sunlight due to my headache (which had been gradually improving due to the meds but was still nasty). The coffee was fine (accompanied by a tiny cake) but the pain au chocolat was terrible. (That was the real injury in the day - wasting calories on such an unsatisfactory breakfast). Our doctor later told us we’d gone to the wrong café - the other two (further to the east) are better.
We were home by noon - all in all, very efficient, professional, pro-active and pleasant service from start to finish. Everyone was friendly, reassuring and went out of their way to help us understand what was going on (in English until they realised we could speak enough French to get by). I think I’d rather spend the weekend touring vineyards, but it was as pleasant a trip as possible in the circumstances.
Some useful numbers:
SOS Medicin: 01 4707 7777
SOS Pediatre: 01 4003 2273
SOS Dentiste: 01 4336 3600
American Hospital: 01 4641 2525 (www.american-hospital.org)
Check-out certainly was a lot simpler than our recent hotel stay in La Rochelle. We waited for less than 5 minutes in the waiting room, and then processing our paperwork took about another 5 minutes. I don’t know how much it would cost to visit a private hospital’s ER in the US, but we paid about 425 euros all in (and expect some of that to be covered by my health care plan at work). We were finished in a little over 3 hours.
Our ER doctor also arranged for us to go see my eye surgeon (who happened to be on call that weekend at the Hospital) that morning for a further check-up, because I recently had retinal surgery. We caught a taxi (easy to find at a stand just outside the ER entrance) and headed back to the 16th, to Trocadero near my eye doctor’s office. She was delayed by some other work, but she called us to let us know so we decided to spend the waiting time at a café.
We chose the closest one at Trocadero (the furthest west on the north side), in part because it seemed to have a view of the Eiffel Tower. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm already at 10 am. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fully appreciate the sunlight due to my headache (which had been gradually improving due to the meds but was still nasty). The coffee was fine (accompanied by a tiny cake) but the pain au chocolat was terrible. (That was the real injury in the day - wasting calories on such an unsatisfactory breakfast). Our doctor later told us we’d gone to the wrong café - the other two (further to the east) are better.
We were home by noon - all in all, very efficient, professional, pro-active and pleasant service from start to finish. Everyone was friendly, reassuring and went out of their way to help us understand what was going on (in English until they realised we could speak enough French to get by). I think I’d rather spend the weekend touring vineyards, but it was as pleasant a trip as possible in the circumstances.
Some useful numbers:
SOS Medicin: 01 4707 7777
SOS Pediatre: 01 4003 2273
SOS Dentiste: 01 4336 3600
American Hospital: 01 4641 2525 (www.american-hospital.org)
Apr 15th, 2007, 05:10 AM
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Kate - I am sorry about your accident but thankful that you saw fit to relate it. The situation is one which we wonder about when visiting an unfamiliar country so it is helpful to hear the details.
Apr 15th, 2007, 05:15 AM
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robjame:
Thanks for your message. All things considered, it wasn't a bad experience. I've had worse accidents (e.g. fell down a flight of stairs in '99, and broke my left ankle and a bone in my right foot on a Friday the 13th in 2001), so I feel lucky more than anything else. Thankfully, I have a wonderful husband to dress me and undress me (my shoulder has put my good arm out of commission for a few days) and hold the blowdryer while I try to dry my hair. I'm off cooking duty for a few days - and then there are the frequent flier miles
Thanks for your message. All things considered, it wasn't a bad experience. I've had worse accidents (e.g. fell down a flight of stairs in '99, and broke my left ankle and a bone in my right foot on a Friday the 13th in 2001), so I feel lucky more than anything else. Thankfully, I have a wonderful husband to dress me and undress me (my shoulder has put my good arm out of commission for a few days) and hold the blowdryer while I try to dry my hair. I'm off cooking duty for a few days - and then there are the frequent flier miles
Apr 15th, 2007, 05:49 AM
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Kate, I'm glad to hear this turned out well, and thanks for writing it up as a trip report.
"We were happy to see that they took Amex (which means I’ll get Air France frequent flyer miles!)."
Now that's the sign of a dedicated frequent flyer. If you post that over on FlyerTalk you'll certainly make it into the FT Newsletter.
Anselm
"We were happy to see that they took Amex (which means I’ll get Air France frequent flyer miles!)."
Now that's the sign of a dedicated frequent flyer. If you post that over on FlyerTalk you'll certainly make it into the FT Newsletter.
Anselm
Apr 15th, 2007, 05:58 AM
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Interesting experience! I haven't been to the hospital in years when I took a friend in to see about an infection.
Note: It's on 63 *Boulevard* Victor Hugo, not Avenue (the Avenue being back on your turf in the 16th).
Note: It's on 63 *Boulevard* Victor Hugo, not Avenue (the Avenue being back on your turf in the 16th).
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Apr 15th, 2007, 06:22 AM
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Sorry to read about your accident! Sounds like you had good care though.
I've had the misfortune to end up at 2 am in the emergency department of the Hôpital Bichat in the 18th arrondissement, and it was an altogether different experience! (Not one I would ever care to repeat.)
I've had the misfortune to end up at 2 am in the emergency department of the Hôpital Bichat in the 18th arrondissement, and it was an altogether different experience! (Not one I would ever care to repeat.)
Apr 15th, 2007, 06:24 AM
#9
As a footnote for those who are wondering, 'The American Hospital of Paris' is just the name. It is a French hospital with mostly French staff, as poor Kate noticed. However, it benefits from a lot of donations, particularly from the United States and the Middle East, that makes it one of the best hospitals in the world. Most people in France just think of it as the place 'where millionaires go to die' -- unless they live in Neuilly and consider it their local hospital.
Apr 15th, 2007, 07:11 AM
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Anselme:
I'm a Flyertalker too (Kate_Canuck). That's where I learned that practically the only points-earning credit card available in France was the Flying Blue Amex. Thanks to yesterday's trip to the ER, I'm a little closer to maintaining my Silver status (acquired almost exclusively through purchases) with Flying Blue for another year
Our cat showed that she was happy to see us by horking up another hairball in the front hall. Unfortunately, this one disappeared into the cracks in our herringbone wood floor and my poor dear husband had a terrible time cleaning up (I was excused). Not the least of his problems was the fact that he'd misplaced the cleaning solution on Saturday morning during all the commotion. He tried retracing his steps, taking into account the trip to the kitchen to find me knocked out on the floor - and discovered both the cleaning solution and his retainer at knee level in our kitchen pantry (the door must have been open when I fainted, and he put things down somewhere convenient as he knelt down to help me).
So, looking on the bright side of things, the cat's second vomiting episode helped us find the stuff we'd lost the first time around.
It's really very difficult to be in a bad mood in Paris in the springtime.
I'm a Flyertalker too (Kate_Canuck). That's where I learned that practically the only points-earning credit card available in France was the Flying Blue Amex. Thanks to yesterday's trip to the ER, I'm a little closer to maintaining my Silver status (acquired almost exclusively through purchases) with Flying Blue for another year
Our cat showed that she was happy to see us by horking up another hairball in the front hall. Unfortunately, this one disappeared into the cracks in our herringbone wood floor and my poor dear husband had a terrible time cleaning up (I was excused). Not the least of his problems was the fact that he'd misplaced the cleaning solution on Saturday morning during all the commotion. He tried retracing his steps, taking into account the trip to the kitchen to find me knocked out on the floor - and discovered both the cleaning solution and his retainer at knee level in our kitchen pantry (the door must have been open when I fainted, and he put things down somewhere convenient as he knelt down to help me).
So, looking on the bright side of things, the cat's second vomiting episode helped us find the stuff we'd lost the first time around.
It's really very difficult to be in a bad mood in Paris in the springtime.
Apr 16th, 2007, 11:20 AM
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I Love Paris in the Springtime.
Kate W I'm glad to know your OK. Stitches would have been a real headache on top of a headache.
I'll be in Paris next March and I can't wait.
Take Care, Theresa in Detroit.
Kate W I'm glad to know your OK. Stitches would have been a real headache on top of a headache.
I'll be in Paris next March and I can't wait.
Take Care, Theresa in Detroit.
Nov 23rd, 2008, 04:05 AM
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American Hospital of paris.
Im pleased you had a good experience with the A.H.P..
My wife and i recently travelled to the A.H.P. from Milan, (Italy) to have a consultation on fertility treatment.
We were promised the world, paid handsomely for our consultation then have since heard nothing from them.
Very professional.
Im pleased you had a good experience with the A.H.P..
My wife and i recently travelled to the A.H.P. from Milan, (Italy) to have a consultation on fertility treatment.
We were promised the world, paid handsomely for our consultation then have since heard nothing from them.
Very professional.
Nov 23rd, 2008, 10:34 AM
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Just curious to know for any Fodor people out there who live in France. Would the same treatment be given if the hospital was public?
Should any visitor to Paris who gets ill visit the American Hospital or any hospital is fine? Would they have to pay if they visited a public hospital?
Should any visitor to Paris who gets ill visit the American Hospital or any hospital is fine? Would they have to pay if they visited a public hospital?
Nov 23rd, 2008, 11:49 AM
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TPaxe
We had to spend time at the American Hospital during one visit to France. The doc who came to our hotel said we needed a hospital and advised the AHP. He said we would probably be treated sooner and he also said something to the effect "the rich people go there."
They charged our credit card about 3000 Euro for deposit before treatment but the treatment was excellent. All the testing seemed very high quality. It is true that not everyone speaks English and not many spoke it well at all. Thankfully, I'm fluent in French.
Several years later we still get requests for donations from the AHP!
We had to spend time at the American Hospital during one visit to France. The doc who came to our hotel said we needed a hospital and advised the AHP. He said we would probably be treated sooner and he also said something to the effect "the rich people go there."
They charged our credit card about 3000 Euro for deposit before treatment but the treatment was excellent. All the testing seemed very high quality. It is true that not everyone speaks English and not many spoke it well at all. Thankfully, I'm fluent in French.
Several years later we still get requests for donations from the AHP!
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