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28 minutes ago, AlanMexicali said:

Here if a diagnosis is done by a private secialist the IMSS will consider it valid and if not 2 diagnosis done will do the trick in most appeal cases where an IMSS specialist was involved without the need for a lawyer. Just forms filled out and presented to the appeal board. Note that in some cases age has a limit on what operations and treatment can be approved. They have lists of this in their services manual and it starts at 60 years old and  older. They will not do vascular surgery on a 75 year old and older person for fear they will die because of it for example. Also they evaluate prospective operation patients to confirm there is no risk that they might not survive the proceedure. If your EKG is weak they wll not operate for example. Also they will not treat certain diseases. If this Dra. is a GP and refuses to send you for diagnosis to an IMSS specialist at your request she might have asked questions you answered wrong. In this case go to a private secialist for diagnosis and return with the diagnosis and demand to see an IMSS specialist. If she still refuses report her.

 

Thanks Alan,

 

We had already gone to a private specialist and gave her copies of the diagnosis. I am early 60's and my husband is 58. No heart trouble. No strange diseases. The surgery needed is same day outpatient, nothing difficult. We believe that in my case she is saying that this is from my work of years ago. We also know that there is a waiting period of 3 years for pre-existing and think that she is using this as an excuse. Never had this before so do not understand how she can say that. Let's say it was pre-existing(wasn't)we have had IMSS for 8 years so should not be an issue. No referral to a specialist, she told us to come back a week later, our translator did and was told no for me and to come back next week for a decision on my husband.  The questions she asked me were what I did for a living, did I have diabetes, high blood pressure and the answer was no. So, I don't know. Our translator has already told Lucy about this Dr. so we will see what she has to say on Tuesday.

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1 hour ago, purpleflower said:

Lucy does know the people there and the translator is someone that she highly recommended. The Dr. that we were assigned to does not like Gringos and has said so. According to our facilitator, the other female Dr. is very very nice. We also found out that the Director is new and that the manager that gave so many trouble is gone. We were told that we will have to get a lawyer to fight the decision made on my needed surgery. It seems that we were just lucky enough to get assigned to a Dr. that has a personal dislike for non Mexicans using the system. We will be speaking to Lucy on Tuesday to see if there is anything she can do.

So why don't you ask the person in charge to change your doctor?  

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We enrolled in IMSS in 2000 about. Had no reason to use it but kept our record "active" by going for flu shots and such. We were required to go to the Chapala office. When my husband was showing signs of being ill in late 2014, we went to the Chapala facility (with an aggressive facilitator) and managed after a while to get an appointment with a doctor at the hospital just outside Gaudalajara, called 180, I think. We had to first get an xray, an EKG and some blood tests, the Chapala office said. We were told at the Chapala office that getting the xray, etc. locally and bringing the results with us would be fine. For the appointment with the specialist we did not have our "aggressive" facilitator, but a nice Mexican driver who spoke English.

We arrived at the hospital early AM, signed in, and waited over three hours to be seen by the specialist. My husband, in his eighties, was so shaky on his feet that I and the driver supported him into the specialist's office and led him to a seat. The specialist, I think an internist and gerontologist, barely looked at my husband. He looked at the test results I'd brought and highly disapproved of them, saying they should have been done by IMSS (which would have required first a trip to this hospital, waiting for results, and then another trip to see this doctor). The doctor also did not like that I'd brought a list of medications my husband was taking. I should have brought the entire box of each med, he said, so he could look at the ingredients of each med. No one had told me this. The doctor was very unpleasant and obviously didn't like the driver/translator. He told us to make another appointment and come back in two weeks and do everything right this time. He said, incorrectly, that the IMSS office in Chapala could do the tests. And he dismissed us. The fact that his shift was about to end might have had something to do with not wanting to spend any more time with us.

Our IMSS renewal date was coming up in about two weeks. I agonized over renewing--spending the money--to get this kind of treatment. This doctor could see that my husband was sick. Would this be the way it went if we returned?

I made the decision not to renew. When my husband was hospitalized suddenly a few weeks later, I turned to Dr. Hector Briseno, his father, also a cardiologist, and other specialists called in by Dr. Briseno. Yes, expensive private care. But good care.

I know people have had great luck with IMSS. And I do call it luck. Or you could be like my facilitator and friend who learned to speak fluent Spanish and has coped with the IMSS system to her advantage.

Lexy

 

 

 

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My husband and I have had IMSS for over 8 years; never used it and now, are not exactly looking forward to finally going in and having whatever they say they need in order to get our cards one more time. 

Here's an example of their general inefficiency and utter disregard for logic or consideration for their subscribers:  Both of us paid our yearly fees according to the fee schedule the ladies at LCS had.  While waiting for the final process of getting cards, a lady who happens to live on our block and works for IMSS in Chapala rang our bell and asked for someone of my own middle name and my MOTHER'S maiden name.  HUH??? Finally got that straight and was told I HAD to go to Guadalajara office the very next day and pay 50 pesos that was short because of an error they made on my application at LCS. We did go, on one of the hottest, smoggiest days of the year; had to hire a driver and spend all day until closing going to various windows; had to get the 50 peso check from a bank and finally, finished. All this over 50 pesos they apparently couldn't take in at Chapala.

Go figure.  No wonder the system has troubles. 

 

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1 hour ago, gringal said:

My husband and I have had IMSS for over 8 years; never used it and now, are not exactly looking forward to finally going in and having whatever they say they need in order to get our cards one more time. 

Here's an example of their general inefficiency and utter disregard for logic or consideration for their subscribers:  Both of us paid our yearly fees according to the fee schedule the ladies at LCS had.  While waiting for the final process of getting cards, a lady who happens to live on our block and works for IMSS in Chapala rang our bell and asked for someone of my own middle name and my MOTHER'S maiden name.  HUH??? Finally got that straight and was told I HAD to go to Guadalajara office the very next day and pay 50 pesos that was short because of an error they made on my application at LCS. We did go, on one of the hottest, smoggiest days of the year; had to hire a driver and spend all day until closing going to various windows; had to get the 50 peso check from a bank and finally, finished. All this over 50 pesos they apparently couldn't take in at Chapala.

Go figure.  No wonder the system has troubles. 

 

 

Well hopefully, you will not be assigned this particular Dr. She is the one that is assigned to  exam room 2. I would beg for room 3. The Dr. assigned to room 3 is the one that is very nice and helpful.  I do not think it is so easy as to just go in and tell them to change the Dr. that you were assigned. When we speak to Lucy on Tuesday we will ask just how difficult it would be to get reassigned. I almost want to laugh at that question.

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Joined IMSS in 2007 and really don't have any problems. I have a monthly appointment in Joco to get my prescriptions rewritten for the coming month. I have a cardiologist in GDL for Afib and if he changes my prescriptions, I just show the Dra in Joco and she makes any necessary changes. 

I do have my own GP doctor in Chapala and Dermatologist in Ajijic and usually go to them first. If there was a problem then I would go to Joco about it.

So far so good.

 

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4 hours ago, purpleflower said:

Actually, according to my facilitator the female Dr. that is reasonable is sometimes in room 1 - so it could be the same Dr.  Gringal, either one would be better than room no. 2. 

This reminds me of "which door has the tiger behind it". :ph34r: Thanks for the warnings.  Now, which facilitator is the "aggressive" one.  I'd like to avoid that one in favor of a more conciliatory one who'll help us.

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  • 2 weeks later...

SO, our Facilitator went back to the Chapala office and was able to speak to the new Director and pretty much demanded that we be able to see the Ortho specialist.  Apparently he is not yet in the groove, piles and piles of paperwork on his desk and seemed overwhelmed. He went ahead and approved the recommendation, so we now have an appt. in Tlacumulco on Aug. 9. We spoke to Lucy and she is going to transfer us to the Joco location. We have heard only positive experiences there. The director actually thanked our Facilitator for using imss.  

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Thank you for reporting all your experiences. It helps when taking in all the points of view to make the decision on where to get in on it. I have used alot of curanderas/os at the lake and in Guad.  but that don't help ya for broken bones or things severe. When I return soon, these decisions will have to be made.

I have experienced sufficient hate for Mexicans using the system here in the states as well. It would be refusal/denial/ giving of poor service as a professional because you are prejudiced. Not cool and not safe. I'm glad something comes of it there if  make complaints. Here, what I see is that local Hispanic hating the MEXICAN, and nobody cares if there is a complaint. 

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On 6/30/2016 at 5:16 PM, Bontekoe said:

I think Chapala sucks, I go for primary care in Jocotepec

Can the Jocotepec facility be used if you don't live there?

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No you have to live or have an address in Joco.

Just remember years ago when everyone had problems with the Director Sandra in Chapala she is now at Joco and nice and happy because the employees treat her with respect, not like Chapala did.

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Are you implying that many, many people including myself and my Mom, were refused IMSS (after paying the fees and being a member for years) for undefined reasons by Director Sandra because her employees in Chapala did not treat her with respect?

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The reputation of the Chapala Clinic  has been less than desirable for many years.  I have been a member for many years and have received excellent medical care and attention in the past two years,   BUT, I have used Lucy at LCS, and Clinics in Union de Tula, and Guadalajara for appts.  I have also used the IMSS Centro for emergency entrance.   I would suggest all , to check with Lucy at LCS , for further info

 

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