4/17/26- A trip to the ED

Unfortunately, the beginning of my journey started with illness. I contracted an URI and then a sinus infection. While it was inconvenient, it was also an interesting experience. I saw it as an opportunity to experience the patient side of healthcare in Greece. Luckily, HCOM provided insurance as international travelers do not qualify for the public insurance provided to its’ citizens. To begin the visit, I contacted the International SOS in order to find a doctor that is available, speaks English, and would accept the insurance. They were super helpful in providing quick and efficient information to me. The international providers were unsure if I was going to be able to find a provider since it was a Sunday and also a holiday. However, unlike the US, most shops are actually open on a holiday instead of closed. I was fortunate that they found me a provider to visit at an ED the same day. They directed me to a nearby clinic that was private. In Greece, private clinics are only available to those that can afford private insurance, which is not many. They also prioritize travelers, which I was fortunate to be. I feel that travelers in the US do not receive the same level of care that travelers do in other countries. Once at the clinic, I was provided with a proof and garuntee of payment from the International SOS. I provided that along with my identification to start the paperwork. Once that was filled out, I waited to see first a resident who initially evaluated me. After I saw her, I was sent around the corner to get bloodwork and then downstairs to get an Xray. This was interesting as in ED’s in the US, we have beds for patients and transport them ourselves. This could be how other ED’s in Greece work but this felt more like an urgent care but they called it an ED. After getting the results, the attending doctor met with me to confirm a sinus infection and ear infection (lucky me!). He prescribed antibiotics and supportive care medications. In Greece, you can only purchase drugs from a pharmacy. Even vitamins, Advil, and skin care products are only sold in Pharmacies, not grocery stores. There are pharmacies on nearly every street corner but since it was a Sunday, most were closed. There are, however, “On Duty” pharmacies that are open 24/7 that I was able to purchase medicine. I had to pay and process a claim for later reimbursement but it was not nearly the cost as it would have been in the US. Baseline, I would’ve had to pay about $1500 plus medications for a trip to the ED in the US. It was $400 USD for the entire visit with medications. The whole visit was about 3-4 hours which I felt wasn’t too bad considering the holiday, short notice, it being a Sunday, and being an international traveler. I am grateful and feel privileged for being able to get the care I needed quickly in order to recover.