The Travel Clinic

The Oschner Travel Clinic is a way for someone to make a lot of money. I had an "interview" with one Dr. Ruben Fabrega, a nice looking older Panamanian. I had written down all the medicines I take plus a copy of where we would be going and what we would be doing. The nurse took it from me upon my arrival. When he appeared in the room, his first question was, "Whie jew wanna go Tie Lan?" As I was answering, he was reading from something that someone had printed from the internet about what immunizations were needed for travel in Thailand. He even had me look at it cause he was confused over Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai - "vitch won jew gone?" He explained a few things about what he thought I needed and why, then asked if I had any questions. He said the nurse would take over from there and was out the door. Of course, while I was waiting for the nurse, I thought of some questions so had to ask her when she came in. Her main purpose was to tell me how much everything costs before they did it. They had explained on the phone that the doctor interview was $65 and the nurse visit, no matter how many shots or what she did, was $31. None of this was covered by insurance. I was OK up to this point. Then she looked up the cost of the shots I was being given - whew! It might be cheaper to get Hepatitus and/or Typhoid! I was then ushered into the chemotherapy room where I had a moment of......silence....dread......deja vu.......insight.......perception......flash forward......empathy........and enlightenment. I got a shot in each arm - Typhoid and Hepatitus (by now, which letter - A, B, C, or D, I'm not sure) along with a prescription for Cipro (in case of anthrax, I guess or debilitating diahrea...) and doxycyclene for malaria. The bill came to $496.38 and is now being processed thru Discover Card. I think I was overcharged but didn't want to make a big scene as the natives were restless when another white woman called them "colored girls" after another disputed bill right before me. I just signed my name, thanked them profusely, took my receipt and left. Wil called the insurance company this morning and they said to submit the bill and it would go on our deductible so we may recoup some of it. All this in a time span of 40 minutes! But I should never get hepatitis, I've got 10 years on the typhoid, 8 years left on the tetanus, a month of malaria protection and I could save one person from Anthrax.......