Peace Corps Pre-medical clearance

The last update I posted about Peace Corps was this :

June 28th, 2013: Is no news…really good news?…hmmmmm (ponder ponder ponder) nothing

So I’ve been completing my Peace Corps pre-medical clearance tasks while living abroad in Spain. The Peace Corps has been really thorough with the pre-medical requirements. I mean I consider myself quite healthy but they want to know everything ABOUT EVERYTHING.

For example I’ve developed seasonal allergies in South Korea during Yellow Dust season. Ever since then I’ve needed to use a humidifier at night (not all the time just when breathing is impossible because of the sniffles ^_^) but they needed me to write a statement about that.

They also needed me to do a TB test. Yes this test is pretty routine in America and I thought it wouldn’t be a problem in Spain but….

Medical staff Spain….why you so difficult??!

First I needed to find a lab that can do the test exactly how Peace Corps specifies. OK…not a problem! I will just contact Dr. Ruben, the english speaking doctor I used when I studied abroad in Madrid in 2010.

According to Dr. Ruben this simple test would cost about 180 euros. WHATT!!!!!!!!! Ummmm no!

Next I took the advice of my mommy and called my private insurance company (provided by the BEDA Spain program) and asked for help finding a lab that could do this test.

I received a list of places in Madrid ~~and~~ called the first one. This place was on Calle Velazquez…which is near Calle Serrano, a very ritzy area which is also home to many of the Embassies. Perfect! I thought. Communication about what I need done should be easy peasy.

Wrong!

I did the test on Halloween day, October 31st and it is now December and I am STILL waiting for the results. They were to be ready on Novemer 8 and it was due to the Peace Corps November 30th 🙁

Since I wouldn’t have been able to return to the lab on a week day to retrieve the results they offered me the option of emailing. I still haven’t received that email. I’ve called the lab numerous times and they have my correct email address. But I have no idea where they are sending my CONFIDENTIAL information. Sigh*** They told me to check my spam folder. I’ve checked every freaking folder and still no email! I was really annoyed and on top of that I was sick and stressed with my school and moving to a new city.

I just felt like “WHY CAN’T PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY ARE GETTING PAID TO DO” ha ha. I swear hospital staff can be the worst sometimes. But anyway I’m just trying to stay positive.

I had to email the pre-medical staff to request more time. Originally this task was due October 31st but I couldn’t access the directions since the site was offline during the government shut down.

So here we are now with a due date for the end of December. ~~Next saturday I have to head to Madrid so I will take the first RENFE train in the morning and stop by the lab~~. ~~And pick up my paper in person since they claim they could MAIL IT to me!~~

(December 13, 2013 major update posted…click here)

Anyway, here are a few pictures of the lab.

I always find seeing medical offices in other countries intriguing. Probably because I wanted to be an Emergency medicine doctor in my University days 🙂