Island Paradise Day 25

Choosing a place to winter in retirement (or move to permanently) must surely include a look at health care. At the age of retirement, all kinds of things can go wrong, and knowing where you can go for care is important. On Utila there are two clinics, each can manage minor complaints, and well trained nurses can surely stabilize a person, but anything requiring urgent care must be dealt with in La Ceiba. That is not so bad if you need to go to a prescheduled appointment, but if one were to have a heart attack – getting to La Ceiba is not as easy as calling an ambulance – especially from the south shore.

I have heard stories of how the community pulls together to ensure that somehow people who need urgent care can get off the island. For example, one time someone required urgent care but it was nighttime, and there would be no ferry until morning. They called on the small 4 seat charter aircraft that flies out of here, and within minutes, people from town were driving their golf carts and scooters to the airport where, lights on, they lined the runway so the plane could see to take off and get the patient to the mainland where there is a very good critical care hospital. I asked my friend Susan what she would do if she had to get to La Ceiba quick, and she said she, “I would call Mr. Herman – the old guy on the cay. He would come with his boat and take us across if at all possible.”

I cannot say I would relish the idea of a rough boat ride if I were in bad condition – and a small boat would take many hours to get there, and I can only think that people who choose to live here either do not have any serious health conditions or things like heart disease in their family history, or they simply don’t care – choosing to take the risk. I am not sure I can do that. I like to have a plan A, and B for everything.

On the other hand, for people with chronic conditions that require frequent visits to specialists – the system here is great – just like in Mexico. There is a large center in La Ceiba (an hour ferry ride away) called Medicentro, where specialists of all sorts are located. There is also a 24 hour emergency clinic there. If someone needs tests, all the labs, ultrasounds etc. are right there, as is the pharmacy. You do not need an appointment; you can just walk in to any specialist’s office and wait to see them. No waiting for 12 months as is the case in Canada.

I have done a little research, and found a company called Air Evac International. They provide both rotor and fixed wing air evacuation and their aircraft are equipped with all advanced equipment to respond to cardiac, serious trauma, neurological, emergencies, etc. And they have a base in Roatan. I suspect it is a pricey service, but I am pretty sure that would not matter to me if it meant a life saving trip to a hospital. And many expat/travel insurance packages cover air evacuation.



Needless to say, that's my plan A. I have contacted them, and written their number on my fridge. When you live out here, being proactive could save your life. Plan B is Steph runs me in a wheel barrel down the beach and we steal a boat at Neptune's.