MEDICAL INFORMATION |
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IntroductionIf an American citizen becomes seriously ill or injured abroad, a U.S. consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends. If necessary, a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States. However, payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler. Before going abroad, learn what medical services you health insurance will cover overseas. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, Remember to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form. Although many health insurance companies will pay "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States. The Social Security Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the U.S. Senior citizens may wish to contact the American Association of Retired Persons for information about foreign medical care coverage with Medicare supplement plans. To facilitate identification in case of an accident, complete the information page on the inside of you passport providing the name, address and telephone number of someone to be contacted in an emergency. Medical Care in RussiaMedical care in Russia is often far below the standards American citizens
have come to expect from U.S. hospitals. Russian hospitals often reuse
needles, and screening of blood supplies is inadequate. Americans resident
in the Urals and Western Siberia regions may wish to maintain a private
blood supply, stock extra needles, or, in the case of emergency, insist
on intravenous fluids over whole blood transfusions until they can reach
the West. In general, Americans in the Urals and Western Siberia are urged
to delay non-essential hospitalization and routine care until they can
reach a Western hospital. If this is impossible, see Attachment
A for the Consulate's list of medical professionals in Yekaterinburg
and Attachment B for major hospitals in other major
cities in these regions. Click on the following link for "Health
Concerns and Medical Emergencies" information from US Embassy Moscow: Medical Care in YekaterinburgShould you require ambulatory care the local emergency number is 03. In Yekaterinburg, foreigners should dial (343) 29-82-28 to reach an English-speaking ambulance dispatcher. Russian medical professionals have little experience dealing with Western medical insurance companies and may demand cash for their services. You should consult your insurance carrier to be certain that your coverage is valid in Russia and that you will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. Click here for Medical Providers in the Yekaterinburg Medical EvacuationThe Consulate urges all American citizens resident in the Urals and Western Siberia to consult with their insurance carriers to make certain that they are covered for medical evacuation to Western Europe or the U.S. The small number of direct international flights from Yekaterinburg to Germany often makes this route the most practical option for transfer to a Western medical facility. See Attachment C for contact numbers of the major medical evacuation companies to inquire about membership in their programs. One major medical assistance company provided the following quotes for medical evacuation to Helsinki.
General Health InformationThis information is based on the environmental reports received from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow's Regional Medical Officer. Food Sanitation: According to sampling taken of foods from the local market in Yekaterinburg in November 1993 which both Moscow and FDA labs tested for pesticides, heavy metals and radiation, most foods were within acceptable ranges. Two sources of potential concern were mercury in fish and lead in canned squash, although both were within FDA maximum acceptable ranges. Dried mushroom samples exceeded acceptable FDA radiation levels and should be avoided. Local fish and cheese samples were in range II of FDA concern regarding strontium levels and should be avoided; imported cheese does not pose a problem. Bread samples were the only product found to contain any detectable level of pesticide and these were below FDA tolerance levels. However, recent bread samples have been contaminated with insect debris. Locally available fruits and vegetables may be contaminated with disease-causing bacteria, viruses, or parasites. In addition, many of these items may also have been recently treated with pesticides. Recommendations for food decontamination:
Household bleach (5% chlorine) is the most commonly available disinfecting agent for food and food contact surfaces. A correct solution for disinfection is made by adding one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of potable water. Produce should be soaked in this solution for a minimum of 15 minutes and then rinsed thoroughly with potable water. Certain foods that are difficult to disinfect, such as leafy vegetables and those with an irregular surface like cauliflower and broccoli, should not be eaten raw. Additional measures to reduce pesticide exposure from food:
Water Sanitation: Water samples collected from the Central Hotel were checked for heavy metals, pesticides and radiation. Almost all results were within EPA parameters. Arsenic levels were elevated in some samples. Elevated lead levels were also detected, though these elevations were inconsistent and thought to possibly reflect contamination of specimen containers. Municipal water shows the presence of cryptosporidium, giardia, and bacterial debris. At home disinfection of water is best accomplished by first filtering the water to remove particulates and certain organism, and then bringing the water to a rolling boil for five minutes. An alternate method of disinfecting water is to add one half teaspoon of fresh bleach (5% chlorine) to every liter of water and then waiting at least 30 minutes. If an unacceptable chlorine taste remains in the water after this treatment method, allow more time to pass before drinking or pass the water through a charcoal filter. The water in Yekaterinburg is deficient in fluoride, so parents should obtain fluoride solution or tablets supplements for children from two weeks of age until 14 years of age. Air Pollution: Air was monitored in November 1993 over the period of six days. Air quality was reported as subjectively good, although levels of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone particulates, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls were below existing EPA standards. Arsenic, zinc, iron, and vanadium were found at levels above that typically seen in urban areas in the U.S., but below levels associated with adverse health effects.
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Attachment A. Medical Providers in YekaterinburgThe U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg assumes no responsibility for the professional ability or reputation of the persons or medical facilities whose names appear on the following list.
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Attachment B. Other Medical Providers in the Ural regionThe U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg assumes no responsibility for the professional ability or reputation of the persons or medical facilities whose names appear on the following list. CHELYABINSKCity Hospital No. 1 Regional Cardiology Center Regional Hospital No. 1 (Medgorodok) Dental Clinic IZHEVSKAuto Factory Hospital City Hospital No. 1 Clinical Hospital KURGANCardiology Center ORENBURGRegional Hospital Dental Clinic OMSKEmergency Hospital Hospital No. 1
PERMMedsanchast No. 9 Oblast Hospital UFACardiology Center Republic Clinical Hospital
Attachment C. MEDICAL EVACUATION SERVICESThe U.S. Consulate assumes no responsibility for the professional level of services offered by the ambulance companies on the following list. AAA - Air Ambulance America Acadian Ambulance and Air Med. Access America, Inc Advanced Air Ambulance, Inc. Aero Ambulance International Air Ambulance America Air Ambulance, Inc.
Air Evac International
Air Medical Services, Inc. Air Response Asia Emergency Assistance Co. Austrian Air Ambulance Care Flight-Air Critical Care Intl Critical Air Medicine Delta Consulting (Metro Okhotnyi Ryad/Teatralnaya) E.M.A. Helsinki Global Patient Transport Healthcare Abroad Inflight Medical Services International, Inc. Intensive Air Ambulance International Medevac Transport International SOS Assistance Jet Flight Air Ambulance Finland Medex Assistance Corporation Medic'Air Medical Escort International, Inc. Medjet International, Inc. Multi-Care International National Air Ambulance Northwest Aeromedical S.O.S. Geneva Geneva Travel Care International, Inc. Tyrolian Air Ambulance |
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