Instead of starting my day with a sunrise, I started it in the Emergency Room at the Mediterranean Hospital of Cyprus. It started with me accidentally eating gelato that was cross-contaminated with tree nuts, to which I was allergic. Thankfully, I was surrounded by a group of students, that called Jodi as soon as I felt that I was entering anaphylactic shock. Even though it was a daunting experience, it gave me profound insight into the Cyprian healthcare system.

As an EMT, the first difference in the health care system I noticed was the lack of an emergency transport system. To get to the hospital, we had to order a taxi and wait for it to arrive. This arrangement was further complicated by the interwoven nature of Cyprus roads, which made it difficult for the driver to find the hotel and delayed care. I was reminded of the lack of emergency transport when we were in the Lefkara village in the Troodos mountains.  While its undisturbed nature gave the village a certain charm, it forced me to wonder about the accessibility of healthcare in the mountains. In extremely time-sensitive situations, like strokes, every second counts so a longer transport time could be life or limb-threatening. 

Another difference I noticed was the itemization of the cost of the care given. This established a greater degree of transparency and by relation trust in the healthcare system. In comparison, in America, it is extremely difficult to get an itemized list of costs which can lead to a state of confusion and distrust. I was also surprised to see that the bill was only 90€ because, in America, a similar treatment could have cost me thousands without insurance. 

The final difference I noticed was in the scale of the emergency department. My local hospital has more than 50 different units and half a dozen different specialized zones. While I knew that the population of Cyprus was smaller, I was surprised to see that the emergency department was just one big room with “rooms” formed by curtains. The nurses and doctors, both of whom dressed in the same color scrubs, focused their efforts on providing the most efficient care to move patients as quickly as possible. 

In the end, even though I would never want to experience a healthcare emergency in a foreign country again, I am grateful to have recovered completely and to have learned more about the Cyprus healthcare system.