Not that I have any complaints, but the doctors here have sent me to just about
every kind of specialist and ordered every kind of test. Without medical records
from the States from every doctor I have ever seen in my long medical history, the
doctors here have decided to re-diagnose my life. The good thing is that I am
finding out I am pretty healthy, thank G-d.

The medical center was so large that one needs to drive from building to
building, and construction is ongoing. I now understand why there were
so many taxis lined up for people without vehicles.

Driving Beats Walking

There is no way to walk the expansive grounds. I also understand why I saw a
gas station on my right as I entered the medical center campus. I call it that
because a large university campus, such as my alma mater, UCLA, would be
dwarfed by this medical center "city." It is wise to fill up your tank so you can
make if off the grounds without running out of gas.

The medical center also has a shopping mall and hotel on its grounds! I
was so exhausted by the end of the day I actually considered renting a
hotel room, having a good dinner at one of the restaurants, and doing
some window shopping in the mall while I was there. The medical center
seemed more like a resort or little city than a hospital.

Most people in the world only hear bad stories about Israel because
of propaganda and media bias against the country. I just wish everyone
had the opportunity to come to Israel and see what things are
really like here.

No Discrimination

The hospital treats all patients in need of medical services regardless
of their race or religion. I saw Arab and Jew sitting side by side and
I heard several different languages spoken.

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The doctors and staff also seemed diverse as to race and religion. And, everyone
seemed to get along. What is interesting is that just the day before, I read
an article about 23 British Muslims who took part in a pilgrimage to Israel
led by an imam who was so impressed by his visit to an Israeli hospital
that he pledged to raise funds for the hospital.

I was so excited to finally read something good about Israel that I saved
the article on my computer without knowing that I would have an opportunity
to quote from it the very next day. The Muslim Imam Fahim said in the article,
"I saw a hospital where the doctors, nurses and staff were Jews or
Palestinians. Yet all worked together and there was no discrimination
against any patients."

He said, "We saw how people are living together. There might be problems
among a minority of people, but it is largely peaceful.”

No Waiting

The CT scan section took up an entire wing of one of the hospital
buildings. I checked in by first taking a number from a machine
like you would find at a bakery or deli counter. Then I sat down in a
comfortable chair and watched TV on a big screen while I waited to be called.
The worst part of the day was waiting for 15 minutes after the test
for the CD-ROM with the test pictures and the report.

I have always been against socialized medicine, but I must say I
have been quite impressed with the system here in Israel. My CT scan
cost me approximately $7, and my echo cardiogram the day before
cost me the same amount.

I went to my primary care doctor approximately three weeks ago, and I have
already had lab work, x-rays, a cardiac stress test, an echo cardiogram, a
mammogram, a CT scan, an EKG, and have been to a cardiologist,
a pulmonologist, the breast clinic, a gynecologist, an ophthalmologist,
a dermatologist, and have appointments set up to see a few more specialists.

I could have had all my appointments scheduled within a week's time, but
I requested that they be spread over several weeks.

There are just so many doctor exams I can take at a time. I have
heard horror stories about socialized medicine in other countries,
about having to wait for months to see a doctor or have medical tests.

Perhaps because Israel is so advanced when it comes to medicine and
technology, that expertise makes the system work here.

L'hitraot. Shachar

Shachar is the Hebrew name of a California-based attorney and former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy who moved to Israel last year.