Carnival Ships Infirmary "Level of Care"

[Wennfred]

There was a Thread a few weeks ago about how much can the Ships Infirmary can handle. This is the Reply I got today:

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

 

With regard to our medical facilities, our ship's infirmaries are equipped to treat only minor illnesses and when guests experience health related issues, we frequently refer them to land based facilities for treatment.

 

Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to be of assistance. We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.

 

Sincerely,

 

Internet Specialist

Carnival Cruise Lines

[OhioJeff]

There was a Thread a few weeks ago about how much can the Ships Infirmary can handle. This is the Reply I got today:

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

 

With regard to our medical facilities, our ship's infirmaries are equipped to treat only minor illnesses and when guests experience health related issues, we frequently refer them to land based facilities for treatment.

 

Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to be of assistance. We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.

 

Sincerely,

 

Internet Specialist

Carnival Cruise Lines

From the Carnival website

 

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Medical_Services.aspx

 

Should a guest require medical attention while aboard one of our vessels, the Infirmary staff is available to assist 24 hours a day. The Infirmary is equipped to treat minor non-emergency matters. Physicians are available to render services at a customary fee. While at sea or in port, the availability of medical care may be limited.

 

Medical Infirmary Hours

The Medical Infirmary on board has daily office hours which are listed in the Carnival Capers. The medical staff is on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. The hours may vary from ship to ship and whether the ship is in port or at sea:

Infirmary Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm

Doctor's Hours : 9:00am - 11:00am; 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Medical Service Fees

A charge for medical services will be billed to the guest's Sail and Sign Account and a receipt will be provided for the guest to submit to their insurance company upon return for possible reimbursement.

 

The physicians on board are independent contractors and are entitled to render services at a customary fee which may vary from ship to ship based on the time of day. The basic fee does NOT include medication, tests or treatment.

 

Medication

Motion Sickness: complimentary Meclizine (Bonine) is available from the Infirmary, Room Service or the Information Desk, free of charge. A motion sickness shot can be administered to those who are actively vomiting, but not as preventive medicine; there is a fee for the shot. The Infirmary does not have motion sickness patches nor wristbands.

 

Over-the-Counter medications for cold, cough, upset stomach or other minor illnesses can be purchased at the Infirmary from 8:00am-8:00pm. In addition, the shops on board may carry some of these items.

Prescription drugs and vitamins may not be readily available either on board the ship or in the ports-of-call.

 

Medical Staffing and Equipment

In order to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for our guests, our infirmaries meet or exceed the standards established by the International Council of Cruise Lines and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Our infirmaries are staffed by qualified physicians and nurses who are committed to providing the highest quality of shipboard medical care. Each ship in the fleet carries one doctor and three nurses; the Destiny, Triumph and Victory each carry two doctors and four nurses.

 

Doctors on our ships are required to have a current and valid medical license from the USA, one of its territories, or Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, or have full registration with the British General Medical Counsel of the United Kingdom or current full registration with the British General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, or current full registration with the medical council of a member country of the European Union. In addition, doctors must demonstrate competent skill levels and hold current certification in basic and advanced cardiac life support and cardiac care, have experience in general medicine or general practice including emergency or critical care, and have one to three years clinical experience and minor surgical skills, and board or similar international certification is preferred. The doctors on board are independent contractors.

 

Shipboard medical facilities are set up to provide reasonable emergency medical care for guests and crew. In cases of extreme emergency where more comprehensive facilities are required, patients are referred to shoreside facilities.

 

In addition to standard lifesaving equipment such as defibrillators and external pacemakers, our infirmaries carry some of the latest in medical technology including thrombolytic therapy, electrocardiograph machines, lab equipment, pulse oxymeters and x-ray machines on many of our ships.

[FnyFACEnAL]

Has anyone spent a night in a Carnival Infirmary? What is the customary fee for this service? I spoke with one lady on the Holiday who spent the night in the infirmary because she had passed out but she had no idea of what her charges will be. When does the patient find out the charges? Is there a posting of fees on the Carnival ships? If you buy travel insurance I would imagine the charges would be covered?

[MrGolf]

Has anyone spent a night in a Carnival Infirmary? What is the customary fee for this service? I spoke with one lady on the Holiday who spent the night in the infirmary because she had passed out but she had no idea of what her charges will be. When does the patient find out the charges? Is there a posting of fees on the Carnival ships? If you buy travel insurance I would imagine the charges would be covered?

 

I'm sure I'll be one.......I've never been sick from motion but I'm sure this will be the first. Stupid kinda chit happens around me so beware. :D

[hdawson]

In general I think cruiselines use the US Social Security Medicare list for allowble charges. Infirmaries have listed hours. Outside of those hours charges could be close to emergency room charges at home. I've had two experiences (on Celebrity) and I was very impressed with the quality of care and the charges.

[MonaCK]

Last July, I was cruising with a good friend when she developed an absessed tooth. She ended up seeing the doctor twice while on board, and was given penicillian. Total charges were quite reasonable, especially considering she was so out of it, she didn't have much else in the way of shipboard charges...

[Leo Jay]

If you buy travel insurance I would imagine the charges would be covered?

 

I would imagine that this varies by provider and policy.

[hdawson]

Travel insurance will reimburse you for medical expenses. Charges go on your sail & sign account.

[sa7776]

I posted in 2005 concerning our infirmary experience on the Sensation. The medical personnel were very professional and we were very satisfied with the level of care. DH's problem did require a trip to the emergency room in Cozumel for IV antibiotics not available on the ship. I fell in Costa Maya on the same trip and had treatment and Xray's in the infirmary.

 

Cost was extremely reasonable. Much less than we would have paid in a US emergency room. All told, about $450 dollars which included docters visits every day except the day we got on and the day we got off the boat, all shots, oral antibiotics, a procedure to open,drain and pack a subcutaneous abcess and pain medication for DH, Xrays, pain medication and splint for me. The hospital in Mexico charged around $1000 dollars for IV's and treatment.

 

None of this was covered by my major medical. Luckily I had travel insurance through Carnival. It reimbursed us quickly and completely.

[teddybarehead]

My last cruise i had a slight ankle twist, i wanted to see if the infirmary would wrap it for me. I called them up, and they would have indeed been able to wrap it, for about $50, When we got to key west i went to Walgreens and did it myself for about $5. So... don't utilize the infirmary unless you absolutely have to, or if money isn't an object.

[JiffyBear74]

We were unfortunate on our second cruise aboard the Dream that both me and my daughter had to go to the infirmary. She had an ear infection and I had messed up my knee somehow.

 

The doctor was young, but he was very good. He was great with my daughter. I think for the 2 of us and the medicines he had given us it was around $150...much less than 2 doctors trips and a trip to the drug store at home.

 

I did see someone in there that was lying in a bed and looked pretty sick...I heard it was a crew member and they were waiting to get to the next stop to take him to the emergency room. He did say they can radio a helicopter if they have to but only in life threatening emergencies...I wouldn't want that bill!

[kcdancerkc]

I've been 2 times, once on the sensation and once on glory

 

1st time was UTI -- gave me an antibiotic that you have to stay out of the sun :( and those bladder relief pills

 

2nd time I "popped" my sternum out of place on a snorkel in Belize - I was sooooo upset! Got to snorkel for 4 seconds!

 

Both times infirmary efficient, compassionate AND paid for by trip insurance! We were reimbursed!

[LHP]

I have always equated the medical facility on the ship to going to a doctor's office.

 

Not very extensive, but you are sure glad to have them if something happens!

[pe4all]

It cost $90 for dd19 for a visit to the infirmary when we were on Dream. We were fully re-imbursed thru travel insurance. (we were also off-loaded to a Belize hospital for 3 days of testing/treatment - also covered by my primary insurance, then travel insurance picked up all other charges - around $5000 worth!)

[The4Cruisers]

Good thread! I was thinking about visiting the infirmary on our last cruise, but was hestitant due to cost.

 

You see, I had missed a step in one of the inside stairways from the Lido Deck and went for a tumble onto the landing. FYI - I was 100% sober. Just missed a step somehow and paid the price!

 

I made sure to gently push my DW out of the way as I fell past her, but her reactionary scream of surprise seemed to call everyones attention to the latter portion of my mid-air travel. :o

 

All in all, aside from the bump on the head and bruised ego, I rug-burned a pretty good size area on my knee.

 

I really wanted to have them check it out and clean out the germs (who knows what's in that carpet! :eek:) but I just went back to the room and did it myself with soap and water instead. Luckily, DW had packed some gauze, so we just covered the open wound with that.

[AQW]

I went to the infirmary on the Inspiration last December. I had what appeared to be an infected bug bite that got worse and worse over the duration of our two-week cruise. The nurse offered me OTC antibiotic ointment (which I already had) and gave me the option of seeing the doctor for a $90 charge. Because the abscess had become painful and hot to the touch, I elected to see the doctor. He was thorough and professional, prescribed antibiotics, and told the nurse to only charge me for a "meds replacement" since I came in knowing exactly what I needed. I got a five-day course of erythromycin and paid $30.

[CourtneyLovesCruising]

This may be off topic but I will share this story anyways.

 

On our last cruise there was a wedding party of 20 that experienced two infirmary visits during the 4-day.

 

The first passenger slipped on the Lido deck and required 6 stitches in the knee and a wheel chair for the remainder of the cruise.

 

The second passenger had food get stuck so far down that it couldn't be removed by the infirmary. (I believe she had a secondary related medical condition) Thankfully she could partially breath and was taken by ambulance from Mexico into San Diego for treatment. The ambulance required $1200 up front before transport.

 

The bride spent much of her cruise in the infirmary with these family members and had good things to say about the level of care.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Good thread! I was thinking about visiting the infirmary on our last cruise, but was hestitant due to cost.

 

You see, I had missed a step in one of the inside stairways from the Lido Deck and went for a tumble onto the landing. FYI - I was 100% sober. Just missed a step somehow and paid the price!

 

I made sure to gently push my DW out of the way as I fell past her, but her reactionary scream of surprise seemed to call everyones attention to the latter portion of my mid-air travel. :o

 

All in all, aside from the bump on the head and bruised ego, I rug-burned a pretty good size area on my knee.

 

I really wanted to have them check it out and clean out the germs (who knows what's in that carpet! :eek:) but I just went back to the room and did it myself with soap

 

 

 

 

and water instead. Luckily, DW had packed some gauze, so we just covered the open wound with that.

 

You should thank wennfred for starting the thread 5 years ago.

 

I dont think he post here anymore though.

 

Bill

[jonbgd]

 

2nd time I "popped" my sternum out of place on a snorkel in Belize - I was sooooo upset! Got to snorkel for 4 seconds!

 

!

That sucks

Your sternum WOW:eek: How did you do that? Or Ru talking about your manubrium or clavicle?????

[teddybarehead]

Good thread! I was thinking about visiting the infirmary on our last cruise, but was hestitant due to cost.

 

You see, I had missed a step in one of the inside stairways from the Lido Deck and went for a tumble onto the landing. FYI - I was 100% sober. Just missed a step somehow and paid the price!

 

I made sure to gently push my DW out of the way as I fell past her, but her reactionary scream of surprise seemed to call everyones attention to the latter portion of my mid-air travel. :o

 

All in all, aside from the bump on the head and bruised ego, I rug-burned a pretty good size area on my knee.

 

I really wanted to have them check it out and clean out the germs (who knows what's in that carpet! :eek:) but I just went back to the room and did it myself with soap and water instead. Luckily, DW had packed some gauze, so we just covered the open wound with that.

 

Sucks that you took a tumble, your story reminds me of mine, although since i... well i fall down stairs a lot when i'm sober I've gotten pretty good at it. The price for a visit seems to be a bit high when you can take care of it yourself.

[anchorsores]

on our last cruise ( the conquest nov '11), i fell in the dance club.

hurt my ankle. I kept ice on it most of the night and in the morning went to the infirmary. told the nurse that i didn't think it was necessary to see the doctor and just wanted to purchase an "ace" bandage. but first i wanted to know how much that would cost. she had a hard time find the cost in her computer and kept asking for my s+s card. I wanted the price first. She finally found the price "one-sixty-five" she said. we replied back "ONE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS??!!?? " she rolled her eyes and and said "no ma'am one dollar and sixty-five cents"

 

not a bad price at all.

[jakesnana]

The infirmary can and does provide excellent care and service. On our last group cruise, in January 2011, one of our group fell in her cabin and casued an injury resulting in abdominal bleeding. We were on our way back from Panama to Ft. Lauderdale at the time. Needless to say, we were diverted to Grand Cayman, which took 6 hours. While we were making our way there the infirmary did a blood transfusion, using blood that they got from a crew member (they put out an alert that they needed a specific type of blood and 20 crew members showed up to donate). As the group leader, I was in the infirmary almost the entire time and while they moved her to the tender for transport to Grand Cayman.

 

The ENTIRE infirmary crew and ALL of the ships officers involved were AMAZING !!! I cannot say enough good things about them and will never worry about getting sick/injured on a cruise ship again.

[pe4all]

The infirmary can and does provide excellent care and service. On our last group cruise, in January 2011, one of our group fell in her cabin and casued an injury resulting in abdominal bleeding. We were on our way back from Panama to Ft. Lauderdale at the time. Needless to say, we were diverted to Grand Cayman, which took 6 hours. While we were making our way there the infirmary did a blood transfusion, using blood that they got from a crew member (they put out an alert that they needed a specific type of blood and 20 crew members showed up to donate). As the group leader, I was in the infirmary almost the entire time and while they moved her to the tender for transport to Grand Cayman.

 

The ENTIRE infirmary crew and ALL of the ships officers involved were AMAZING !!! I cannot say enough good things about them and will never worry about getting sick/injured on a cruise ship again.

I am thrilled they got an emergency transfusion - however, I am kinda freaked they got it from a crew member, with no screening for the blood?:eek:

[GRAMMYTAN]

I am thrilled they got an emergency transfusion - however, I am kinda freaked they got it from a crew member, with no screening for the blood?:eek:

 

Crew members are required to have regular check ups and I would think that any facility would have to do a screening before doing a transfusion.

That said, fortunately in 20 cruises I have only had to use the ship's infirmary once. I found there level of care and knowledge to be as good as any emergency room I have ever been to. Without going into personal medical details, I was examined and had to have

a bladder catheter inserted. I was transported by wheel chair from cabin to the infirmary and back to the cabin. The next morning they showed up at my cabin with a wheelchair to take me back to have the catheter removed. I also received prescription meds. Total cost: $80 about 10% maybe of what an emergency room would charge.

 

[pe4all]

Crew members are required to have regular check ups and I would think that any facility would have to do a screening before doing a transfusion.

I understand that. As a blood donor, I have to fill in and answer a questionnare, with certain questions such as "have you been out of the country, to Mexico, Roatan, etc. If so, and if within a certain amount of time, you are dis-allowed from donating. I know for a fact that most ships go to islands that are out of the "donor zone" for Blood Services - at least here in NY! Believe me - if I needed an emergency donation, I want one from any source, and worry about what might be in the blood later! However, I am pretty amazed there is no "emergency blood" or plasma kept on a ship "just in case" - especially with 3,000+ people on a ship each and every week! (and I, too, was very happy with the emergency care from the infirmary my dd got on Dream when she needed it)