hello guys, I am new. but that is not what embarrased me. you see, this morning I received a call from china, it is from my mother. I live in San Francisco. some of you may have guessed it, the call was about SARS. just last night, I caught a cold, it may be nothing, but I would like to get myself diagnosed any way. you see, for the 6 years I live in US, I never needed to go to a hospital. I am really a dummy concerning hospital related common senses. please bear with me, especially tell me what forms I should bring with me. T_T please help :(

Well, this may seem stupid, but I think I've missed something. I didn't see you mention that you'd actually visited anywhere with SARS. I may be unaware that a case has been discovered in San Fran, though, and if so I apoligise.

It probably is nothing, so don't panic. Just in case, check it out. I'm sorry, I live in Britain and so am not up to speed on US health care.

If your symptoms are severe or alarming, go to an Emergency Department of any moderately large hospital. They can test you. If you can wait, go see an Internist (Specialist in Internal Medicine) or an Infectious Disease Specialist on Monday.

oops, i didnt tell u I hang around with a lot asian people. some of the kids could be just came back from Asia or something. and I do not panic, dont worry. [img]smile.gif[/img]

so, anyone please tell me what are usually required to go to a hospital?

Do you have insurance? If so, you just need to bring the card. If not, then maybe you should call your county health department and ask them where you should go to be tested (they have recently found a definitive test for it); be sure to tell them that you don't have insurance.

Let us know how it goes OK? We care. *hugs*

If you go to the hospital, the Emergency Room, they will test you there, if you feel you really may have SARS. You do know the symptoms correct? And like Attalus said, if you are not sure yet and your symptoms aren't that great, you can call a local doctor and make an appointment and be seen within a day or so. Only papers you should need would be an ID of some sort, and as Reeka said, if you have insurance, you should have a card from the insurance agency that you can show them (for billing purposes). Take care of yourself Ken Rauhl. [img]smile.gif[/img]


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[ 04-20-2003, 08:20 PM: Message edited by: ladyzekke ]

If you have no money and no medical Insurance then look in the Phone book and find the "Free Medical Clinic" in california they are in every city. after you locate one call them and tell them what is wrong and what the symptons are, They will advise you as to weather you have the SARS virus or not and then tell you who you should see.
Make sure you call the "Free Clinic" First for the free advice. I'm not a Doctor but I do work in the medical Field and for one of the largest Medical labs in America and from what you said it doesn't sound like you have SARS Because from what we have been told to look for in SARS is Head ache, Dry vomiting, Bleading in the mouth and nose, and what you have sounds more like the common cold so good health to you.

[ 04-20-2003, 08:51 PM: Message edited by: TheCrimsomBlade ]

I dont really suspect I have SARS, but the coincidence gives me a little creep. you know, right before I receive the warning phone call, I caught a cold.

well, symptoms, coughing. small cough, not the long inhale/exhale coughing. low fever.

normally i always get a running nose for 3 or 4 days, but this time I dont. oh well, maybe it is just a common cold. i will take your advices. btw, I dont know about my insurance, cause I was never sick badly or had any incident. that is very stupid of me, but i think my money will cover the cost now. thank u once again.

btw, is there a simple way, u just walk up to some clerk in the hospital and get a test?

The simplest way is call first, most Hospitals will not just test you without a Medical Docrors referal first that is why I said to look in the phone book for the Free Clinic or you could look for the closest Urgent Care center that will take what is called A "walk in Patient" Because unless a person is very sick or almost Dead they will not see you without an apointment so DO NOT TRY TO JUST WALK IN TO A HOSPITAL you will spend all day there and if you don't have insurance they will send you away.
The Best way is:
1) look in area phone book under Medical services

2) find A free clinic or an Urgent Care center!

3) Stay away from Hospitals they start out with a $250.00 walk in charge then you waste the whole day to find out you have a cold and then they charge another $300.00 for services so unless you want to waste $550.00 to find out you have a cold stay away from the Hospital they are for emergencys and for surgerys.

Most free clinics and urgent care offices are like mini Hospitals they have 5 to 15 doctors on staff and their main function is to take care of people just like you that have a cold or the flue or any other problem that doesn't require Emergency Surgery for auto Wrecks and gun shot wounds thats what the big Hospitals are for.