HAL's on-board medical services

[Spoely]

Hi, Folks

Our next cruise on the Zuiderdam will require pro time (p.t.) testing for Dave along with weekly shots of Pro Crit. For you seasoned cruisers, can we rely on the medical staff to handle this? We are not concerned about payment, merely the ability to meet Dave's medical needs. It's possible that by then he won't need Pro Crit but if he does, we will bring our own (BOO).

Any information will be cheerfully and gratefully received. :)

Cheers,
Karen

[S&M in Pgh]

I would contact HAL ahead of time to see if they can alert the medical staff to your needs.

I had an accident on the Z a few years ago and found the medical staff comperable to your family doctor, but not much more than that.

Mike

[Spoely]

Thank you, Mike.

Good idea although I'm still looking for those who have had hands-on experience. Your own doesn't sound like it was too great. :(


Cheers,
Karen

[knitlady037]

We sailed on the Noordam this past March. A woman that we met required medication to treat lymphedema. She contacted HAL before her trip and informed them of her special needs. She said her experience with the ship's medical staff was very good. As soon as you board, make sure you go to the medical office and confirm everything has been arranged and make sure storage facilities for your meds are available. I hope you don't need to use these services and that you are feeling much better for your cruise.

[sail7seas]

I recently had an occasion to ask about INR testing. (I wasn't sure if I would be on ACT or not.....I'm not). I was told INR testing can be done aboard. I have no idea about insurance covering but when you consider some of the Grand Voyages and World Cruise, it is necessary they be able to test. People can't go that long without testing. So many people have mechanical valves and arythmias etc requiring coumadin therapy.

[Gsel]

I had an experience with the ship's doctor on the Maasdam a few years ago and found the gentleman very good. Of course, not up to par with my specialist at home, but for minor problems he was able to handle the situation. It paid off to know exactly what I needed and being able to tell him and not have to depend on him to diagnose the problem. Will have to say it is very expensive, luckily my insurance covered the whole thing.

[emp]

My Mom required medical treatment while on the Noordam last month. The Doctor and staff were excellent, including their follow-up after treatment.

EMP

Noordam 4/08
Grandeur of the Seas 6/07
Ryndam 6/05

[arzz]

DH required INR testing on board the Westerdam a couple of years ago. We had no problem getting the required test and found the medical staff to be more than accommodating. The fee was not outrageous.

[Frick_&_Frack]

While we do not have experience with the testing you describe, my DH fell very ill while on the Noordam in February. The Medical Department was outstanding to him (and me :o). DH's specialist at home told us that the treatments provided were absolutely correct and, quite possibly, staved off long-term damage to him.

[hammybee]

I had not heard of this drug and looked it up. According to the MD in this link, most self administer the shot. I don't know if this is an option and just wanted to put it out there:

http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Fatigue/Archive/Other/Q144393.html

[localady]

Karen-I have had my INR done many times on the ship. Last time it was appx. $65 and they supply a receipt for insurance billing.

I have never had to have any shots while aboard but was an idiot once and forgot one of my many heart meds, and thank goodness they had the prescription onboard.

[Spoely]

Many thanks for the responses...I truly appreciate it!

Hammy -- while he could self administer the Pro Crit, it would be difficult since they have to test him first.
Sail -- good to hear from you! One of these days we will meet for real.
Sher -- you forgot one of your heart meds? Yikes! You live dangerously, my girl.

I will breathe easier knowing Dave will get good care. But I will also check with HAL and let them know of the situation.

Cheers,
Karen

[sail7seas]

Karen,

That's a fantatic cruise you are booked for. Hope you have the best possible.

Please share some comments about it when you return.

I'd be happy for the chance to meet you in person. :)

[localady]

Karen-
I do try to be very careful, but have my moments.;)
I thought my record of 18 cruises and only one med screw-up wasn't sooo bad! :p :p

[MarciAnn]

Spoely,

The testing yiur husband requires I presume is for his hemoglobin. I doubt the ships' medical facility has the ability to do its own lab tests. Not sure how they can send out the blood sample while at sea, but I would check with HAL. The shot itself is subcutaneously administered so it can be easily self-administered. Good luck!

[sail7seas]

INR testing is for coumadin/warfarin levels. A testing machine is compact, not particularly costly and gives results within 2 minutes. It is not a vein lab draw but a finger prick much like diabetes testing.

Grateful I don't need that testing but it is easily done.

[localady]

Spoely,

The testing yiur husband requires I presume is for his hemoglobin. I doubt the ships' medical facility has the ability to do its own lab tests. Not sure how they can send out the blood sample while at sea, but I would check with HAL. The shot itself is subcutaneously administered so it can be easily self-administered. Good luck!

MarciAnn- I am a coumadin user who cruises a bit. I have had my INR tested many times on HAL and also a time or two on Celebrity. This is fairly routine testing and is done at sea all the time.

[sail7seas]

Sher....... Please help me out. :)

I keep looking at your avatar and find it colorful but can't figure out what it is with these old eyes. What is it? Thanks. :D

[Sea Island Lady]

MarciAnn- I am a coumadin user who cruises a bit. I have had my INR tested many times on HAL and also a time or two on Celebrity. This is fairly routine testing and is done at sea all the time.
My Dad will have to have his Coumadin levels checked on the Noordam next month. Is this something we need to arrange ahead of time?

He may also have to take insulin shots (he is currently on oral meds, but blood sugar is high and not responding to meds) will the nurse be able to administer the injections if needed? Thank you in advance.

[davenbeth7603]

We just came back off a 17 day Noordam TA cruise on April 22. My wife required PT/INR test, and the staff handled it weekly for us with NO problems. They did a blood draw, had the results within one minute. We then had a consult with the doctor, and were on our way withn 10 minutes. The bill was as I recall $47 for the test and $25 for the consult each time. Very reasonable. They are used to doing the test, it is quite common.

I called HAL and asked for the medical department to make sure they could do it, and they were very knowledgable. Try them to check on the injection he needs, I would bet they can do it also.

Good cruising, and don't worry. The medical department can take care of you!

Bill and Pam

[Sea Island Lady]

Thank you! We will wait until next week, to see if the physician is going to put him on insulin injections. ;)

[Jade13]

Hi, Folks

Our next cruise on the Zuiderdam will require pro time (p.t.) testing for Dave along with weekly shots of Pro Crit. For you seasoned cruisers, can we rely on the medical staff to handle this? We are not concerned about payment, merely the ability to meet Dave's medical needs. It's possible that by then he won't need Pro Crit but if he does, we will bring our own (BOO).

Any information will be cheerfully and gratefully received. :)

Cheers,
Karen

Karen, I can't answer because I think they have diff doctors onboard. However, with something needed weekly, I'm surprised your doctor/nurse didn't teach him (or you) to do the injections yourself. Much better solution than relying on someone else. It's pretty common these days for those needing anything from B12 shots (I think baby needles) to those needing something on an emergency basis (such as allergy). My DH learned for a pet that needed injections. Just a thought.

[Jade13]

Sher....... Please help me out. :)

I keep looking at your avatar and find it colorful but can't figure out what it is with these old eyes. What is it? Thanks. :D

My first thought is spices.

[sail7seas]

Hmmmm, might be spices, Jade. Very colorful. Maybe a Turkish spice market display?



I agree about insulin shots. Don't insulin dependent people self-inject or have a family member/caregiver do the injections?

[Sea Island Lady]

I agree about insulin shots. Don't insulin dependent people self-inject or have a family member/caregiver do the injections?Normally, yes...but IF my father has to have the insulin, this will be a first. He (and my mother) are in their early 80's and not very steady. We leave in 5 weeks, so giving the injections would be a new thing for him. I guess that would make me the caregiver. ;)

[localady]

Sher....... Please help me out. :)

I keep looking at your avatar and find it colorful but can't figure out what it is with these old eyes. What is it? Thanks. :D

S7S- My avatar is a picture of a spice stand in Nice, France that we visited on our 2006 Noordam cruise. I loved the concept of fresh spices and spice blends so much that I came home and created a small spice company. Two Spicy Ladies sells products at the local Farmers Markets and mail order. I am using that picture as our logo and I thought it made a fabulous avatar. My DH says any profit is for the cruising fund so I am working really hard this year! :D :D :D

Okay, back to the topic......;)
Karen- I have no doubt that any needs your DH has they will be met easily by the on board medical staff. They tend to be emergency room specialists who have a well rounded background, especially in trauma.

[sail7seas]

That's fabulous, Sher. I love it! So happy I asked. :)

[PennyAgain]

We cruised many times with extremely elderly parents on HAL. We always took the time to introduce ourselves to the medical staff very early on in the voyage, not waiting for a need to arise.

We found the care kind and considerate but not specialized. On her last cruise, MIL had severe swelling in her legs which turned out to be do to cardiac insufficiency (found out at home). The doc put her on bed rest and water pills. That was a safe thing to do, but didn't address the actual problem. Perhaps it was all he could do.

The doc advised MIL not to cruise again and she did not do so. A very happy part of her life was finished. She walked off the ship in Miami on her own power and returned to her home in Florida where she got care from her own doctor.

As an aside, the Medicare coverage MIL had did not cover any of the charges for care and medicines on the ship. I understand some people do have plans with this coverage.

[mamaofami]

My opinion on the medical services aboard HAL are that they can pretty much do routine care and do it well. The doctors do rotate...this is not their full time job, and they probably don't stay on board for more than a month or two weeks, unless it is for a longer cruise. I read a few months back that one of the doctors was a pediatrician and a couple was surprised to find that he had a practice in NYC near where they lived. The best of all cases would probably be an emergency room doctor. If you have serious medical conditions that you know about, you should really call HAL first before you go, and of course, discuss it with your own doctor to make sure they think you can take the cruise.