General Medicine in Dominican Republic

General medicine focuses on the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases of the internal organs. A medical doctor who specializes in general medicine is usually called a general medicine doctor or a general physician (GP). Although they mostly treat adults, they may also treat adolescents and children. They treat all medical conditions, including conditions that affect the respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, hematological, or endocrine systems. Some of the most common conditions general medicine doctor can treat include but are not limited to:

• Respiratory system, including lung fibrosis, asthma, pneumonia, and Emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Cardiovascular system, such as hypertension and ischemic heart disease (heart attack, angina).
• The neurological system, such as cerebrovascular accident (strokes), dementia, and epilepsy (seizures).
• Gastrointestinal system, including gastroenteritis and liver disease (such as alcoholic liver disease).
• Hematological, such as anemia.
• Endocrinological, such as pituitary disease, diabetes, and thyroid disease.

A general medicine doctor can arrange a wide range of tests, such as electrocardiogram, blood pressure test, urinalysis (U/A), blood sugar level, and fecal occult blood tests. They may also arrange laboratory investigations, such as blood tests or other fluid samples from other parts of the body. Occasionally, they may also arrange a biopsy for diagnosis, which will be sent to a pathologist for analysis. General medicine doctors can also work with radiologists to use X-rays, MRI, CT scans, or ultrasound, as well as nuclear medicine specialists for certain tests, such as PET scans. They may also refer patients to another specialty for special tests, such as a cardiologist for an angiogram and a gastroenterologist for an endoscopy.

Common procedures or interventions that general medicine doctor perform are as follows:

• Perform clinical examinations of patients to evaluate, diagnose, and monitor the patient’s condition.
• Interpret findings from investigations, such as blood tests, to help reach a diagnosis.
• Use life support skills and emergency procedures, such as defibrillation, when necessary.

How Long Should I Stay in Dominican Republic?      

You can leave the medical facility immediately after, plan to stay at least 2 to 5 days in Dominican Republic for a follow-up appointment. During the follow-up appointment, your doctor evaluates how your body is responding to treatment or, if you had diagnostic tests, explain the results, and discuss the treatment plan with you. However, if your doctor tells you that no follow-up appointment is necessary, you should be allowed to leave for home on the same day. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time can be different from one person to another, depending on the illness or disease you have and your overall health. You will be advised to take several days off work and avoid strenuous activities to allow your body to recover. Your doctor will let you know the specific time you can return to work and your normal activity. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your doctor will give you an aftercare instruction tailored to your particular condition, which may include activity restriction and recommended diet. Your doctor may likely prescribe medicine as well. It is important to take the medicine as directed and follow all the instructions closely. They will also let you know if you need follow-up appointments. For certain illnesses, they may refer you to a specific specialist.

What's the Success Rate?

For many people, general medicine is the first point of treatment. It has a high success rate in diagnosing and treating many conditions, as well as referring patients to the relevant specialist for specialized treatments. Experienced and skilled general medicine doctors can learn a great deal by simple observation. Looking at hands, nails, skin, mouth, and eyes, as well as examining your lungs, heart, and abdomen can give them some clues and help them decide on the most appropriate tests to undertake to confirm their clinical suspicions. 

Are there Alternatives?

The alternatives depend on your condition. For example, you should be able to see a cardiologist for heart conditions without talking to your general medical doctor first. However, in some cases, you may need a referral from your general medical doctor to see other specialists.

General Medicine in and around Dominican Republic

About the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic can be found on the island of Hispaniola and is a part of the island group, the Great Antilles. The nation has diverse natural environments and land features. Characterized by rugged mountains on one side and the other side consist of low lying valleys and coastal plains. It is the world’s leading producer of professional baseball players. It is also home to the highest mountain, Pico Duarte, and the largest lake, Lago Enriquillo in the Caribbean Region.

In recent times, the Dominican Republic has become popular with medical tourists. Tourists, particularly from the United States, visit the country for Plastic and Reconstructive surgeries, especially for Breast Augmentation procedure. About 25,000 to 30,000 patients visit the Dominican Republic yearly for various medical treatments. The most sought-after services are general, Plastic and cosmetic surgeries, dental procedures, weight-loss, oncology, and orthopedic treatments.

Most medical service providers are situated around the capital city Santa Domingo and Santiago. The medical establishments offer competitive healthcare services with highly-qualified and internationally-trained surgeons. The following clinics can be found in Santa Domingo: Dr. Rafael E. Estevez - Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgeon, Dr. Gustavo Almanzar Plastic Surgery Clinic, Alba Reyes Skin, and Hair Transplant Institute and Dr. Ivan Strachan Bariatric Clinic.

Popular Parts of Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is an unmatched destination with amazing natural sceneries, intriguing history, and diverse culture. It offers ecotourism adventures in splendid national parks, mountain ranges, beaches, and rivers.

Top attractions of the Dominican Republic:

• Santa Domingo – The capital city is where Christopher Columbus first set foot in the Americas. It is home to century-old buildings, most of which function as restaurants, shops, quaint hotels, and museums. Zona Colonial is the historic central area of Santa Domingo. It is the oldest European settlement and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  
• Punta Cana –Is a premier resort destination, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It offers about 20 miles of white sandy beaches. The Bavaro Beach area and Punta Cana together form the Coconut Coast, an area of luxurious resorts. It is famous for water activities such as zip-lining, kayaking, windsurfing, and sailing.
• Samara Province –Is a city overlooking the Samana Bay. Its unique feature is the breeding point for thousands of humpback whales during their mating season in winter.
• Parque Nacional Del Este – Meaning the ‘Eastern National Park’, is one of the largest marine parks in the Caribbean. It also has an offshore coral reef system. Divers can watch a multitude of marine life within its waters. It is also home to hundreds of different species of birds, tropical forests and beaches.
• Lago Enriquillo – The massive hypersaline lake lies 140 feet below the sea level. You will see a large population of American crocodiles as well as pink flamingos, and various other bird species and you will even find iguanas at the entrance of the lake.
• El Limon Waterfalls – Being the tallest falls of the country, it is perfect for hiking and horseback riding through the rugged and steep mountain trail. The hike gives you a stunning view of the Caribbean landscape. The crystal-clear natural pool at its foot is a perfect place to cool off and relax.
• Kite Beach, Cabarete –Is a unique beach, about 20 minutes on foot from the main Cabarete Beach. Kiteboarders fill the otherwise quiet beach in the afternoons when the wind picks up.

Jarabacoa, Sosua, La Romana, Las Aguilas, and Puerto Plata & Playa Dorada are several other popular tourist spots in the Dominican Republic.

Weather and Climate in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has a tropical weather climate, and constant temperature throughout the year, with average yearly temperature, is around 77°F.

The hottest and humid period is from May to October. The mild winter season is from December to March. The period between November and April are the moderate seasons.

Rainfall is seasonal. The eastern and southern coasts experience rains between April and October. The northern coast receives rains throughout the year due to the influence of the north-eastern trade winds. The southern region is prone to hurricanes, with most striking in the months of August and September.

Getting Around in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic offers easy access to the rest of the world with a myriad of flight options from North America and Europe. The main ports of entry into the country by air are the international airports in Santa Domingo, Punta Cana, and Puerto Plata. Santiago and Samana airports are other points of entry.

There are many flights from major cities of Canada and the US. The most frequent flights are from New York, Miami, Toronto, and Montreal. JetBlue, the budget airlines, operates flights from North America to Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Puerto Plata.

The Dominican Republic has a well-developed inter-country transport infrastructure with a large network of roads. It has many types of public transportation for moving around within cities such as buses, the metro, carro publicos, guaguas, and the motoconchos.

Carro Publicos are small car-public taxis and have a specific route displayed on their roof. Guaguas are privately-owned minivans and pick up travelers from any point and drop them off close to their desired location. Motoconchos are private motorcycle taxis that have reasonable fares and are ideal for short journeys.

Tourist Visas in the Dominican Republic

Citizens of countries such as the UK, USA, and Canada, and Schengen countries are not required to have a tourist visa to enter the Dominican Republic, under a bilateral agreement between the countries. However, they do need to:

• Carry a tourist card (Tourist cards allow you to stay for 30 days and allow an extension to stay beyond 30 days).
• Have a valid passport not expiring before six months with at least one blank page
• Carry proof of onward and return journeys and sufficient funds.

Nationals of countries like India, Sri Lanka, China, and Russia need to get a tourist visa to travel to the Dominican Republic. The visas are multiple-entry type and are valid for 60 days.

Additional Information

• The Dominican Peso (RD$) is the official currency of the country. As of April 2019, one US Dollar is worth about 51 RD$. Major tourist areas like Punta Cana accept US Dollars.
• You can find many ATMs in Santa Domingo and other popular tourist cities. Dominican Republic banks are members of the Maestro, Citrus, and PLUS networks. Hence, you can use the affiliate credit and debit cards here.
• Spanish is the official and major language of the country. Dominican Spanish forms its dialect. Very few locals understand and speak English.
• 93% of the population follow Roman Catholicism. However, many Dominicans do not go to church on a regular basis.
• Major holidays of the Dominican Republic are religious. While others are non-religious and national holidays. Other than Christmas and Good Friday, the Day of Our Lady of Altagracia (January 21), Corpus Christi (June 17) and the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy (September 24) are the religious holidays. Juan Pablo Duarte (January 26), Independence Day (February 27), and Dominican Restoration Day (August 16) are the national holidays specific to the country.