General Medicine in Santo Domingo

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 Santo Domingo?      

You can leave the medical facility immediately after, plan to stay at least 2 to 5 days in Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo

About Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic and is the most modern and largest metropolis in the Caribbean. The city is the cultural, political, financial, industrial, and commercial center of the Dominican Republic. Founded by Bartholomew Columbus in 1496, Santo Domingo is the oldest styled European City in the Americas. The city has everything that will make any visit worthwhile, from large shopping malls, historical architecture, seaside resorts, to a vibrant nightlife.

Over the last several years, medical tourism in Santo Domingo has been growing steadily. The city contributed to the Dominican Republic’s medical tourism average income of US$265.0 million in 2018. The most popular procedures in Santo Domingo are cosmetic and plastic surgery, dental surgery, cardiology, and heart surgery. Santo Domingo has everything a medical tourist could ask for, including:

• Hospitals and wellness centers governed by international standards.
• The doctors and paramedical staff are well-qualified and studied in the best medical schools from the U.S. and Europe.
• Cost-effective medical treatments with modern technology.
• A wide range of medical treatments to choose from.
• Fast, immediate care without waiting lists.
• The ideal climate and environment for recovery.

Popular Areas in Santo Domingo

Located in the heart of the Caribbean, Santo Domingo has a rich historical and cultural heritage. The Colonial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will amaze tourists with its beautiful architecture and rich history. The neighborhood consists of colonial buildings turned into shops, hotels, museums, and cafés. History fans can enjoy the oldest standing cathedral in the Western hemisphere: Catedral Primada de América.

Mercado Modelo is shopping heaven on Avenida Mella on the outskirts of Colonial City. Tourists will find an indoor maze of small shops offering local crafts, treats, and specialties.

Tourists who want to indulge in nature can go to Jardín Botánico Nacional de Santo Domingo as the gardens are filled with native plants and offer an excellent insight into the natural flora of Santo Domingo, the largest botanical gardens in the Caribbean. The botanical gardens are also home to hundreds of different kinds of orchids.

Santo Domingo has many wonderful beaches since the city’s waterside stretches along the Caribbean Sea. Tourists can go to Playa Najayo or Playa Juan Dolio for picturesque views or enjoy the sparkling blue water. The sunsets are particularly breathtaking.

Weather and Climate in Santo Domingo

The city enjoys a tropical climate that sees warm and humid weather all year long. The wet season (rainy season) starts from May to November, the average temperature on the wet season is around 22 - 31°C with the humidity slightly higher.

December to April is the best time to visit Santo Domingo since it is the dry season. The average temperature ranges between 19°C to 29°C. Showers may occur but they usually do not last long. Tourists should avoid traveling to Santo Domingo during Hurricane Season which runs from August to October.

Getting Around in Santo Domingo

There are two airports in Santo Domingo. The main airport is Las Américas International Airport (also known as Santo Domingo Airport), located Punta Caucedo and Boca Chica, 32km east of the city. This airport has international connections from North America, South America, and Central America to Europe. The airport serves many major airlines such as Delta, Emirates, and American Airlines. Las Américas International Airport also serves budget airlines such as JetBlue. La Isabela International Airport primarily serves domestic flights and some international flights to other Caribbean Islands. The airport is the major hub for Dominican airlines that operates small aircraft.

To get into the city from the airports, tourists can choose taxi, airport shuttle, public bus, shared van, or car rental. Traveling by taxi can get a bit more expensive although it is a good transportation option. The cost to Colonial City from Las Américas International Airport is around US$40. The cheaper option is to ride the public bus (Guagua), the buses depart to Parque Enriquillo in the city center and to Boca Chica.

Getting around in Santo Domingo is fairly easy. To get the most of Colonial City, walking is the best way since they offer plenty of pedestrian attractions, but walking along streets outside Colonial City can be quite challenging.

Taxis in Santo Domingo don’t use meters, tourists have to agree on the fare in advance. The standard fare is around RD$250. It is best not to take any unmarked taxi because it could be dangerous. Tourists usually need to call a dispatcher to have a taxi sent to their location, most businesses and hotels will gladly call a taxi for tourists and this is the safest option.

Tourists can take Públicos, minivans that follow a predetermined route but stops wherever someone flags them down. The fare usual fare is RD$25. Tourists can also take the Santo Domingo Metro, rides cost around RD$15, a contactless card can be purchased to use the metro.

Buses are also available from 6.30 am to 9.30 pm and cost around RD$25, the bus stops are marked with a sign and a word parade which means stop, the routes tend to follow major streets.

Tourists Visas in Santo Domingo

Dominic Republic exempts nationals from 107 countries including the US, Canada, most South American countries, the European Union, and several other countries from Asia and Africa from obtaining a tourist visa. A passport valid for at least six months is required to enter the country.

Visitors need to apply for a tourist card that can be obtained at the Dominican Consulates or directly upon arrival at the airports in the Dominican Republic. The tourist card costs US$10 and is valid for 30 days. Tourists who want to extend their visit will have to go to the offices of Direccion General de Migracion and pay for an extension.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The local currency in Santo Domingo is the Dominican Peso (RD$). US$ 1 is equivalent to RD$47. The notes are printed in a variety of colors although some colors are very similar to each other.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs can be found across Santo Domingo. The best and safest way to obtain Dominican pesos is by ATMs. Credit and debit cards (mostly Visa and MasterCard) are accepted in cities, but some business adds a surcharge for credit card purchases. Tipping is generally not expected as 10% to 20% is mostly added to the total bill. Tourists should tip tour guides.
3. Local Language: The Dominican Republic is a Multilanguage nation. However, Spanish is the official language. Other commonly spoken languages in Santo Domingo are Dominican Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Samana English. English is not widely spoken but there are English speaking staff and guides within the tourist areas.
4. Local Culture and Religion: Roman Catholic Christianity is the major religion in Santo Domingo. Other religions including Protestant Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism are also freely practiced.
5. Public Holidays: Santo Domingo celebrates Christian holidays such as Good Friday and Christmas Day. The city hosts a carnival at the end of February and the beginning of March, the international book fair is in April, as well as a merengue festival in July.