Notes of a Native-Speaking English Teacher: doctors

Showing posts with label doctors. Show all posts

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thursday, August 23, 2012 -

Your What Hurts??

Yesterday was my one year anniversary of teaching in Korea. I have gained a lot of wisdom, lost a little weight, and increased my immunity to germs! I used to be sick all the time. These days, things are 1000% better.

The one time I broke down to see a doctor, I did my best to describe my symptoms to them in English. For some reason, he typed them into his computer in English as well. I saw that he translated fatigue to "sleepy" and loss of appetite to "anorexia".

Here a list, made by a Korean, of common names for common symptoms.

Cough: 기침이나요
Stuffy Nose: 코가 막혀요
Congested: 숭쉬는게 블편해요
Sore Throat: 목이 아파요
Diarrhea: 설사해요 ( "salsa hey yo!" ㅋㅋㅋ)
Upset Stomach: 속이 메스꺼려요
Vomit: 토해요
Dizzy: 어지러워요
Can't Sleep: 짐을 잘수 없어요
No Energy: 힘이 없어요
Can't Eat: 먹을 수 없어요
Sore Muscles: 근육이 아파요, 몸이 쑤셔요.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Monday, July 23, 2012 -

* Choji-dong - Ansan,doctors,locals who speak English,survival tips

No comments

English Speaking Optometrist

A teacher at my school who needed to get his contacts refilled found a nearby optometrist who spoke a little English. He's not a full-fledged eye doctor, but he can do eye exams and refill contact lenses.

http://maps.naver.com/local/siteview.nhn?code=20211421

(Choji-dong 735-1)

Monday, July 23, 2012 -

* Choji-dong - Ansan,doctors,survival tips

No comments

Dr. Park - English Doctor!

* Updated 11/24/12 - see below

English speaking doctors are few and far between in Ansan. There is one in Choji-dong. He apparently graduated from Yonsei University, which is a very good school. He has been tried and recommended by a few teachers at my school.

Yonsei Pak Negoa Euiwon (연세 박내과의원)
http://health.naver.com/hospital/detail.nhn?siteId=10974498&tab=pic

According to the site, his hours are weekdays 9-7 and Saturdays 9-5. It isn't listed, but there is usually a 1-2 hour lunch break for the doctors at smaller clinics.

Update:

I recently visited Dr. Park and my experience was great.

1. His office is small and cozy and his staff, although not English speakers, were friendly.

2. After giving the staff a list of symptoms and my ARC card, I was able to see the doctor immediately.

3. The doctor speaks fantastic English and his family are currently living in San Diego!

4. He has a polite and pleasant manner.

5. He did not coerce me into an injection and his prescriptions are easily filled at the drugstore on the ground floor.

6. I was in and out within about 15 minutes.

This is my new doctor.

Monday, July 23, 2012 -

* Gojan il-dong - Ansan,doctors,locals who speak English,survival tips

No comments

English Speaking Dentists - Mireu

One of the teachers at my school has a friend who works here.
It's called the Mirden Dental Hospital. (미르 치과 병월)
The dentist can speak English.

경기도 안산시 단원구 고잔동 535-2 코스모프라자 5층
(Gojan-dong,535-2, 5th floor)

There isn't a sign on the front (street side), but from the back (parking lot side) the sign is clear. It is just to the left of TGI Fridays.

http://health.naver.com/hospital/detail.nhn?siteId=11527191&tab=pic

It's the guy on the right. He's lived in the States for a little while.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Friday, May 04, 2012 -

* Hosu-dong - Ansan,** Ansan,doctors,pharmacy,survival tips

3 comments

The Korean Pharmacy

I haven't had to go to the pharmacy in months! I used to go there all the time when I first arrived in Korea.

The nearest 약 (pharmacy) is near Homeplus. This is according to Naver. I hope that someday I will discover one a bit closer. They operate very differently from the typical Walgreen's in the US. The main things I've noticed are:

1. Things are cheaper. I usually pay under $3 for a bottle of cough medicine.

2. Selection is smaller. Cough medicine is behind the counter and I've never been handed the same brand twice.

3. It is the only place you can buy Tylenol. Forget about finding it at the grocery store.

4. They don't have Claritin, but they can give you Zyrtek.

5. The hours are rough. They are not open late and are typically closed on Sundays, unlike the 24-hour pharmacies that we are used to back home.

I wish I had gone to the pharmacy first thing when I arrived in Korea. I was constantly getting colds and the stores were never open when I finally broke down and decided to get medicine. It's best to keep a little on hand rather than depend on them for any kind of urgent need.

Here is an extensive list of health related Korean vocab.

Here are some simple sentences that can be used to describe an illness to a doctor or pharmacist.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 -

* Gojan I-dong - Ansan,** Ansan,doctors

No comments

SOK Clinic

I spent my first six months in Korea battling illness. I was sick all the time. I thought it could be from the kids, or my apartment, or the utensils at the kimbap restaurant, or some mystery illness.

When I finally broke down and saw a doctor, I went to the Korean University Medical Center. It's the tall building just north of Gojan station. I wandered around inside looking for the information desk. The woman behind the desk took my symptoms and sent me to the admissions counter, only to have them tell me that they wouldn't treat me. They explained that they are a Level 3 medical facility. That means they only accept patients who have a referral from a smaller, neighborhood clinic.

When the admissions clerk told me that I couldn't see a doctor, he said it to someone who could barely hold his head up. I was the sickest I've been in years and have been desperately trying to avoid seeing a doctor. When he told me I needed to go to another clinic, I asked him where. "Anywhere", he said. He told me that he wasn't allowed to make recommendations. It was like a strange version of Who's On First! Because he was the only English speaker I could find, I kept pressing him for an answer. Finally, he gave me a piece of paper with an address and a tiny map. I was grateful.

SOK
경기도 안산시
고잔동 529-1 4층

I hailed a cab and was on my way. Since maps in Korea are almost never to scale, I didn't realize that my ride would only be just a few blocks.

When I arrived, they took my information but told me that the doctors were about to go on their lunch break. I would have to wait about an hour. Meanwhile, there were quite a few people in the waiting room. I didn't enjoy being so close to so many other sick people. I went outside for some fresh air.

The doctor and the nurses were very kind, although they didn't speak much English. I was able to get a prescription and a shot. The total cost of the visit and the meds was under $10. That's enough to make any American feel better!

The clinic is a 내과. That means that they can take care of people with coughs, colds, and stomach problems. In addition, I noticed that this clinic had at least a few more specialties.

Hours:

Weekdays: 8:30 - 7:00

Saturday: 8:30 - 4:30

The doctors will take a lunch break between 1:00 - 2:00. They will also stop seeing patients about 90 minutes before closing time. The closing time reflects when they actually leave.

Here are a few (highly idealized!) pictures taken from: Health.Naver.com