These are rather embarrassing questions but something I wanted to ask nonetheless. Hopefully it'll help someone else out later on anyway.
I've lived in Finland for about 5 or so years now. However I've only ever had to go to the doctor's twice in that time.
The first time was because I was having serious issues sleeping. I simply called up, explained 'in bad Finnish' that I had sleeping problems and made an appointment.
The second time I just had a really bad flu and needed to get a formal letter that I didn't have to go to work.
Since then I've moved to the capital. Before when I was living with my ex she had set up all the details about which Terveysasema that we both go to etc. based on our location or something.
I've moved twice within Helsinki since getting here.
My question(s) are as follows:
1. If I have some sort of localised/specific issue that probably requires someone more 'specialised' than just a GP, what do I have to do?
1a. Do I just call up as normal and ask to see a doctor? Or do I actually state to whoever I am talking to, pretty much exactly what my issue/concern is?
1b. What if I would rather not say what my issue is, or do I actually have to tell the person on the phone..? - I guess I could be put into a pretty long wait list if I don't make them think it's important.
1c. In the case of Private Health is something as simple as "I need to see a doctor" good enough? I mean at the end of the day they aren't going to tell me I need to wait a month to see a doc.
** I have mixed feelings on this because I am unsure on how the public and private systems here work. People don't really explain the process they had to go through in order to see a specialist. In most cases it doesn't matter if they are talking about public or private because they just say "Yeah I had to go and see this 'x' specialist for 'y' thing". Where as I am thinking:
2. Do you have to go and just see a general doctor (GP) in both private & public to go and see a specialist?
** This matters to me because obviously if I am going to pay a premium to see a private doctor, just to have them tell me "You need to spend a lot more €€€ and go see a specialist for this" - I'd rather just skip the 'middle man' if I am kinda sure what my problem is, or if I know I can go to a specialist and have them give me a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment.
3. Are the systems interchangeable and do both public and private institutes have a copy of my medical records?
** Meaning if I go to a public doctor and they refer me to a specialist, can I then go to a private specialist with my referral?
4. For tests like Cancer, Diabetes, etc. How would I go about getting a test for these things?
** In my home country, usually I go and see my GP and they perform whatever tests that they can, and if they can't, they send me somewhere else. Is there some sort of specific institute or sub-section here that I can go to?
5. What's the average cost of a quick (~15 minute) trip to a private GP? Esim. Mehiläinen, Aava, Diacor jne?
5a. I realise you probably can't give me a proper estimate, so would you mind just quoting some costs of the last time you went and where?
** The last time I went with my friend to Mehiläinen it cost €88 for a 7½ minute talk to a doctor just to get a diagnosis that she got stung by a Jellyfish whilst in Croatia. Which I feel is a bit steep..
6. What Terveysasema do I even get to go to? I am unsure as of the specifics and I have moved within Helsinki twice now. So is it the closest one to my current long-term residence? Or from the moment I swapped my residence to Helsinki?
6a. In the question of Private Health does it even matter what one I go to?
7. Could you please recommend me some sort of private health care, and your reasons why?
** I've only ever been inside a Mehiläinen office before, I've never been to Aaava or Diacor.
8. In the question of Health Insurance, could you recommend me a firm?
** I have a Kela card, but I was thinking of getting some sort of private health insurance or something similar. However I am kind of unsure if this would even be worth it, or relevant. When I check many firms they offer something along the lines of Tapaturma. Which equates to basically you being allowed to go to a private hospital in the event that you seriously damage yourself, and then have the costs paid. So you can get quick treatment private hospital without paying a fortune. Or something like this. I was thinking more of "General Health Insurance" meaning, basically I pay a premium to an insurance firm, then when I go to somewhere like Mehiläinen or Aava and get a bill from them. I can either ask my insurance firm to pay a substantial amount or I can claim a certain amount of the total cost back.
I know my questions might seem super stupid but I basically never ever get sick. My last flu was 4 years ago. I don't really ever have to go to the doctor for anything at all. I don't take pain killers, I don't harm myself via sports or whatever and I just don't get sick.
Thanks so much for any and all replies. Sorry that my questions are kind of long but I really don't want to be intimidated by going to the doctor any more. If I end up permanently 'impaired' due to my lack of understanding and/or intimidation in going to the doctor's here well... that wouldn't be nice. So thanks for helping and being gentle in advance.
- jag
Many questions about going to the Doctor and Health Care
Re: Many questions about going to the Doctor and Health Care
1) If you are willing to pay for private, and if you think you know what specialist you should see, then go ahead and book one. They will not refuse your money.
2) if not, but you have decent job, it is likely (though not mandatory) that your job healthcare offers GP level doctor consultation (with some service provider the employer had made contract) that you can likely book for the same or at least the next day (free of charge for you). If you need specialist, they should be able to at least write you that referral
3) if neither 1) or 2) apply, in the public system you need to see a GP that then writes the referral to a specialist. In cases not considered urgent the waiting times can be long. For the initial visit to the GP in Helsinki also showing up at the health care station and waiting (likely more than an hour) is in my experience also an option (there may be three steps then, a nurse will see you first and decide if you need to see doctor)
Your nearest health care station is likely your designated one. You may also check it here based on your address:
http://www.hel.fi/palvelukartta/Default ... en&city=91
It is also possible to change the health care station you want to visit regularly.
2) if not, but you have decent job, it is likely (though not mandatory) that your job healthcare offers GP level doctor consultation (with some service provider the employer had made contract) that you can likely book for the same or at least the next day (free of charge for you). If you need specialist, they should be able to at least write you that referral
3) if neither 1) or 2) apply, in the public system you need to see a GP that then writes the referral to a specialist. In cases not considered urgent the waiting times can be long. For the initial visit to the GP in Helsinki also showing up at the health care station and waiting (likely more than an hour) is in my experience also an option (there may be three steps then, a nurse will see you first and decide if you need to see doctor)
Your nearest health care station is likely your designated one. You may also check it here based on your address:
http://www.hel.fi/palvelukartta/Default ... en&city=91
It is also possible to change the health care station you want to visit regularly.