Get Sick, Then What?

After two months of debate, we decided yesterday to move forward with our trip next week. We’ll be staying in an AirBnB in Orient. I obviously hope we won’t have any problems, but i want to be prepared just in case. So, if on the French side, where would we go or who would we call if we started to feel sick? It seems like a pretty simple question, but I have no idea what my first step would be if we genuinely felt we needed medical attention. Thank you in advance for your help.

Well, that is the "elephant in the room" question, isn't it. The big "what if" question.

There is a hospital, CH Louis Constant Fleming, in Marigot. IMHO, it's a decent local hospital, but it's not the Mayo Clinic.

You also need to think about the cost of treatment, the potential cost of Medevac to a larger French island, or the potential cost of Medevac back to the US. Or not. It's your choice how much and what type of risk that you take on. For what it's worth, the last Medevac of a patient to Miami that I am aware of was months ago, but I may have missed one.

Just avoid crowds and do social distancing . Also masks too.

We’ll have insurance that will cover emergency medical evacuation. I hope it doesn’t come to that, though, and I don’t really even know how that process would start. I guess that’s my question. If I want to be seen by a doctor, who do you recommend I call? Is there someone that you’ve used, or that typically works with tourists? Should we just go to the hospital?

Dr. Deketth from Mullet Bay Clinic.

I don't know the Dr whose name Leslie has given you, but I trust Leslie. You now have a place to start. Should you need it, the number for the Dutch-side Mullet Bay Clinic is 721-545-4280.

As to how, in the extremely unlikely event that you would ever have to use them, you now have a question for your Medevac insurance provider. What if?

Thank you.

All good questions and good info.

Please share if you find out anything---we did cancel because of health and age, but this was
always on my mind.
I felt the island was a great place to be---safer than home, but thought of the what if........

That's the basics but you can still come down with it.

I was treated a year ago by Dr. Deketh. Very professional. His office is easy to get in & out and willing to make room for urgent needs.

Dr Deketh is our family doctor and I have every faith in him. But if you think you are sick just call, don't go.

On the Dutch side there is a gov't agency you are to call if you feel you have symptoms and they arrange testing etc. I would assume the same on the French side. Perhaps your host can give you more info.

Yes very much so lives in our area Beacon Hill.

Yes, Elaine is correct, do NOT go to the doctor. That is pretty much the advice in the US also. You can call the doctor for advice as to where to go to get a test, but do NOT go to the doctor's office.

Elaine--can you post the number of the government agency to call on the Dutch side? If nothing else, if one calls them, they should be able to hook you up to where to go on the French side.

From the Dutch side Government website:

If feeling unwell, contact the hotel’s front desk/ hotel's COVID-19 task force team immediately or contact the health department by dialing 914

Pretty sure the health dept sends someone to test you, they don't want you going out once you have symptoms.

Thanks for posting, Elaine.

Thanks, everyone. Having this information makes me feel better. I’ve also contacted the French side tourism office to ask about procedures if tourists feel they are getting sick.

Great. If you get a response, please post their response.

Quite a few years ago I developed Shingles while on the island. Had open sores from my waist to my knee on my left side. At the time I had no idea what it was and I had no pain from it, so I did nothing at the time. After two days my wife bugged me enough about how awful it looked and about how no one wanted to be around me on the beach. She had the shingles a few years before and told me that is what it was. A day later I finally went into a pharmacy in Philipsburg along the waterfront and they looked at it and told me they couldn't give me anything for it without a prescription. They made an appointment for me immediately at a clinic a few blocks away. I went there and 10 minutes later a doctor saw me. I told him I hoped he didn't mind that I had no underwear on since it was uncomfortable to have it against me. He said he never wore underwear either and had no problem if I didn't. He looked and looked and told me he had no idea what it might be. My wife suggested it might be shingles since she had it in the recent past. Pulled it up on his computer and pronounced it shingles and there was nothing he could do for me. So...the doctor a few blocks from the water in Philipsburg you may want to avoid! Luckily we were on the island for 3 weeks and it was at the beginning of the trip that I got shingles. About 5 days after getting them they stopped oozing and dried up. Funny, but I never had any pain. Bothered my wife more than me. Ever since then we worry about where we would go if we had something serious. I now will visit with Dr. Deketh if needed. Thanks for the information.

I went to Dr. Deketh for an ear issue. He was excellent. His secretary (wife?) runs a taut ship.

Delta had a slogan in the 70s “Delta is ready you are”. If you think your life is in danger, moral questions abound.

It is actually:

1968: Delta Is Ready When You Are




DELTA SLOGANS

Yes, Sharon is his wife. She is a lovely lady, very efficient and caring.

As mentioned, I emailed the French side tourism office about who to contact if sick. I also asked about how quarantining would work. For example, where would one quarantine if staying in a hotel or AirBnB? I assume one option would be to just stay put, but I don't know for sure. That part of my email wasn't addressed. Here's what I got:

If feeling sick/contact: call emergency + 15 if symptons appear (cough,fever )

If test positive during your trip : the dutch authorities at the airport Juliana will advise you of the procedures.

Thank you sending your question to the following emails

CONTACT DETAILS

COLLECTIVE PREVENTION SERVICES – MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND LABOR
Email: ehas@sintmaartengov.org

SINT MAARTEN TOURISM BUREAU
Email: info@vacationstmaarten.com

I heard in the 70s

Slogan with Delta 747s in 1972

https://youtu.be/Sjqu0q041Qg

Radio commercial singing slogan

https://youtu.be/MKg6sAZ48to

Thanks for following up!

Thanks for posting the response from the French authorities. I am confused about the part about talking to Dutch side authorities, but I guess maybe they mean, as far as being able to get on a plane to get home, that the Dutch side authorities would tell you what needs to be done, to go home.

Yes, it's confusing. I sent an email to the EHAS address they provided for some clarification.

Well, since it is from the Delta site, I would think they would have the correct date and slogan.

haven't been on lately, French Side Doctor: Dr. Merlet ... speaks English ...+509 690 72 08 19 Will go to your place; Charges reasonable rates