TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Kidney Dialysis on either side of island

Have a friend on dialysis thinking of going to Sxm, thought I would ask if anyone has any experience -pluses/minuses they can share.

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There is only one dialysis machine at Louis Constant Fleming Hospital in Marigot.

My wife suffered severe kidney failure here and was flown to Guadeloupe.

I strongly advise not traveling to SXM if you need dialysis or have such health problems.

Sint Maarten Medical Center

I would avoid SMMC at all cost.

I know that some people here have had good experiences there. I have not. They badly diagnosed injuries after an accident and, by pure chance, I saw another doctor who save me from losing use of both legs.

I then started researching everything SMMC cockups in local papers and the list is impressive.

Say I am being negative if you want, having a wife who has a kidney problem, I know about it and would not come out here if I had it.

Our experience was excellent - my wife went to the ER and was treated by a doctor from Holland and was fine.

I'm glad for your wife.

I was xrayed by a nurse who couldn't read an Xray. That night they had no surgeon and no radiologist on duty.

I refused to pay the bill in exchange for dropping charges. I could have sued them for mega bucks but that's not my way of life.

I would be very wary of anyone with a very serious condition like that heading to SXM. There is reason why anyone that needs serious medical attention that is local goes off island.. From my understanding, the French side physicians are better but in general the quality of care on SXM is not nearly what one would expect in the States and elsewhere. If they really want to go to the Caribbean, I would suggest Guadelupe or Puerto Rico. Those islands have better medical facilities than SXM.

Same experience for me a few years back.

Fits my experience

I'm sure, as in most hospitals, there are great doctors and possibly, some not so great ......... but there has to be a good reason so many knowledgeable islanders go off island for major medical issues, and I'm with Carol in that I wouldn't go there in the first place if there was any need for potential life sustaining medical services to be needed for a known illness. I'd stick to the Puerto Rico mainland if I wanted an island experience .....

There's always a chance medical situations can unexpectedly happen anywhere but...........why knowingly take that kind of risk?

We have excellent medical care here on the island. Our personal physician and dentist are here. I have made use of the SMMC emergency room and been a patient in the hospital with very good care each time. In the emergency room I was there several hours before they even asked my name, let alone how I was going to pay.

What we do NOT have are specialists. Our excellent care has a limit and our doctors know it. Patients are sent overseas all the time, that's the way it works on a small rock.

Happened to me in the past few months and headed to Grand Cayman on the advice of my family physician here. One of several suggestions.

Most expats carry emergency evacuation insurance to cover the prohibitive costs of THAT scenario.

We have a full dialysis clinic at SMMC http://smmc.sx/Services/Medical-Services/Dialysis-Clinic

Oh, and I've been told by TWO doctors on the island to avoid the hospital in Guadelupe at all cost.

No one responding so far on this thread has any experience with the Dialysis Clinic of the SMMC in Sint Maarten. It is a specialty practice with dedicated professionals. If your friend is willing to pursue going to SXM, outside the comfort zone of the friend's normal routine and local resources, such pursuit being admirable, I suggest that your friend or someone for your friend call the Clinic and ask questions, try to get some local references. Anyone on dialysis knows the anxiety and risks of any travel and how much risk they can tolerate. Best of luck.

I did read about your trip to the Caymans and the excellent care given there and basically, for most things, I would have no problem with the normal SXM hospital care for routine things. We've used Dr. Dekker a few times and find him to be very good and wish our doctors here would take note....

But let me reiterate, with what little I know about dialysis, or any other major medical needs for that matter, I would not personally head to the island knowing I needed that kind of specialized care, but that's just me, and in no way was I trying to demean the routine medical needs of the island and if that's how my post sounded, it's NOT how it was intended to sound. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

In addition to the medical advise offered here you or your friend should make arrangements well in advance if treatment is needed while away including health insurance arrangements that vary from company to company.

My father was on dialysis for four years and when travelling out of the area had to make arrangements well in advance as possible with the clinic or hospital. At that time insurance covered a specific number of treatments when out of network. Check the policy and contact the insurance company for pre-authorization, if needed. Usually his doctor will do this for him.

Sorry, routine medical care is probably fine on island. My personal experience with the ER on the Dutch side was not particularly good, but my view of it is probably skewed by the fact that they gave me a DIAPER to use for a sling when I hurt my arm.. And for sure, expats should have medical evac insurance. Regarding the hospital in Guadelupe, I have no personal experience with it, but that's where I always see people with very serious injuries get sent, so I assume, without knowing, that they do have good specialists there.

Everyone has to make their own decisions, but I still would be very wary about travelling to the island with such a serious condition..

Thanks Elaine for the info.

I had to assume many people on Sxm require long-term dialysis several times a week to stay alive.

Clearly advance planning between their doctor here and a doctor there to ensure everything was in place prior to departure is essential.

I know there are also special cruises where a company has docs/nurses/equipment onboard to allow these folks some vacation mobility.

You are more than welcome.

Since this thread has gone so sideways, we will end it here.