Is There A Doctor On The Ship

Cold season has hit our house and we keep passing it back and forth so I apologize for not blogging, I have been taking care of everyone and, now, once again, caught the cold back. I hate colds and that's one of the reasons I'd rather cruise at Christmas!

When I was a kid, like clockwork, on or before Christmas Eve, I'd get a sore throat, by Christmas Day, I'd have a full blown cold and was absolutely miserable on the day of the year, most children adore. Strangely enough, since we began cruising, magically this yearly visitor no longer finds me.

Which leads me to today's blog subject. Yes there is a doctor on board your cruise ship.

Should a guest require medical attention while aboard a cruise vessel, the Infirmary staff is available to assist 24 hours a day. The Infirmary is equipped to treat minor non-emergency matters. Physicians are available to render services at a customary fee. While at sea or in port, the availability of medical care may be limited.

Medical Infirmary Hours

The Medical Infirmary on board has daily office hours vary. The medical staff is on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. The hours may vary from ship to ship and whether the ship is in port or at sea.

A charge for medical services will be billed to the guest's On-Board Account and a receipt will be provided for the guest to submit to their insurance company upon return for possible reimbursement.

The physicians on board are independent contractors and are entitled to render services at a customary fee which may vary from ship to ship based on the time of day. The basic fee does NOT include medication, tests or treatment.

Medication

Motion Sickness: (Usually) complimentary Meclizine (Bonine) is available from the Infirmary, Room Service or the Information Desk, free of charge. A motion sickness shot can be administered to those who are actively vomiting, but not as preventive medicine; there is a fee for the shot. The Infirmary does not have motion sickness patches nor wristbands.

Over-the-Counter medications for cold, cough, upset stomach or other minor illnesses can be purchased at the Infirmary. In addition, the shops on board may carry some of these items.

Prescription drugs and vitamins may not be readily available either on board the ship or in the ports-of-call.

Medical Staffing and Equipment

In order to maintain a safe and comfortable environment forguests, infirmaries meet or exceed the standards established by the International Council of Cruise Lines and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

nfirmaries are staffed by qualified physicians and nurses who are committed to providing the highest quality of shipboard medical care.

Doctors are usually required to have a current and valid medical license from the USA, one of its territories, or Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, or have full registration with the British General Medical Counsel of the United Kingdom or current full registration with the British General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, or current full registration with the medical council of a member country of the European Union. In addition, doctors must demonstrate competent skill levels and hold current certification in basic and advanced cardiac life support and cardiac care, have experience in general medicine or general practice including emergency or critical care, and have one to three years clinical experience and minor surgical skills, and board or similar international certification is preferred. The doctors on board are independent contractors.

Shipboard medical facilities are set up to provide reasonable emergency medical care for guests and crew. In cases of extreme emergency where more comprehensive facilities are required, patients are referred to shoreside facilities.

In addition to standard lifesaving equipment such as defibrillators and external pacemakers, our infirmaries carry some of the latest in medical technology including thrombolytic therapy, electrocardiograph machines, lab equipment, pulse oxymeters and x-ray machines on many of our ships.