Medical Experience: Apollo Chennai

[subz 6]

Hi,

I went for medical of K1 at Apollo Heart Center, Chennai on 10th June 2014.

Appointment:

I called them one week in advance on phone as per the details on their site . Attendant asked for my name, country going to, case number, date of interview, and date of coming for medical. She asked me to come on 9 AM. I told her my flight will reach at 10 so I can come only by 10:30. She said thats fine.

Medical:

On medical day there was traffic from airport to greams road where Apollo Heart Center is. It took almost at 11. When I told reception about immigration visa, they asked for country being visited, passport copy, embassy letter, and 3 photos of size 2x2. Then receptionist gave me a form to fill for registration. I had to fill basic information such as name, address, contact details etc. After this I had to wait for 5 mins while they prepared my file. I was asked to pay 2100 which I did. Then they gave me a file with checklist and forms. I was asked to go to second floor nursing station.

1st test:

Nurse took my weight and height. She asked me to remove spectacles and tested eyes to know my lens power.

2nd test:

Nurse asked me if I had breakfast, I said yes pongal. She took my blood and she explained it is to test for VDRL (testing for sexually transmitted diseases). I was then asked to go to fourth floor to give x-ray.

3rd test:

I went to x-ray station. There was queue because same x-ray room is also used for Australia, UK immigrants. So I gave my file to x-ray radiologist and he put it at the bottom of a stack of files. I waited for almost 30 mins here playing subway surfer on mobile then he called my name. I was asked to remove t-shirt (vest was on). He took my x-ray then asked me to go to 3rd floor.

4th test:

I gave the file back to reception on 3rd floor who asked me to see the doctor in room 33. Although I am male, my doctor was female Dr.Rama Narasimhan. She asked me to give original passport. She noted passport details and simultaneously asked if I have ever been hospitalized or underwent surgery. I said yes once then I described the hospitalization situation. Then she asked me if I ever had drugs, to which I said no. Then she asked me if I take any medications. I said yes, I am diabetic and take medicine for that. I specified the tablet name. She noted it on the form. Then she asked me to go to adjoining patient examination table and remove cloths. She twice said remove everything including underwear and put on patient's gown available in the drawer. I did that. She first took my blood pressure first. Then checked pulse using stethoscope on back. She then asked me to pull down gown till waist. She wanted to check if there are any injury marks on back. She then pressed stomach twice. Then she said I now need to check genitalia. She took a look at THAT and slightly pressed testicles. She said thats all you can put on cloths. She then gave me a piece of paper which had 4 vaccinations listed on them. She also returned the file to me.

Vaccinations:

I had to go to ground floor pharmacy and buy vaccinations for about 2000 rupees. And again go back to nursing station to get them on 2nd floor. Nurse took papers and injections and asked me to wait. After 10 minutes she called me and gave 2 injections on each arm. She said if it pains, take a paracetamol after food. She noted it on file. She asked me to give file to same 2nd floor reception. They asked me to come next day between 3 and 5 PM. I was out by 2 PM.

I went to Sarvana Bhawan on Peter's road (about 900 meters from Apollo) and had yummy mini idlis and kal dosa

Report pick up:

I went at 4:30 PM and asked for reports at ground floor reception. He asked me to go to 2nd floor. Nurse gave me a sealed and stamped yellowish A4 size envelope, vaccination sheet, and x-ray CD. I was asked to sign in register to confirm that I have received reports.

[Al422 221]

Seemed to go fairly easily. Neither the doctor nor the clinic have much discretion in whatr to check or to look at, as most if it is directed by the United States' Center for Disease Control. Looks to me like you passed easily and can now proceed to interview.

Very few clinics have the ability to assign you a same sex doctor, first because there are often not enough applicants to keep two doctors busy, and also practical concerns. This type of work is fairly low pay for doctors, so male doctors prefer surgery and other more profitable things. On the other end of the spectrum are male oriented societies where women are doscouraged from becoming doctors in the first place. But either way, just remember that doctors are disciplined professionals who are about as interested in looking at your body as a mechanic is in looknig at the brakes on your car.

Edited June 14, 2014 by Al422

[subz 6]

Yeah AI422 it was nice.. Hospital and doc were professional.. managed everything well..