Once every 10 years it is time to have a colonoscopy. One of our neighbors recommended Dr Luis Enrique Sotelo Solis, who has offices both at H+ Hospital and in the AltaVista building just north of the old convention center. The first appointment is always a consultation. While I waited to meet the doctor, his nurse came into the waiting room and took my blood pressure, oxygenation, and temperature. Entering the consultation room, Dr Luis introduced himself and his nurse and asked me for the reason why I was there and then more detailed questions about my health history. After this was finished, he asked me to move to the cot in his office, where he used the stethoscope to check my heart and lungs. I then asked me to lie down, turned out the lights and used a sonogram to check my liver, kidneys, and bladder. I was extremely impressed at how thorough this first consultation was – certainly dramatically more so that my experiences in the United States.

At the end of the consultation, Dr Luis looked at this calendar and booked my appointment for a colonoscopy and endoscopy for Monday of the next week. I had complained of blockages of my esophagus that appeared to be due to food allergies, which requires a biopsy to check for Eosinophilic Esophagitis. He suggested that both be performed at the same time to minimize sedation.He provided a prescription for the items for the preparation for the colonoscopy, which could be filled next door at the We Care Pharmacy.

I arrived at 8:30 on Monday morning, the receptionist gave me a series of permission and medical history forms to complete. I was then led to the two rooms in the back of the office – recovery and treatment room – given a gown and shown to the bathroom, which contained lockers. Entering the treatment room, the anesthesiologist introduced herself and her nurse, described what they were going to do and started an IV for sedation. They also sprayed my throat with a numbing agent. It did take long until I was out and about 90 minutes later, I was moved to the recovery room, where Dr Luis gave me an overview of the results – everything was clear, asked several times if my wife or I had any questions, and told me that the results of the biopsy would be available in about 15 days.

I got dressed and went out to the reception area to pay the bill. I was shocked when I saw that the cost was dramatically less that what my copay would have been in the United States – about $850 for everything. The anesthesiologist would have been more. The report and videos arrived on my phone as we were leaving the parking lot. I was extremely impressed with the doctors, nurses, staff, and the whole process.