When I'm in Paris

While you’re in Paris, there will be so much to see and do, most people feel they’ve had the “vacation of a lifetime.” There will be places and monuments to see, people to meet, and many delicious meals to enjoy. Needless to say, there may be times when you find “the good life” means a bit of culinary overindulgence, and perhaps you’ll find your stomach a little queasy at the end of a long day of feasting. If so, a trip to a doctor (“medecin”) may be in order.

Fortunately, Paris has one of the best health care systems in the world. And unlike in the United States, where the “house call” doctor is a humorously referred-to icon of a bygone era, you’ll be thrilled to know doctors in Paris DO make house calls.

In fact, as the United States has “911″ for emergencies, you can call for a doctor any time by calling “01 47 07 77 77″ for an “SOS Medecin” (SOS Doctor), or Paris’ equivalent of “911″ for bigger emergencies, “15″.

Pharmacists are also a great source of information and basic remedies. Unlike in the United States, where pharmacists dispense prescriptions and can give very basic advice, French pharmacists are trained to take a more “hands-on” role in the care of customers, and often function as a type of “junior doctor.” As such, feel free to listen to their expert recommendations, and expect that they may be able to offer a variety of wonderful French remedies you may not have in your home country. However unfamiliar they may seem in brand name, these remedies are often quite effective.

(Hint: You’ll know the pharmacy by its distinctive green cross.)

Emergency medical technicians are also different than those in the other countries. While in the United States, EMTs’ primary role is to keep a patient in a stable state while transporting them to the hospital as quickly as possible, in France these EMT’s have a different role. Their focus is on providing as much aid as possible before transporting a patient to the hospital.

If you need to avail yourself of hospital services while in France, there are two English-Speaking hospitals located in the “suburbs” of Paris. Although these hospitals are not located in what is technically known as central Paris, due to the relatively small geographic scale of the city, they are located less than 10 miles from central Paris.

The American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine is a fully staffed English-speaking hospital with all virtually all fields of medicine represented. And The Hertford British Hospital is a British-owned and run hospital that also offers comprehensive medical care.

American Hospital
63 blvd Victor Hugo
92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
Tel. 33-(0)1 46 41 25 25
Email: patient@ahp-paris.com

https://www.american-hospital.org/

The Hertford British Hospital
3 rue Barbès
92300 Levallois
Tel. 33-(0)1 46 39 22 22

http://www.british-hospital.org/

But in a pinch, don’t feel you need to limit yourself to these hospitals. French doctors are highly trained and usually there is someone who speaks English around to help. Do what’s right for your situation.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have a true emergency of any kind, DIAL “15.”

This is the way to call the “Emergency Medical Assistance Service”, SAMU (Service d’Aide Médicale d’Urgence).

PRINT THIS LIST

Here is a list of numbers to keep by your bedside, or in your wallet!

Emergency Numbers

Police 17
Ambulance 15
Fire Department 18

Pediatric Emergency
(Urgences pédiatrie) 01 43 94 35 01

SOS Help
(English-language Crisis Line) 01 46 21 46 46

SOS Medecin (Doctor)
(Fast House Call Doctor) 01 47 07 77 77

SOS Dentiste
(Emergency Dental Help) 01 43 37 51 00

24-Hour English-Speaking Pharmacy
Pharmacie des Champs Elysées
84 av. des Champs Elysées 75008 (0)1 45 62 02 41

Welcome2France.com’s Luxury Apartment rentals wishes you a safe, wonderful trip in the “City of Lights”!