Physical Examination in China

[Uli]

doctorg said:

And Uli, where'd you get that cute Euro key?

It's Alt Gr - E (on European keyboards, at least).

[Raoul Duke]

Gr?

[con's fly is open]

For "Greenland. At the top left corner of the keyboard.

[icebear]

Here in Shenzhen it cost about 580 and took most of the afternoon for our crew of 12. Pretty interesting variety of tests, with no clear consensus on quality or reliability. Several people were told they had organs in various states of failure, and offered removal then and there. Others couldn't register a pulse. I was told I had a small polyp in my gallbladder, which was safe but could a) be concerning in a few months b) be gone in a few months or c) be the technicians fault, with "did you eat this morning? results are irrelevant now!" Funny, no one told me I had to fast before the physical. And then I was offered to have my gallbladder removed. Hmmm... I'll look into it when organ failure or comastose pulse show some symptoms. My uncle, a vet and first aid guy with the Army, thought the story was hilarious. "See how far you can string them along!"

But yea, interesting if nothing else.

[gretch]

When I came here on a Z last Feb. I had my physical done in the states and didn't have to have it repeated. No official red stamp, and the English was barely legible.

[Uli]

admin said:

Gr?

You don't have a "Alt Gr" key to the right of "space"? Hmm. Anyway, it's right there... give it a try ;-)

[Dragonsaver]

€€€€$$$$
€

I have an Alt Gr key but it doesn't do anything - at least as far as I can tell

However at the bottom right of my keyboard I have the € key as well as the$ key next to the up and down and sideways arrows.

So what does the Alt Gr key do?? How do you use it

[Uli]

mengmary said:

€€€€$$$$
€

I have an Alt Gr key but it doesn't do anything - at least as far as I can tell

However at the bottom right of my keyboard I have the € key as well as the$ key next to the up and down and sideways arrows.

So what does the Alt Gr key do?? How do you use it

I've never thought about its meaning, but now looked it up:
"Alternate Graphics"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AltGr_key

On my keyboard it's used to get the following special symbols:
²³ᇗ[[]}\@€µ~|

[Raoul Duke]

Well, I have an 'Alt' key but no Gr.
I gave all the Grrr to Lotus.
I have keys for all those other symbols but no sign of a Euro key.

I suppose I will have to denominate everything on dollars...

[Uli]

admin said:

I have keys for all those other symbols but no sign of a Euro key.

In emergency cases, you can also use: AND#8364; (Replace AND with &)

[Non-Dave]

I went for my medical yesterday and was ready for a horrific, painful and slow experience. Imagine my surprise when it was well organised, efficient, clean and almost painfree!

The place is the local Customs Hospital. They have lots of signs and information in English and the staff speak basic English. There are signs that tell you what the process will be, where to go - and then, a sign saying "You are here. Now go..."

After completing the form and relieving you of some money (304RMB + 50RMB for 3 hour report pickup) they take a digitial photo and attach it to your computer file. When you reach each different room the number on the form you carry allows them to pull up your file on the computer - your smiling face on the computer should match the little scared face staring across the desk at them.

The X-ray was easy - and in a sealed room. 1 minute.

Then to the blood test. Gloves, antiseptic swabs, fresh needle from a sealed bag opened in front of you. The staff knew what they were doing. No digging around, no pain. 2 minutes

Physical examination - a few prods and a stethascope (warmed before application), check the eye chart, height and weight. Next. 3 minutes

ECG. "Ooooh! Nice tattoo" Suction cups and clamps applied. Next. 2 minutes.

And that's it! They were efficient, professional and friendly. There was privacy in all the rooms. It was almost fun. It's not just a foreigners place either, most of the folks there getting their medicals were Chinese.

[phets72]

Did you bribe them to do this?

No being hooked up to a ECG machine, whilst the docter is more interested in getting your phone number from your TA, in the filthiest room in China....then having to wait forever for a blood test while the TA then chats to the nurse who want to know where you are from?

Hmmmm what is the world coming too?

Phets72

[Newbs]

Glad things went well non-Dave, but that doesn't really help those of us wanting to find the Alt-G key.

[Non-Dave]

Sorry Newbs (and others interested n this obviously important discussion). Maybe I should have put my comments in the thread for Physical Examinations... but isn't this... never mind...

[con's fly is open]

Mine went quickly last year: gave a blood sample, got a swab under my johnson, didn't have to tip. Back on time for class.

[Mr Nobody]

Swab under your johnson?

Was this compulsory, or in some kind of experiment?

[con's fly is open]

Compulsory and precautionary: you know all of us laowai gots da clap.

[gretch]

I just had mine this morning. I felt like I was on an assembly line. It was a joke really. They even looked at my teeth, I almost whinnied (sp?) at them, but didn't want to freak them out. The best part had to be the ECG:
"Here!!!...Lay down, lift up your shirt and bra."
"Right here?! All the way?!"
"Yes, all the way (now doctor-type-person is tugging my shirt up)
Followed by, "Oh yeah! that (curtain) okay, okay!"
"But.......(looking at actual itty bitty curtain )"

Hopefully nobody had their camera phone out

[Lotus Eater]

Spent this after noon looking after a previously unknown laowai at the hospital. Chinese friend of mine called - had 2 laowai's here on business - the woman had a business meeting, the guy (b/f) had eaten something dodgy in Beijing, and had been sick for 3 days. No-one to look after him here. Hotel Dr (flash hotel!) wasn't all that good. So friend called me - please take him to a Dr. We have to leave now.

Right - like I'm at the Drs all the time - and my Chinese is good enough to navigate all of this?. So arrived at hotel - guy still ill, so decided to take him the the 4th military Hospital - has good reputation. Found my way to the reception - sent up to 3rd floor (had a VIP section - but no Dr.), 3rd floor - no no - 4th floor, 4th floor had Dr. - but they were going off duty. Wrote out list of symptoms and said go to emergency, 1st floor. Rocked up at emergency - have you registerd - no - so had to register, buy card. OK. Have card Dr will now look at guy. Ahh - needs blood test, poo test, stomach scan. Come to different area to pay. Ok, now we can do tests. Back to Dr - with 3/4 other patients being seen at the same time. OK - need IV plus antibiotics. Ok - gotta pay for them first, so off I go again. Paid for - up to 2nd floor (outside the building and back inside different door because connecting door is locked) to the IV room where IV was connected. This took nearly 4 hours.

The Chinese words I learned in YESTERDAYs lesson were absolutely needed for today - how good can timing get?

G/f of guy rocked up with my friend - and suitcase - my friend is off to Ningxia on business right then and there - can you look after them? OK - so took g/f out to dinner while guy drifted off in a chair built for someone half his height. Drip finished and we could head back to the hotel.

But - I found I CAN now navigate myself around in the Chinese hospital system, so I have that knowledge up my sleeve.

You never quite know what will happen next in China - I was at the hairdressers when all of this happened, with big plans for heading on to the electronics market to buy a new DVD player - mine had given up the ghost - and then hit my Chinese homework.

Life happens while you are making plans?

[Mr Nobody]

gretkey said:

Hopefully nobody had their camera phone out

Yes, and I am selling copies. Want one?

[gretch]

daoding said:

Yes, and I am selling copies. Want one?

No, but I expect a cut of the profits!!!