Maneuvering in the Italian Health Care System
Italians health care may not appear as efficient and well managed as other countries, but considering its comprehensiveness, low ‘out of pocket cost’ and overall quality, it probably should get more credit than it does. Even though Italians often complain about the Italian health care system, Italy ranks 2nd in the “World Health Organization ranking […] Read More
New Parenthood and Giving Birth in Milan (Part 3)
(Part 3 of 3) Your bundle of joy is here! Labor and delivery are behind you, and now begins Life With Baby. What do you need to know? First, let’s talk about a few tips for staying sane. Remember that the first three months are, in many ways, the hardest. As exhausted, overwhelmed, teary and […] Read More
New Parenthood and Giving Birth in Milan (Part 2)
(Part 2 of 3) You now have your tessera sanitaria in hand and you’re familiar with the various options for giving birth in your adopted city. What’s next? The OB/GYN First, it’s important to remember that in a “normal” delivery, i.e., a vaginal birth without complications, the OB/GYN is going to spend precious little time participating in […] Read More
The traitorous “Colpo d’aria”
After ten years of living in Italy some things still surprise me. I recall the first time I’ve heard of “colpo d’aria”. It’s not a karate technique or a game, but a “rare disease” that, to the best of my knowledge, affects only Italians. Literally translated, colpo d’aria means a “whack of air” while culturally translated, […] Read More
