I experienced the Norwegian emergency room setup today. I had some allergy thing going on with my eye, and all the doctor's offices are closed on Sunday, so I just went there. It wasn't so bad. There are three stages to it. First, you take a number and wait to see one of the administrators sitting at a computer terminal. When that's done, you find your way to the waiting room. The average wait, at least on Sunday, seems to be 30 minutes. Finally, your name is called along with a couple of others, and then you and those people are seated in a few chairs outside of the examination room in which you'll be treated. Whomever's name was called first is the first one to see the doctor. I was last, and it was maybe another 15-20 minutes waiting.
I have to say, I haven't been impressed with the medical facilities in Oslo. I've seen two offices now, and neither inspired the sort of antiseptic confidence you (usually) get in an American hospital or office. The rooms weren't dirty or anything, they just didn't scream out "state of the art", and the walls weren't an intimidating white or green. Instead, the room today was a dull orange, and the floors were a mottled grey linoleum. It had all the ambiance of a middle school that hasn't been renovated since the 70s.
Oh, and it wasn't free. The visit cost about $50, which is probably more out-of-pocket than I'd pay via insurance in the States. However, I did have the ease-of-mind of knowing that, if the doctor discovered I had eye cancer or something, I wouldn't be financially ruined.
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