European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 13, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pale 8 the stars and stripes thursday february 13,1886 Mahb he foreign hospitals americans face other customs Syjud Sarasohn medical writer Ancy Smith had to bring her own pillows towels soap and toilet paper when she went to the greek maternity clinic to have her baby in Iraklion. When staff sgt. Erika Menifee a Mili tary Airlift come passenger service agent was in a Madrid Hospital she did t know How to ask in Spanish where her baby was and the nurses could t Tell her in English. In Italy some american patients Are surprised that they can buy bread and wine from vendors. In Germany american patients find it Odd to be served herbal teas but no juice. Sometimes there is Noth ing to drink with lunch. In England some . Sailors and their families com Plain that British doctors Don t exam them before pre scribing Medicine. These Are some of the cultural differences and prob lems that american service members and their families discover when they go to foreign hospitals rather than . Military hospitals in Europe. But . Military medical officials say the medical care in foreign hospitals and doctors offices generally is Good. It s just different. Foreign doctors often Don t explain what they re doing to their patients and Don t expect to be questioned by their patients. Infection control is not As Good in some hospitals As in american facilities . Military medical officials said. And in Many european countries hospitals assume the patient s family will provide much of the care that americans have come to expect from medical personnel. European family members help the patient clean up and move around. They sometimes provide meals. The presence of so Many people spending so much time in the Hospital often adds to the general noise level and americans perception of confusion in the hallways. The hospitals feel foreign to them. While the food May be Good it s unfamiliar and therefore not comforting. Debbie Montfort wife of senior airman Troy Mont fort said she was treated very Well by an English speak ing doctor in Iraklion but the food bothered her. I was served .1 whole fish with the head and Tail. 1 covered up the part with the eyes she said. There was leg of Lamb with Little hairs 1 could t bring myself to eat it.". The army air Force and Navy have regulations and instructions directing medical personnel to Check on the staffs of Active duty service members in non Federal med ical facilities. Active duly service members normally Are transferred to a military facility As soon As medically possible. But Many commanders of military hospitals in Europe also Check on family members and civilian employees m foreign hospitals because they know How isolated and uncomfortable Many americans feel in foreign surroundings especially at a time when they re most Vulner Able. Some commanders  than Telephone it. Col. Peter m. Orshak commander of the air Force Hospital at Iraklion on the Island of Crete sends a nurse to look in on mothers to be at the maternity clinic downtown. The military Hospital also provides a package of toiletries and a Nightgown. If a member of an Iraklion As family is in a Creek Hospital or emergency room Orshak provides a nurse around the clock. I realize the Environ ment they re in. I feel More comfortable if my nurse is there assisting he said. The nurse does t actually provide care but monitors the patient s condition and helps out such As assisting the patient to the bathroom. The Cost to the Small air Force Hospital is about$4,000 a year. I m not manned to do that. I m not financed to do that. But i can give up Magazine subscriptions Orshak said. Military Medicine on the the big area of concern for americans in foreign hospitals is language. Even when they have enough command of a foreign language to make friends and ask directions . Service members and their. Families Are nervous about making their health care questions understood. Nancy and Berra Smith Admir Uwar baby who waa Bora in private Hoa Pitel in  a " or my in Izmir Turkey the air Force clinic Send 11_ technician to look in on patients and provide i possible dining Hall meals. It. Cot. William Powers clinic commander i of the reason is to provide a big dose of Raisun. The patient in strange surroundings. He also tries to i along Bandage Tod i cations to i turkish stocks. Our people there to provide _ be. That patient is i the care of the doctor he mid. A Spanish doctor works Tor the air Hospital at Torreto visit the american tientsin Madrid t and talks to their i. Doctors about their i Cal status. This is a Quality Ance initiative col Richard Hospital admin provides important Cal information to of doctors for when i Trentt into the military medical system. The care there has been exceptionally Good indirectly feel we Are still responsible for f Rushmore said. The big area of concern for americans Jwj hospitals is language. Even when they have nou Mand of a foreign language to make friends a directions . Service members and their nervous about making their health care questions stood. R i ions Mien speak English. Nurses and Tal personnel generally do not. Some hospitals i the a is for americans not fluent in the i Guage. Hospitals in Athens for example have aside for English speaking patients " the wife of & Soldier stationed near was worried that italian doctors might take it j thing i Don t want because she could t Tutt italian. I prefer an army Hospital to something we know anything she said. Army spec. 4 Les Franklin smacked he 1 ing in shallow water off a greek ii Laius a himself in a Hospital in Theu Alonial. He we j out by two greek soldiers sharing Hii  spoke English after two Days the army Fletro the air Force Hospital at hell Nikon a Naff a Nancy Smith who gave birth in the Down lion clinic said she communicated by hand i her greek nurses but her physician or. 1 Chronakis spoke fluent English. He did a Good Job Smith said. He i to the labor room it really surprised  Polychronaki trained in the 1and his wife a nurse is from the states. A american women around the clinic so they with it before they have to come to deliver. Smith had planned to have her baby at the Ujj Hospital in Wiesbaden Germany. But the baby was 10 Days  although Smith said she had preferred to i Baden and be in an american Hospital the w to be in Iraklion with her husband. Staff Smith nearby. The Smiths have sin estates. He was Able to stay with me and that 1lot," she said. M when the heat became too much Benin brought a floor fan from Home for her. So to had a private toilet and sink but no Shower wooden crib was also in her room. F with her own things around the room  like being at