LOCAL HOSPITAL REVIEW
Insurance coverage: Network agreement with Cigna. Collaboration goes well, according to hospital staff and Cigna. Staff should present their Cigna card upon arrival.
Hospital Brasilia:
- Located in Lago Sul area, it is the hospital most international staff would use for treatment due to proximity to residences.
- Insurance coverage: This facility does NOT have a network agreement with Cigna or Aetna. Staff will have to pay and claim for services.
- Intensive care: In the past several years, they have opened a new ICU. They have both adult and pediatric ICUs, but not a neonatal ICU as there is no maternity unit in the hospital.
- Emergencies: good emergency services, 14 bed unit with trauma and other emergency care, follow stroke and cardiac protocols. Hemodynamics - 2 suites operating 24/7, tracking timing of treatment. The hospital just recently entered an agreement with public ambulances to bring emergency patients to Hospital Brasilia upon patient request. They are also working out an accreditation agreement with the firefighters who also provide first emergency response with ambulances and helicopters so that patients can request to be brought to this hospital.
- Other: concierge service is available to assist patients, particularly those that may not have any family to assist. They do NOT offer annual check-ups or vaccines. They offer inpatient hospitalization to Sírio-Libanês Oncology patients.
Hospital Santa Lucia:
- Very large hospital in Asa Sul with 346 beds. Recommended for any care needed.
- Insurance coverage: Network agreement with Cigna. Collaboration goes well, according to hospital staff and Cigna. Staff should present their Cigna card upon arrival.
- Intensive care: Large ICU facilities with 100 adult beds, as well as pediatric and neonatal units.
- Emergencies: large unit with 10 rooms for critical cases, additional areas for less acute cases, following stroke and cardiac protocols. Hemodynamics - 2 suites for cardiac and neurological interventions. 90-minute door-to-balloon time. Recommended for emergency cardiac interventions.
- Other: They offer a premium service at no additional cost, with access to concierge services and special waiting lounges. Staff interested can receive a premium card that will give them access.
Hospital Sírio-Libanês:
- This branch of the original Hospital Sírio-Libanês in Sao Paulo opened in February 2019 and offers coordinated care with the other Sírio-Libanês facilities in Brazil. It is smaller than other hospitals in Brasilia, but should offer top quality care and has the latest technology. Patient rooms are very impressive and comfortable looking. Patient records are part of the common electronic medical system with the Sao Paulo hospital, should a patient need to transfer for care.
- Insurance coverage: Network agreement with Cigna in process – to be finalized soon.
- Intensive care: Adult ICU with only 10 beds currently active (to increase to 31 total). Good patient safety protocols and monitoring. No pediatric or neonatal ICU (because they have no maternity care).
- Emergencies: smaller emergency department than some of the other local hospitals and does not offer pediatric emergency support at the moment. Hemodynamics operates 24/7, but with a doctor on call (not in the hospital) for 12 of those hours.
- Insurance coverage: Network agreement with Aetna. Staff should present their Aetna card upon arrival.
- Other: Concierge service is available to support patients.
Hospital do Coração:
- This is a smaller hospital (part of the Rede D’Or family) managing primarily cardiac concerns. Recommended for patients with specialized cardiac needs.
- Insurance coverage: Cigna has an agreement with the hospital through the RNW network. Staff should have no problem accessing direct payment for services (including for outpatient services after paying deposit of 350,00 BRL).
- Intensive care: 2 Adult ICUs with 10 beds each. No pediatric patients. Will be adding an additional 30 beds next year (as well as 30 more standard inpatient beds).
- Emergencies: 70% of the emergency cases they see are for chest pain. They receive referrals for complex cases. Hemodynamics – 2 suites with a nurse 24/7, but doctor in house only until 6 pm (then on call).
- Other: Pediatric cardiac surgeries can be done at partner hospital Santa Luzia (across the street) with cardiologists from Hospital do Coração.
Hospital DF Star:
- This hospital opened in June 2019 and operates on a “hotel concept” designed to provide a top patient-centered experience. The facility is beautifully designed, aromatherapy permeates the hallways, and artwork is displayed throughout the hospital. It is a small hospital with a total capacity for 112 beds (of which only a portion are operational right now). Medical staff have received many hours of training to ensure a patient-centered approach. Only adult care is provided. There is no maternity or pediatric care.
- Insurance coverage: This hospital falls under Cigna’s global agreement with RNW, but costs are not reasonable and customary. Staff will have to pay out of pocket for amount that is above the reasonable and customary rate.
- Intensive care: Adult ICU has 10 working beds (with an eventual capacity of 30).
- Emergencies: The hospital does not have an “open” emergency room. Patients must come with their doctor who notifies the hospital in advance.
- Other: The hospital has top radiology and nuclear medicine equipment (including PET CT and gamma knife) for treatment of tumors. Each patient room in the hospital has a tablet offering “smart hospitality” with options to video chat with the nurse, access medical results, schedule meals, and access social media. The hospital chef has a Michelin star and meals are presented as in a restaurant. Each patient can have meals covered for one visiting family member.
