In an emergency: Always try to call us first. See practitioners pages for emergency numbers

Ambulances (tel. 118) will take you to the nearest public hospital emergency room. but there may be one best hospital for your case (S. Eugenio for severe burns, for example).

If you take a car or taxi, the Policlinico Gemelli on Monte Mario, the Policlinico Umberto I beyond the train station, and the Bambino Gesù
children's hospital on the Gianicolo hill are public hospitals equipped to handle all true emergencies

Although the Rome American Hospital has an intensive care unit and can treat acute heart attacks etc., neither the RAH nor any other private
hospital has a real emergency room

Pharmacies: Most pharmacies follow usual Italian shopping hours, but many, including the Farmacia Santa Sabina on Viale Aventino, are open 8:30 AM to 7: 30 or 8 PM without a break, and several (one is on Via Arenula) stay open all night. The pharmacist will normally give you back the prescription after filling it, so we write your instructions in whatever language you prefer. Watch out when asking pharmacists for medical advice; they tend to be a bit free with medicines.

Special prescriptions: Almost all American and European medications are available here, though the brand name may be different. Not all pharmacies are fully stocked, so if you don't find something at one, try another. Be skeptical if a pharmacist says a medication is unavailable or "not made any more"; they may just be out of it. You can also ask them to look it up in the print or computerized Informatore Farmaceutico, or try the Vatican Pharmacy near Saint Peter's.

Testing: Italian laboratories and outside consultants will by and large
expect immediate cash payment; go prepared. Results are usually picked up by the patient rather than being sent to your physician. A few of the testing facilities we use frequently:

Santo Volto Clinic, Piazza Tempio di Diana 12, tel. 06 5729921: at times we arrange to have them send test results and x-rays directly to us
Salvator Mundi International Hospital, Via delle Mura Gianicolensi, tel. 06 588-961; open and functioning all day (not just mornings); will fax results on request; will come draw blood at your home if you're too ill to move
Quarta Laboratory, Via G.B. De Rossi 22, tel. 06 4434241; will come draw blood at your home if you're too ill to move
Centro Diagnostico, Via Pigafetta 1, tel. 06 571-071
Villa Margherita Clinica, Via di Villa Massimo, 48, tel. 06 4423-3146:
particularly excellent imaging department (x-rays, sonography, CAT scans, MRIs...)

Health in Rome: Yes, you can drink the tap water, its mostly from deep springs. Infectious diseases, such as German measles, whooping cough (check your children's vaccinations), and hepatitis (watch out for raw shellfish) are more common here than at home. The Tiber is badly polluted, and the beaches nearest Rome are barely less so. Expect to get more colds than usual soon after arrival; you have to build up immunity to the local viruses. Likewise you may suffer from diarrhea while your intestine gets used to Italian varieties of bacteria and to all that olive oil. Birth control and abortions are legal here. Finally, Rome is the allergy capital of the world.

Mind and Soul in English:
Suicide hotline: the Samaritans, tel 06 70454444 or 800 860022
Alcoholics Anonymous: St. Paul's Church, tel 06 679-6600
Yoga instruction, massage, Alexander technique, relaxation therapy...Don't hesitate to ask.

Via della Fonte di Fauno 22 - 00153 Rome, Italy
tel./fax (+39) 06 578-0738 - 06 5728-8349
hours: Monday-Friday 9 AM - 7:30 PM
email: info@aventinomedicalgroup.com