[heartshope]

Has anyone had the blood test & chest x-ray done in the region vs. bringing it from home? I am really leaning towards doing this but my husband is leary of them finding something that would prevent us from adopting. We are very healthy and have nothing to hide. I think it's just that their system is different than ours. I am already having trouble getting the Dr.'s office to give me a copy of the Dr.'s medical license for my step-sons medical release letter. I am exhausted already! I just wanted to cry today when the dr's office told me the doctor would never give a copy of their license to anyone, they have never heard of this before, etc...........AND, I know it will probably need to be redone before court since it's only good for 30 days. So, has anyone had these tests in the region along with the 8 doctor medical? What are your thoughts on this???

[Ktates]

the doctor's license is public record!!! my doctor's office gave me a hard time too but I got really angry and told them I wouldn't be asking for it if I didn't need it - they gave me the same line too - licenses have been needed for Russian adoptions for several years now at least - so they are lyiing or they've never had anyone adopt from Russia.

I really don't know what these doctors are so afraid of - a lot of states have a website and you can find a copy of it online.
Best of luck!

[Beaglepup]

My doctor too gave me trouble about the license. My case worker had told me if they didn't want to give it to me she could get it for me. So that's what they did. I also told the office that I knew it was a public record and that my caseworker would just get it for me. I just wanted to let them know that I knew I could get it with or without them.

[Amysue1112]

My doctor also acted strange about the copy of the license...he said he had to "check" the hospital managment. You may want to get a letter from your agency that says it is a Russian requirement. I was also told that you could get it from records at the state capital. There is a way, don't fret on it!

Oh I just remembered! My doc was out of town when I needed the med form filled out and the copy of the license...so I found a new doctor, and asked FIRST whether he would give out a copy of his license. No problem with him!

Also about the blood tests and xrays...if you have a choise, I would definitely do them here. From what I have been told, most regions have specific rules and I think you will have to do what they say. If you do them here you can run them through your insurance...don't forget to bring copies of your xray FILMS and not just the reading.

We got our bloodwork done here, and I told the lab that I had the Hep B vaccine b/c I am a nurse. I asked her if it would show up and she said NO. I thought it would be easier to just get the test than to go back to my first job and find "proof" that I had the immunizations. Well, what do ya know, they DO show up and show up as a POSITIVE for Hep B! Soooo....I got a copy of the "titers" (this is the bloodwork that shows if one is still immune and the vaccine is still working). We did not show this to the MDs in Russia during the 8 MD medical b/c we did it in a very small town and our interpreter said ti would be hard to explain and we only needed to share what we needed to.


I have heard though that medicals done is Moscow are expensive but not bad at all. But I woudl definitely do them here if you can..especially b/c if anything "shows" up you can get it taken care of before going to Russia.


Hang in there...we found out we had to do the 8 MD medicals 2 days before we left for our court trip!!!! And I have LOTS of med history...we hae to do them in Russia 2 daysbefore court! But we made it through and you can too!!

Oh yes, also theTB skin test takes 2-3 days to get results..another one that would be nice to get here if you could.

[cathvash]

Just a little perspective on the doctor's license issue... Many years ago doctors and nurses were told to NEVER let anyone copy your license, because that is how healthcare "imposters" started practicing-by presenting a copy of someone else's license or even pretending to be them. Many docs (especially the older ones) had this drilled into them. Nowadays, no employer relies on a paper copy of a license to verify licensure.

You might ask them if they would be willing to provide a slightly enlarged copy, so that it is obvious it is not an original. If there is a notary handy, you could also offer to have a notary sign it as a true and exact copy (enlargement is ok) in their presense, so they will see that you are, in fact ONLY presenting it as a copy.

I was under the impression that most States do now have a searchable section within the board of medical examiners website for licensure verification...

[caaron]

We will have to do the medicals as well. Our agency "highly" reccommended getting the blood tests, chest x-ray & EKG done here.
As for the dr.'s license, our dr. wouldn't give it to us. We have gotten a notarized letter from the State Medical Board saying his license is good standing and so far that has been accepted.
Good luck to you!