Medicine

Like the rest of the world’s science and technology, medicine has made tremendous progress. Most men and women living in city-states have very little to worry about regarding their medical care. Consistent and reasonable medical care has become a staple for attracting and retaining citizens for cities.

For those without citizenship, medical care is another thing entirely. Private medical care is usually costly, but generally easy to find in most urban centres. For-profit clinics and private practitioners far outnumber their city-state-funded counterparts. Prices for care and emergency services vary tremendously, even within the same city.

Traditional models still apply in 2280; hospitals serve large urban areas, ambulances respond to emergency calls, and skilled medical professionals are a hot commodity. Finally, those requiring serious or prolonged medical care are best served if they have a deep Trust account.

There are four levels of medical care and numerous available insurance plans.

Ultra Elite Care
Ultra Elite Care is the best of the best in terms of medical service. These services are available only at top notch research facilities found in cities. Ultra Elite care addresses the most severe injuries, returning patients to health in the shortest possible time, with minimal scarring and other unfortunate side-effects of injury or illness. Ultra Elite care facilities have easy access to the highest quality limb and organ replacements, and can treat all Evolutionary species. These facilities require valid identification from patients and report all violent or suspicious injuries to local security forces - unless special arrangements are made.

Premium Care
Premium Care is the highest level of care available to the general public in most cities. Premium Care facilities can treat all serious and life threatening injuries, returning patients to full health quickly. Premium Care facilities generally have very short wait times for limb and organ replacement, and most can treat Evolutionaries. These facilities require valid identification from patients and report all violent or suspicious injuries to local security forces - unless special arrangements are made.

General Care
General Care is the most common level of medical service available to insured citizens. It offers all basic medical services, including treatment for most serious and life threatening injuries. General Care facilities often have significant wait times that sometimes last up to several hours. Emergency patients are usually ushered directly in, although this is not always the case. General Care facilities commonly require more time to treat patients, generally worrying less about the lasting effects of scarring. Wait times for limb and organ replacement can be long - sometimes in the order of several months - while a suitable genetic match is grown. These facilities require valid identification from patients and report all violent or suspicious injuries to local security forces - unless special arrangements are made.

Med First-Aid
Med First-Aid is the most readily available medical service. Meds are private practice doctors, many with the surgical expertise required for most injuries and medical conditions. Meds accept patients off the the street, no questions asked. However, Meds rarely have access to replacement limbs and organs. Additionally every Med has different facilities and charges. Some Meds are extremely skilled, capable of staffing even the best Ultra Elite Care facilities. Others are highly specialised street surgeons who deal strictly in the implantation and repair of augmentations.

Ambulance Service
If an Ambulance is called by an individual it will be dispatched to the desired location and bring the patient(s) to the nearest medical facility. The range for Ambulances differs between communities, but most can service their own city and the surrounding area.

Air Ambulance Service
If the situation is severe, individuals can call for an Air Ambulance Service to air-lift the victim(s) to a suitable medical facility. Although the range of an Air Ambulance is greater than that of a regular Ambulance it is limited by vehicle type, range to, and level of danger at extraction point.

Combat-ready Emergency Medical Service
This service provides an individual or team with a combat-trained medic that will accompany them on their travels. The medic charges per day, plus supplies and expenses.

Medical insurance
It is possible to buy medical insurance to alleviate some of the cost of treatment should it be required. Monthly medical insurance reduces the cost of treatments by half. Meds do not accept medical insurance.