I just wanted to relate an experience I had, because maybe it is interesting. I recently visited Bologna to rent an apartment in preparation for my visa application. I got a severe stomach ache when I was there and my doctor in America was concerned there maybe an obstruction and instructed me to go to the emergency room. I went to the emergency room in Bologna, about a 45 minute walk away. I went in around 10:30 was evaluated right away and de-prioritized right away (which perfectly coincides with my American experiences in emergency rooms). The emergency room itself lacked privacy it was one huge ward but when a procedure was done that was done in a private room. I left around 4 am, when they finally concluded it was a stomach flu. But they were extremely thorough and eliminated 'all the scary things.' I am still learning italian so my Italian wasn't very good and English though spotty with some staff was relatively usable with the doctors. Then came a huge print out of all the tests and recommendations for me to give to my doctor. Then an equally long print out of the bill. I was worried, they did not even take any insurance information because I was a foreigner, The bill came to 69 euros, Which when they realized I would have to come back in the morning (a 45 minute walk away) they found this unacceptable and tossed away the bill. All in all I had a excellent visit tot something that is rarely excellent even if it took longer than I wanted to but that was the same in he US for me.
