A Game-Changer for My Back Issues - All the Necessary Procedures in One Place, and It's Free!

I've lost count of when I realized that my health only concerns my family. It's super common when we hang out with friends who are close to us, and we bring up health topics. But often, our friends can be insensitive and start sharing their own stories, thinking theirs is worse, more important, or more complex.

One time, a friend of mine just cut me off and started telling me about her experience with back treatment at the Medicine and Rehabilitation Center based on the Premium Clinics multiprofile family center in Khimki (Moscow region).

Medicine and Rehabilitation Center based on the Premium Clinics multiprofile family center in Khimki

I just sat there, zoning out, but somehow the name of that center stuck in my mind. And when my back started acting up a few months later, I remembered the Medicine and Rehabilitation Center. I called my friend back and asked if she'd gotten the services for free under her insurance.

I was surprised and intrigued – I'd already spent a small fortune on my own treatment.

The rehabilitation center is part of the Premium Clinics, which is located on three floors of a business center at Moscow region, Khimki city, Jubilee Avenue, building 6A.

Medical and Rehabilitation Center based on the Multi-profile Family Center of Premium Clinics, Khimki I've been to the second floor, and you can get paid services just like in any medical center. The third floor is where you get consultations with doctors as part of rehabilitation programs covered by OMS. And then there's the fourth floor, which is a day care unit where you can get various rehabilitation procedures - from injections and drips to physical therapy exercises. On the clinic's website, in the medical rehabilitation section, there's a list of documents you need to provide to get treatment covered by your OMS policy, aka for free.

To get rehabilitation programs covered by OMS at the day care unit, you'll need to provide the following documents:

Passport

OMS policy for the patient

Insurance pension certificate (SNILS) if you have one

Extract from your outpatient card or medical history

ECG strip (no older than a month)

X-rays (no older than 6 months), CT or MRI scans (recommended)

Complete blood count (no older than 14 days)

Urine analysis (no older than 14 days)

Fluorography report (no older than a year)

Tests for RW, HIV, hepatitis B and C (no older than 3 months)

Opinion from a gynecologist (for women, no older than 6 months)

Referral from your treating doctor

And you can get all of that done at Premium Clinics.

I visited another clinic where I was already undergoing treatment, and I'd already had an electroforez and IV treatment. They booked me with a neurologist-physiotherapist, and before my appointment, I took some tests and an ECG on the fourth floor of the Premium Clinic. I also got an X-ray done somewhere else.

Things got a bit tricky with the gynecologist – I'd had an examination at the clinic I'm affiliated with through my DMS, but the doctor drew some weird conclusions. She refused to give me a proper report and just scribbled something about 'doing some light exercises.'

I was skeptical about this report, and I'm not sure what prompted me to head to the Premium Clinic with this document beforehand and show it to the receptionists.

As I expected, this report wasn't valid. On the second floor, I booked a consultation with another doctor as part of the rehabilitation program. It just so happened that I got an appointment the same day, and I only had to wait 20 minutes. Someone else didn't show up, and I just happened to be there. I gave the doctor all my test results (ultrasound, blood work), which I'd done just a few days ago. And finally, I got a proper diagnosis.

Premium Clinic in Khimki Kids' zone. The medical and rehabilitation center based on the Multidisciplinary Family Center of Premium Clinics in Khimki So, all the paperwork is done, the tests are in, and we're heading to the neurologist's appointment.I visited the neurologist, who reviewed my documents and examined me, and she prescribed treatment at the day hospital.

Rehabilitation procedures included:

a massage course,group physical therapy sessions,physical therapyadministering medication through the fifth point in the form of injections.After the doctor made the appointment, I headed to the registration desk in the day hospital department, where they had already prepared my schedule based on the time that suited me best. The schedule is usually created with physical therapy sessions in mind. The day wraps up with a visit to the procedure room.

Rehabilitation procedures run every day, including weekends. A sick leave is provided for this time.

Most rehabilitation procedures at the center take place on the 4th floor, which you can access by taking the elevator or climbing a pretty steep staircase. When I first visited the center last August, climbing the stairs was a big deal for me. I wanted to prove to myself, above all, that I could do it and that it wouldn't be too hard. I was in a pretty rough shape back then...

Entrance. Center for Medicine and Rehabilitation based on the Multi-profile Family Center Premium Clinics Khimki Staircase. Center for Medicine and Rehabilitation based on the Multi-profile Family Center Premium Clinics KhimkiWalking up the stairs, you'll see a pretty unassuming third floor and a vending machine in the hallway, a sign with the center's name, and then you'll step into a world of pale green and blue.

Entrance to the center on the third floor. Center for Medicine and Rehabilitation based on the Multi-profile Family Center Premium Clinics Khimki Center for Medicine and Rehabilitation based on the Multi-profile Family Center Premium Clinics KhimkiThe floor has a water cooler, vending machines, and a coffee machine. I liked that the slippers are placed in a container at waist level, so you don't have to bend down - which is a thoughtful touch, considering the center's main clientele is seniors. Medical and Rehabilitation Center based on the Multi-profile Family Center of Premium Clinics in Khimki Medical and Rehabilitation Center based on the Multi-profile Family Center of Premium Clinics in KhimkiI was really impressed by the procedure room located near the staircase. It's where they administer IVs, and I got to observe from the sidelines since I wasn't assigned one. There are about 15 chairs in the room.

The rehabilitation center has two spacious physiotherapy rooms. Each room is always staffed with multiple people who work efficiently and quickly. The beds are partitioned off with dividers, and there are disposable diapers, a comfortable pillow, a footrest, and a metal hook for hanging clothes. My procedures lasted anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes.

Physiotherapy Room #1 - A Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre Based on the Multi-profile Family Centre of Premium Clinics in Khimki Physiotherapy Room #2 - A Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre Based on the Multi-profile Family Centre of Premium Clinics in Khimki I've experienced the full range of massage therapists here, and let me tell you, it's been a wild ride. There are six massage rooms in total, and each session lasts around 15 minutes. The thing is, the therapists work in shifts, so you'll likely get a different person each time. In theory, you could try to book the same therapist, but in practice, it's not that easy.

Some therapists are super gentle, while others are so intense that you'll be left with bruises and aches. But, weirdly enough, it's after those intense sessions that I've felt the most relief. I guess it's all about finding the right balance.

Massage rooms. Center for medicine and rehabilitation based on the Multi-profile family center Premium clinics KhimkiTwo exercise rooms. The room where we did group fitness classes was pretty spacious. Everything we needed was there. The instructor didn't change, unlike the massage therapists.Exercise room. Center for medicine and rehabilitation based on the Multi-profile family center Premium clinics KhimkiI was really impressed with the staff in the procedure room. Everyone did injections perfectly, even in my injured (at the time of our first meeting) butt. I didn't even feel the B vitamins, they were so gentle. In the procedure room, there's a rule - injections are only done while lying on the couch.Procedure room. Center for medicine and rehabilitation based on the Multi-profile family center Premium clinics KhimkiIn the day hospital on the 4th floor, there are four clean toilets, which is a big plus. The janitors seem to be the only ones working there.

The real deal-breaker: no decent changing room! Center for Medicine and Rehabilitation at Premium Clinics Khimki I've been to the center twice, and both times I was shocked by the tiny changing rooms. They're basically just two small cubicles with a few hooks for hanging your clothes. The first time I went, in late summer, I didn't need to change, but the second time, in December, I was stuck with a tiny room that was barely big enough for me to squeeze in. Let alone four people at the same time! It's a nightmare trying to change and store your clothes while also getting ready for physical therapy. One person can sit on the tiny bench, but it's a real squeeze. I managed okay, but I could see how it would be a struggle for older women. The changing room. Center for Medicine and Rehabilitation at Premium Clinics Khimki The changing room. I'm basically standing by the exit. Center for Medicine and Rehabilitation at Premium Clinics KhimkiMedicine and Rehabilitation Center with Non-Functional Electronic Lockers I was blown away by the Medicine and Rehabilitation Center based on Premium Clinics in Khimki. Everything was spotless and organized, and the best part was that I got the procedures I needed right away in one place. Plus, it was free, which left me genuinely speechless.

I'm already planning to go back for my next three-month rehabilitation session.