http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/28/tv/medical-tourism-morgan-spurlock-inside-man/index.html
This article is not directly about Costa Rica, but many of the things it talks about hold true for worldwide issues that affect all medical travel.
At NC Medical Travel, we strongly believe Costa Rica offers the best choice for most Americans. The article discusses India and Thailand, which are halfway around the world (Costa Rica is only a 2.5 hour flight from Florida). Many countries do not have the healthcare infrastructure and modernization found in Costa Rica. Good doctors, world-class facilities, and the most modern technology are limited to specialized tourism hospitals in many countries. However, in Costa Rica healthcare standards are very high across the country, including nurse ratios, laws, and pharmaceutical regulations. For instance, in Costa Rica the laws are such that medical malpractice is exceedingly rare because medical malpractice is a crime there. In a country that takes such concern with their healthcare, a person can feel confidence.
A good rule of thumb is:
if you can't drink the water, do you really want to get surgery there?
(I have drank the public water in Costa Rica many times.)
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Surgery performed in Costa Rica on USA patient has published article by Samaritan Ministries Healthcare Newsletter
Press release by Richard Jordan, PR Coordinator for DentaRica, LLC
Clemmons, NC -- An article is being published about one of the travelling surgical patients of NC Medical Travel and Clinica UNIBE Hospital. The February 2015 article, published by Samaritan Ministries Healthcare Newsletter and written by Jed Stuber, will be about a USA patient named Richard Jordan having a successful major surgery in Costa Rica.
The article will detail how it came to pass that Samaritan member Richard Jordan, a staff member of NC Medical Travel, was in the right place at the right time when his medical crisis erupted. This is the same kidney stone patient who appears in NC Medical Travel's most recent promotional video.
The article (once published) can be found here: http://samaritanministries.org/newsletter/
Richard discovered that he had a kidney stone requiring surgery (thus saving him much agony and emergency medical bills) because of the affordability of healthcare in Costa Rica. In the USA, he had suspected a kidney stone, but could not afford a CAT scan needed to evaluate the situation. He traveled to Costa Rica as staff of NC Medical Travel in September 2014 in order to accompany travelling patients from Chicago. He was not expecting to discover a surgical crisis. But, while he was in Costa Rica anyway, $400 for a CAT scan seemed an amazing opportunity.
Richard does not have typical insurance. He has been very pleased with the alternative he has been enjoying (Samaritan Ministries healthcare newsletter). Samaritan asks him to pay up front (self-pay), when possible. Many Americans are facing a similar predicament, especially if they have high co-pays, a high deductibles, or no insurance at all.
Richard's experience may be able to offer an option that many Americans have not considered. He feels very grateful for the experience.
About NC Medical Travel:
NC Medical Travel (known internationally as DentaRica and MediRica) is a USA-based company with an open-to-the-public office in Clemmons, NC. They make medical travel convenient and much safer than unassisted medical tourism through various means, including finding trustworthy Costa Rican partners, performing background checks on these partners, setting up appointments, answering questions from USA residents, and when needed guiding their guests personally.
Their website is www.ncmedicaltravel.com/
About Samaritan Ministries healthcare newsletter:
Samaritan Ministries, Intl, is a cost-sharing Christian group, whose members volunteer to help fellow members with medical bills according to Guidelines adopted by the members. Building on a foundation of trust, compassion, and Christian values, Samaritan is an eligible option under the national healthcare law.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
NEW VIDEO: December 2014 surgery in Costa Rica has left man grateful
Press release by Richard Jordan, PR Coordinator for DentaRica, LLC
Clemmons, NC -- In December 2014, a staff member of NC Medical Travel decided to have a major surgery performed in Costa Rica. Richard Jordan had his PCNL surgery at UNIBE Hospital in Costa Rica performed by Dr. Lopez and his team . In the U.S., he could have expected a bill of around $38,000. His Costa Rican bill (including flights, recovery center stay, meals and lodging for 5 nights, and fees) was $12,000. Just as important, if not more so, he feels the quality of the healthcare was excellent (and he sacrificed nothing except time and "leg-work").
Please watch a video detailing this trip up to that point at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-QNPpdF698
or via the company's Facebook page, facebook.com/ncmedicaltravel
This surgery was not planned nor expected. Richard counts himself very lucky (and very blessed) to have been in the right place at the right time. He felt assured because of his previous personal experience with UNIBE Hospital. He had met his surgeon on a previous trip, and felt confidence about his care.
This surgery was not planned nor expected. Richard counts himself very lucky (and very blessed) to have been in the right place at the right time. He felt assured because of his previous personal experience with UNIBE Hospital. He had met his surgeon on a previous trip, and felt confidence about his care.
Ultimately, his other considerations were not worth a risk to his lifetime health. He would not have travelled if he had not believed in the quality of care he was going to receive at UNIBE Hospital and other partners of NC Medical Travel.
As staff of NC Medical Travel, Richard has become acutely aware of the difficulties of USA healthcare, from the hassles of simple overbilling to deadly medical errors. The risks are only with certain providers and some healthcare professionals, but the patients have very little way to know what they are putting their trust in.
Normally, a kidney stone incident is an emergency. It is a condition thus rarely seen in medical travel. The more common healthcare needs are elective procedures, including dental reconstruction, preventative care, and hip and knee surgeries. His early detection was a blessing (brought about by the $200 CAT scan he sought at UNIBE).
Richard does not have typical insurance. The plan he does have (Samaritan Ministries healthcare newsletter) asks him to pay up front (self-pay). Many Americans are facing a similar predicament, especially if they have high co-pays, a high deductibles, or no insurance at all.
Richard's experience may be able to offer an option that many Americans have not considered. He feels very grateful for the experience.
About NC Medical Travel:
NC Medical Travel (known internationally as DentaRica and MediRica) is a USA-based company with an open-to-the-public office in Clemmons, NC. They make medical travel convenient and much safer than unassisted medical tourism through various means, including finding trustworthy Costa Rican partners, performing background checks on these partners, setting up appointments, answering questions from USA residents, and when needed guiding their guests personally.
Their website is www.ncmedicaltravel.com/
As staff of NC Medical Travel, Richard has become acutely aware of the difficulties of USA healthcare, from the hassles of simple overbilling to deadly medical errors. The risks are only with certain providers and some healthcare professionals, but the patients have very little way to know what they are putting their trust in.
Normally, a kidney stone incident is an emergency. It is a condition thus rarely seen in medical travel. The more common healthcare needs are elective procedures, including dental reconstruction, preventative care, and hip and knee surgeries. His early detection was a blessing (brought about by the $200 CAT scan he sought at UNIBE).
Richard does not have typical insurance. The plan he does have (Samaritan Ministries healthcare newsletter) asks him to pay up front (self-pay). Many Americans are facing a similar predicament, especially if they have high co-pays, a high deductibles, or no insurance at all.
Richard's experience may be able to offer an option that many Americans have not considered. He feels very grateful for the experience.
About NC Medical Travel:
NC Medical Travel (known internationally as DentaRica and MediRica) is a USA-based company with an open-to-the-public office in Clemmons, NC. They make medical travel convenient and much safer than unassisted medical tourism through various means, including finding trustworthy Costa Rican partners, performing background checks on these partners, setting up appointments, answering questions from USA residents, and when needed guiding their guests personally.
Their website is www.ncmedicaltravel.com/
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Disturbing statistics about USA Healthcare
A recent statistic from medicare.gov states "118.54 people out of 1000 die from treatable complications after they leave the USA hospital (discharged by their doctor) with a knee or hip replacement."
In December of 2012, a traveler with our company underwent a PCNL surgery. He had no complications. But in the USA, "the presence of other disorders or diseases at the time of surgery increased during the study period [1999-2009], and overall complications rose from about 12 percent to nearly 16 percent. Of particular note, the incidence of blood infection (sepsis) doubled from 1.2 percent to 2.4 percent."
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=168851
In December of 2012, a traveler with our company underwent a PCNL surgery. He had no complications. But in the USA, "the presence of other disorders or diseases at the time of surgery increased during the study period [1999-2009], and overall complications rose from about 12 percent to nearly 16 percent. Of particular note, the incidence of blood infection (sepsis) doubled from 1.2 percent to 2.4 percent."
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=168851
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
NEW VIDEO - Kidney stone patient grateful for better healthcare options
Press release by Richard Jordan, PR Coordinator for DentaRica, LLC
Clemmons, NC -- The most recent traveller with NC Medical Travel was also a staff member (and, awkwardly, the author of this press release). He had his PCNL surgery Dec. 7, 2014 performed by Dr. Lopez and his team at UNIBE Hospital in Costa Rica. In the U.S. he could have expected a bill of around $38,000. His Costa Rican bill (including flights, recovery center stay, meals and lodging for 5 nights, and fees) was $12,000.
Please watch a video detailing this trip up to that point at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-QNPpdF698 or our Facebook page, facebook.com/ncmedicaltravel
He counts himself very lucky (and very blessed) to have been in the right place at the right time. He felt assured because of his previous personal experience with UNIBE Hospital (and trust me, a colonoscopy is very personal!). He had met his surgeon on a previous trip, and felt confidence about his care. He could not say the same about his USA healthcare options.
As staff of NC Medical Travel, Richard has become acutely aware of the risks of USA healthcare, from the hassles of simple overbilling to deadly medical errors. Even worse than death, in its way, is a lifetime of suffering. Recently he heard the chilling story of a young man blinded for the rest of his life because his doctor put the wrong medicine in his eye. In another, a man with a similar PCNL surgery experienced (due to sloppy care) extensive kidney damage, painful infection, and the need for further surgery. Meaning after all he went through, the surgery was not successful, and cost over 3 times as much! A recent online article about PCNL complications in the USA states: "overall complications rose from about 12 percent to nearly 16 percent [in 2009]"
Cost and available money was a huge factor in his decision, but the biggest reason he chose Costa Rica was the feeling he got that his life was on the line. It was simply not worth the risk to trust his life to the US healthcare system.
Ultimately, his other considerations were not worth a risk to his lifetime health. He would not have travelled if he had not believed in the quality of care he was going to receive at UNIBE Hospital and other partners of NC Medical Travel.
Normally, a kidney stone incident is an emergency. It is a condition thus rarely seen in medical travel. The more common healthcare needs are elective procedures, including dental reconstruction, preventative care, and hip and knee surgeries. His early detection was a blessing.
Richard does not have typical insurance. The plan he does have (Samaritan Ministries healthcare newsletter) needed him to pay up front (self-pay). Many Americans are facing a similar predicament, especially if they have high co-pays, a high deductible, or no insurance at all.
Richard's experience may be able to offer one more option that many Americans have not considered. Richard has become convinced that the modern American healthcare system actually creates suffering by limiting options, forcing people to live with pain, forcing them to delay needed treatments until the problem has grown worse (and less treatable), forcing them to leave a hospital before they are ready, and making medical errors appear acceptable.
He wonders whatever happened to that whole "do no harm" thing.
Richard wants to make it clear: he holds good doctors and other medical professionals in high esteem. They did not create this atmosphere, and oftentimes they are critical of it themselves. He considers most such practitioners as trustworthy and compassionate and skilled. The ones that are not, however, make him afraid for America (and his own future health).
About NC Medical Travel:
NC Medical Travel (known internationally as DentaRica and MediRica) is a USA-based company with an open-to-the-public office in Clemmons, NC. They make medical travel convenient and much safer than unassisted medical tourism through various means, including finding trustworthy Costa Rican partners, performing background checks on these partners, setting up appointments, answering questions from USA residents, and when needed guiding their guests personally.
Their website is www.ncmedicaltravel.com/
Cited website: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=168851
Clemmons, NC -- The most recent traveller with NC Medical Travel was also a staff member (and, awkwardly, the author of this press release). He had his PCNL surgery Dec. 7, 2014 performed by Dr. Lopez and his team at UNIBE Hospital in Costa Rica. In the U.S. he could have expected a bill of around $38,000. His Costa Rican bill (including flights, recovery center stay, meals and lodging for 5 nights, and fees) was $12,000.
Please watch a video detailing this trip up to that point at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-QNPpdF698 or our Facebook page, facebook.com/ncmedicaltravel
He counts himself very lucky (and very blessed) to have been in the right place at the right time. He felt assured because of his previous personal experience with UNIBE Hospital (and trust me, a colonoscopy is very personal!). He had met his surgeon on a previous trip, and felt confidence about his care. He could not say the same about his USA healthcare options.
As staff of NC Medical Travel, Richard has become acutely aware of the risks of USA healthcare, from the hassles of simple overbilling to deadly medical errors. Even worse than death, in its way, is a lifetime of suffering. Recently he heard the chilling story of a young man blinded for the rest of his life because his doctor put the wrong medicine in his eye. In another, a man with a similar PCNL surgery experienced (due to sloppy care) extensive kidney damage, painful infection, and the need for further surgery. Meaning after all he went through, the surgery was not successful, and cost over 3 times as much! A recent online article about PCNL complications in the USA states: "overall complications rose from about 12 percent to nearly 16 percent [in 2009]"
Cost and available money was a huge factor in his decision, but the biggest reason he chose Costa Rica was the feeling he got that his life was on the line. It was simply not worth the risk to trust his life to the US healthcare system.
Ultimately, his other considerations were not worth a risk to his lifetime health. He would not have travelled if he had not believed in the quality of care he was going to receive at UNIBE Hospital and other partners of NC Medical Travel.
Normally, a kidney stone incident is an emergency. It is a condition thus rarely seen in medical travel. The more common healthcare needs are elective procedures, including dental reconstruction, preventative care, and hip and knee surgeries. His early detection was a blessing.
Richard does not have typical insurance. The plan he does have (Samaritan Ministries healthcare newsletter) needed him to pay up front (self-pay). Many Americans are facing a similar predicament, especially if they have high co-pays, a high deductible, or no insurance at all.
Richard's experience may be able to offer one more option that many Americans have not considered. Richard has become convinced that the modern American healthcare system actually creates suffering by limiting options, forcing people to live with pain, forcing them to delay needed treatments until the problem has grown worse (and less treatable), forcing them to leave a hospital before they are ready, and making medical errors appear acceptable.
He wonders whatever happened to that whole "do no harm" thing.
Richard wants to make it clear: he holds good doctors and other medical professionals in high esteem. They did not create this atmosphere, and oftentimes they are critical of it themselves. He considers most such practitioners as trustworthy and compassionate and skilled. The ones that are not, however, make him afraid for America (and his own future health).
About NC Medical Travel:
NC Medical Travel (known internationally as DentaRica and MediRica) is a USA-based company with an open-to-the-public office in Clemmons, NC. They make medical travel convenient and much safer than unassisted medical tourism through various means, including finding trustworthy Costa Rican partners, performing background checks on these partners, setting up appointments, answering questions from USA residents, and when needed guiding their guests personally.
Their website is www.ncmedicaltravel.com/
Cited website: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=168851
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