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.

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/


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

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

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

We Are Now Rated the #1 Company Who Does What We Do

press release written by Richard Jordan, PR Coordinator for NC Medical Travel
10/5/2014

Clemmons, NC -- The claim that our company (NC Medical Travel) is number one is a bit of a joke. It's because we are the ONLY company who does what we do. Sure, other companies offer medical tourism, but NC Medical Travel is proud to be a step above, in a category all of our own.

The first and perhaps biggest difference is how we function as the USA office for one, specific hospital in Costa Rica. Clinica Unibe Hospital has been our trustworthy partner when sending patients from North Carolina and other places all across the USA. We develop these business relationships, and perform checks on the various degrees and credentials that doctors and hospitals hold. Our USA patients can have confidence that our company is holding our business partners to the highest standards.

Another major distinction (very much related to the first) is that we do not arrange travel to other countries. We have specialized, and our staff uses our repeat personal experiences to better provide consultations with our travelers. Our staff are certified ICT travel specialists, but just as importantly have taken the time to develop a wide-ranging knowledge of our own.

To go along with our staff's personal experiences, we also have staff visit many of the doctors and dentists that we recommend. We seek out quality partners for our travelers, but also know their quality personally. That instills confidence from knowing we not only advocate Costa Rican medicine, but also use it ourselves. We have BEEN to these doctors, HAD MEDICAL CARE with this hospital. Other companies cannot claim the same.

Another difference comes from our USA business office in Clemmons, NC. The office is for booking and appointments, not medical or any other healthcare. That office builds confidence with our USA travelers. Their payments can be made and processed in the USA. We are a member of the Greensboro (NC) Chamber of Commerce and a legal business entity, proud to be a part of the community. With our office staff of Americans born in the USA speaking English, travelers feel more at home.

As a further distinction, we pride ourselves on personal service, up to actually flying on the airplane *with* our travellers! While personal travel accompaniment is a VIP optional upgrade, our personal touch is visible in all our business. At our office, new travellers can receive much-desired travel advice and even suggestions about airport transit. Our office keeps a phone that calls Costa Rica easily and effectively, which family may use. Our staff keeps in touch with the daily well-being of our travellers with courtesy calls.

So, in short, we would like to think we are Number One among medical tourism companies, but until our industry is rated, we know what we are doing makes a positive difference in people's lives. Not every business can say that. We are proud of what we are doing.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Press Release: Doctor and Dentist from Costa Rica at Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem, NC

Press release:

Written by Richard Jordan, PR Coordinator with NC Medical Travel
9/30/2014

Clemmons, NC -- Imagine a CAT scan for $500. Or a colonoscopy for $340. Perhaps dental implants for $850 each. Prices like these are unheard of for most people. There is a very good reason -- prices like these are not typicallly found in the USA.

For decades, people have been travelling to foreign countries to find better healthcare prices. For some, it is simply a dislike for spending so much. For others, it is a matter of life or death.

Doctors Esteban Urzola (Dental Implantologist) and Victor Urzola (Cosmetic Surgeon), two brothers who are on staff at Clinica Unibe Hospital in Costa Rica, have made plans to attend the Dixie Classic Fair Oct 9-12. They are not practicing medicine while in the USA, but are instead talking to average North Carolinians about their healthcare options. For some people, their treatments at Clinica Unibe Hospital have already saved them literally thousands of dollars.

The doctors will meet and greet USA residents at the booth for NC Medical Travel, a USA company in Clemmons, NC. They provide a solid base for seekers of medical tourism, and prospective travellers feel confidence that their payments go to a legitimate USA business. The office for NC Medical Travel is located in the Broyhill Suites, office #128. Their booth will be open during the entire Dixie Classic Fair, and staff are happy to help interested parties make arrangements.

Anyone wishing to meet and speak with Drs. Urzola may call 336-300-4000 to set up an time to talk. Or simply drop by. They look forward to meeting with people, and building confidence in Costa Rican healthcare at Unibe Hospital.

About NC Medical Travel to Costa Rica:
NC Medical Travel (internationally known as DentaRica) is a USA-based company with an open-to-the-public office in Clemmons, NC. They help both individuals and businesses to significantly reduce costs for healthcare. They make the cost savings of medical travel convenient and much safer than unaided 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 Unibe Hospital:
Clinica Unibe is a hospital located in sunny Costa Rica, in the capital city, San Jose. Their facility has all the required Costa Rican Ministry of Health permits, plus they have had the AAAASF accreditation since 2010. Unibe Hospital was the first such facility in Costa Rica to receive the honor of AAAASF accreditation.
Their website is www.clinicaunibe.net/

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Watch Promotional Videos via YouTube

Richard's Kidney Stone Surgery in Costa Rica - Samaritan Member (5:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHfE1k64_Jo

ProMed Video for all of Costa Rica Medical Tourism (9:51 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl75h4cErWc

Regina's airport video with Dr. Wachong (2:38 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3bHCst-yXQ

Cathy and Dr. Urzola and Anesthesiologist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S9IVVZZiX0

Miranda's sunny video (1:14 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrIpIis8aNI

Meet Kathy Jordan; see our USA office in Clemmons, NC (0:44 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DozY4BNpwy0

Explaining Advantage for Self-Funded Companies (8:35 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcB2G0CXRzg

Meet your Unibe Gastroenerologist, Dr. Quesada (1:25 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6ZjDu7m1dY

Meet your Unibe Cosmetic Surgeon, Dr. Victor Urzola (1:41 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Crr4I0OpE

Meet your Unibe Dentist and Implantologist, Dr. Esteban Urzola (2:48 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYg67TBhFzQ

Meet your Unibe Urologist, Dr. Lopez (video in Spanish) (4:24 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTwvgUMrSec

Commentary on USA Healthcare via Comedy Central (8:10 min)
http://digg.com/video/third-world-health-care-knoxville-tennessee-edition

The Mission and Purpose of ProMed (1:21 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpRM2O9DeTI

Meet SaludDent Dentist and Implantologist, Dr. Retana (4:16 min)
http://www.ncmedicaltravel.com/Dental-Benefits.html (please scroll down)

Christian Health Ministries featured on Mike Huckabee Show (1:41 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNsPhqilv1M

Samaritan Ministries Cost-Sharing Alternative featured (0:35 min)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/story/d/story/national-christian-organization-celebrates-birthda/60879/isyR2tjZIkS8OidYAMRaXg

Discover Costa Rica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvXNWz6qhfM

Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) - 2013 Promo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EiGPlHW3f

Richard's Kidney Stone Surgery in Costa Rica - CheTica (5:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-QNPpdF698