Who We Are And What We Do
AMERICAN-STYLE MEDICAL RESOURCES ABROAD
Whether you want to live abroad or travel overseas for medical treatments, Traveling 4 Health & Retirement can help you find the global medical resources catering to Americans and Canadians. Read more …
What is Medical Travel
Medical travel, often described as Medical Tourism, Traveling for Treatment, or Health Travel refers to the practice of traveling to other parts of the country or abroad with an aim to receive necessary or desired medical treatments or procedures. Choosing a destination and a provider depends upon many factors. Read more…
A U.S. Dentist Uses Paper Clips in Root Canals
Paper clips being used by a U.S. dentist in root canals? We're not kidding!
Paper clips being used by a U.S. dentist in root canals? We're not kidding!
Dental Care –Dentist Reviews –Rate a Dentist
Michael Clair, a former dentist in Massachusetts, has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud for using paper clips instead of stainless steel posts in root canals. Source: 1/24/12 Associated Press
Since the emphasis in news story seems to be focused on the “Medicare Fraud” aspect, I want to focus, here, on the patient.
Seriously, folks, this is a rude “wake-up” call that you can’t assume your local dentist is ethical or any good at what they do.
Since I’m in the business of educating people on what a highly-skilled and ethical dentist is and does – and promoting only those dentists recommended by our members, I’ll share one article here: ”Can your dentist pass the litmus test?”
I also suggest you...
New York Hospital Makes “Big Mistaka”
New York Hospital Makes “Big Mistaka” (file / credit: Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center)
New York Hospital Makes “Big Mistaka” (file / credit: Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center)
Patient Care in the Bronx – Hospital Report New York City
To borrow a phrase from the Jimmy Buffet song, “Jamaica Mistaka”, a hospital in New York made a “big Mistaka” resulting in patients getting billed for tens of millions of dollars for medical services. (source: http://nydn.us/AjolYU).
Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center is a general medical and surgical hospital in Bronx, NY, reported by USNews.com to be one of the best hospitals in the U.S.
The company that does the billing for the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital erroneously put the invoice number in the space where the invoice amount should go. So the billing company is to blame, but the buck stops at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital.
I’m sure this is all an embarrassment to the hospital; but can you imagine the shock of one patient who received a bill saying he owed $44.8 million dollars?
That’s what happened to Alexis Rodriguez, an unemployed doorman, who said he almost became ill when he saw the bill for $44.8 million...
IVF Vacations in South Africa? Buyer Beware!
Risks associated with IVF Vacations in South Africa
Risks associated with IVF Vacations in South Africa
IVF Vacation in Africa – In vitro fertilization – Medical Tourism Report on IVF
A press release announcing a new IVF Vacation Center in South Africa is marketing South Africa as “A New Option For Infertile Couples and Singles Looking To Save Money In Beautiful Vacation Destinations.” (Source: Retrieved from http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=151385 )
The challenge is, press releases aren’t designed to give you both sides of the story; the risks, as well as the cost-advantages, even supposing the medical services are indeed excellent.
So, I’m here to give you a heads’ up; not to discourage you, but just so you can make an informed decision about where to go.
As you know, Traveling 4 Health & Retirement is dedicated to educating people about medical resources abroad, so I’m bullish on traveling for treatments and want very much to give credit where credit is due, for example, to those centers of medical excellence and individual physicians who have earned the respect of professional peers and their...
How American Hospitals are Failing Patients
A patient loses confidence in local hospital care
Hospital Report – Patient Care
I’m going to do what I expect Traveling4Health members to do; write a review when I receive any noteworthy medical services so that others can benefit from my experience.
In this case, it’s a review of an American hospital; the result of waking up in the wee hours of the morning with intense chest pain and an ambulance ride to Auburn Regional Medical Center in Auburn, WA.
Unfortunately, it’s not a positive review. Basically I’m a “think positive” person and certainly not looking to write an exposé. But, in good faith, I am going to share why I feel I lost confidence in my local hospital.
On Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, I called 911 and was taken by ambulance to Auburn Regional Medical Center in Washington State. My symptoms were pain in my chest and solar-plexus area; right exactly where the needle had been inserted for the liver biopsy three days previously at the same hospital.
The short story is that, after my blood tests and chest X-ray had come back negative, I was told by a nurse, “You’re going home”. I was being released from the...
Happy New Year from Traveling 4 Health and Retirement . . .
Happy Thoughts for the New Year
Happy Thoughts for the New Year
A video and stories to lift your hearts.
A friend and partner sent me a Happy New Year message signed off with, “Let’s make a difference in 2012. Pick a worthy cause and improve a part of the world we all live in.”
I thought of all the medical professionals I’ve interviewed and met through the members of Traveling4Health, and mention just three who are doing the work of making a difference in lives through philanthropic good works.
1. Dr. Dino Cozzarelli is an American Board Certified Orthotist Prosthetist in Costa Rica serves over 90 percent of Costa Rica amputees. My husband and I visited him at his clinic where we met former patients who apprenticed with this kind doctor, and are now employed at the clinic using medical-related skills. Read “American Doctor in Costa Rica provides prosthetics at a substantial savings.”
2. Dr. Suresh Thakurdas Bhagia. Three patients from one family – all...
Traveling for Surgery – Who’s doing it and why?
PepsiCo offers surgical travel benefit to employees
PepsiCo offers surgical travel benefit to employees
Medical Tourism Report – Health Articles – Health Travel
Let’s discuss two recent articles that drop some names of U.S. corporations and U.S. companies whose promotion of medical travel lends gravitas to the benefits of medical travel.
Domestic medical travel
Last week, Pepsi Co announced a new partnership with John Hopkins Medicine to offer PepsiCo employees a new travel surgery benefit. (source: http://www.pepsico.com/pressrelease/johns-hopkins-medicine-to-offer-peps...)
Folks, PepsiCo is the umbrella corporation for Pepsi-Cola, Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Tropicana, and Quaker. That a big company putting their reputation on the line to promote medical travel both for quality and cost considerations.
According to the 12/8/11 press release, The Travel Surgery Benefit Program gives PepsiCo employees access to top surgeons specializing in cardiac and joint replacement operations...
Most Affordable Hospital Care in Costa Rica
Medical staff at Metropolitano Hospital in Costa Rica
Medical staff at Metropolitano Hospital in Costa Rica
Health Care in Costa Rica – Colonoscopy in Costa Rica – Gastric Pill Cam in Costa Rica
Exclusive Interview with Dr. Felipe Herrara, MD, Director of the International Patients Department of Hospital Metropolitano in Costa Rica
Tim Morales of Costa Rican Medical Care (CRMC) arranged the following interview with Dr. Felipe Herrera, MD, Director of the International Patients Department and son of Roberto Herrera, MD founder of Hospital Metropolitano, the newest ambulatory hospital in Costa Rica.
Managed by a Family
Ilene Little (IL): Dr. Herrera, I’ve looked at your website and it looks like this is a family-owned business.
Dr. Felipe Herrera (FH): Yes, it was at the beginning. Now, the Hospital is part of a very strong local business group, but still a family and warm facility. Dr. Herrera Sr. has more than 20 years of experience and the rest...
In Search of Superior Health Care Overseas
Expanding the discussion of traveling for surgery
Expanding the discussion of traveling for surgery
Medical Tourism Report – Health Articles – Health Travel
Overseas medical travel
An article dated 12/16/11 by Fran Golden for MSNBC addresses many of the “why on earth would I do that” questions, quite nicely, albeit incompletely. (Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45702566/ns/travel-news/t/medical-tourismis-it-worth-it/).
Beyond an error in reporting that the organization that accredits international hospitals is the same organization that accredits U.S. health care facilities, I found the article useful in terms of opening up topics for discussion.
I will expand on each of Golden’s talking points, and add the practical wisdom expressed by medical professionals queried in hundreds of interviews compiled in the book ...
Best ENT Doctor in India
Best ENT doctor in Bangalore, India, Dr. Kumaresh Krishnamoothy pictured with his two sons
Best ENT doctor in Bangalore, India
One of the most compassionate doctors I know has been awarded another honor by his peers for his specialty of ENT (Ear Nose and Throat).
In October of 2011, T4H member, Dr. Kumaresh Krishnamoothy, was awarded the Karnataka Service Excellence Award, bestowed by the Brand Academy. Dr. Kumaresh was recognized as the “best ENT specialist in Bangalore”.
The Brand Academy, one of India’s leading brand management and consulting companies, organized the 2011 Brands Academy Service Excellence Awards Ceremony to acknowledge prominent doctors and service companies who have displayed exemplary excellence as service providers in their respective fields.
The award was based on a comprehensive market research study and opinion surveys conducted by BIG Brands Research, one of the top market research agencies in India.
Says Dr. Kumaresh, “The only sad part was that I was not able to receive the award in person since I was recovering from my surgery and my father was nominated to receive the same.
...
Santa’s friend needs help
In a poor neighborhood in Costa Rica, Santa Comes to Town
T4H member Patrick Goodness exemplifies the ambassador spirit of many of our members who find ways to give back to the community, in gratitude for what they have been given in life.
I received an email from Patrick (re-posted below) alerting his friends and business associates of the Goodness Company’s “Santa Project” benefiting the children living in a poor neighborhood in Costa Rica.
You see, five years ago Patrick donned a Santa suit and, with his wife and children dressed as elves, “Santa Came to Town”. They have recreated Santa’s visit each year since they moved to Costa Rica in 2007.
“Santa, we’re so glad you came. This is the first time you’ve ever come to our town,” exclaimed a wide-eyed, little boy on that first Christmas,” said Goodness, “and I took it as a calling to do the best we can to uphold the community in this way.”
Patrick’s 8-year old son, who witnessed the boy’s heart-felt remarks, asked Dad some pointed questions about how it was possible that Santa had never visited the town.
“He was very curious,” said Patrick, “I...
