Medical Nomad Blog

I experienced Medical Tourism first hand while working as a health professional in a multi specialty clinic in Florida. In 2004 I found myself in need of significant dental work that was going to cost me $14,000. The company I worked for had no dental insurance but rather “awarded” it’s employees a $500 voucher per year for dental work that could be done at one of our own affiliated offices. For me not to get the work done was not an option, but the cost was going to be a significant burden. Read the rest of this entry »

There is real interest in dental implants by consumers thinking of outsourcing their care. This is a high cost procedure with potentially significant cosmetic, psychological and functional outcomes for the patient. What consumers need to be clear about is that the typical dental implant is at least a 2 step process with a number of months between inserting a post and then ultimately placing a crown. Dental implants preserve bone because they function like tooth roots, firmly embedded in the bone. In order for the implants to become embedded in the bone, the bone must bond to the implants. This process takes anywhere from 3 to 9 months, depending upon the quality of the bone into which the implants are placed. For many people this may mean outsourcing their care to a relatively close Medical Tourism destination like Costa Rica or Mexico. The practicality of multiple trans Pacific flights is questionable. Here is a link to a basic fact sheet about dental implants from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

The National Center for Policy Analysis has put out a study called “Medical Tourism: Global Competition in Healthcare” written by Devon Herrick, Ph.D. With two M.B.A.’s, a degree in accounting, a Master of Public Affairs degree and a Doctorate in Political Economy he has more letters after his name than in his name. Probably a pretty smart guy. His 40 or so page analysis is well researched and well annotated and as good an overview of the Medical Tourism field as you will find from any one source. Dig in.

What follows is an interview by David Williams, of MedTripInfo.com, with Maggi Ann Grace, author of State of the Heart: A Medical Tourist’ True Story of Lifesaving Surgery in India. The audio version of this interview can be heard at: http://www.medtripinfo.com/node/267. Take note, in particular, of Maggi Ann Grace’s emphasis on arranging timely post-operative follow-up upon one’s return to the U.S.. In her husband’s case, she wishes she had made those arrangements even before returning to the U.S.  The interview was first posted on October 1st, 2007 by David Williams Read the rest of this entry »

If you are considering taking a medical journey abroad, you would do well to spend a little time poking around YouTube.   Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re a prospective medical tourist who is looking for practical, informed, and detailed advice for how to carry out your trip, the book Patients Beyond Borders is a must. The author, Josef Woodman, has not only lived the life of a medical tourist, but has done a thorough job researching the industry from top to bottom. Having talked to a full range of people involved in MT, including patients, doctors, nurses, administrators, government officials, etc., he maintains a clear committment to serving the interests of the prospective patient - someone in need of a health care service they can’t really afford at home. Check out an overview of the book at: http://www.patientsbeyondborders.com/ or look it up on Amazon.com.

Check out the following article here from the October 2007 issue of Good Housekeeping. Some good issues are examined by Jennifer Wolff about the difficulty of evaluating the quality of providers from afar.