Comments on: Medical Tourism: Going Overseas for Medical Care

By: Cherri Bigley

Cherri Bigley — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:47:53 +0000

It’s onerous to search out knowledgeable folks on this subject, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks

By: Charels J. Arrigo

Charels J. Arrigo — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:45:24 +0000

I was very interested in seeing your comment reagrding “Extensive” hernia repair. 30 months ago +- I had an emergency appendix operation. The doctor is a butcher with a checkerd reputation; too late I learned of this fact. He did not do a simple insertion but instead cut me long. I was projection vomiting blood after the oepration. There is thought he may have cut my bowel. At home after eleven days in the Salem, MA hospital I checked out to be attended by every other day visiting nurse. My wife is a nurse by training (no longer) and cared for me as well, and changed the dressing on the off days of the VN. Two days at home and the stiches dehisted causing me to return for another fix operation. I awoke in the ER and remaind for four days prior to be transfered to the general section.

The repair did not work causing me to have a hernia and mandating I constently wear a binder. I went to Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. The Dr, who is known as the “King of hernia operations” and was recently named as one of the top 300 in the Boston area and one of only ten surgeons, operated to close this large hernia. As I lay in bed two days hence and one day prio to my anticipated release I developed huge pain. After an MRI the Dr. took me to the operating room at 6:20 PM Sunday evening having secured a team to assist. This operation showed that the bowel had apparently rubbed against the mesch and burst. So that was the fourth operation with human skin inserted in lieu of mesch. Now a year later I am scheduled to have another operation as the last did not hold and I have a very larg hernia mandating I continue to ware the eleastic (strchable) binder. The Dr. tells me there is only a 70% chance of succes. Should it not hold he tells me he will not be able to operate again.

Thus my interest in your comment. Was your hernia very large? Are you satisifed with the results to date. Do you feel the Dr. you wrote of, if the surgery is not successful could help. Also becuase the incision scars are so extensive I would like a plastic surgeon (as you said she is also) to do cosmetic work to clean it up.

Your yeply would gratefully be appreciated.

Charles J. Arrigo

By: Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:35:46 +0000

Patients who are looking at overseas treatments should consider a hospital membership with a Western European hospital with all the European credentials.

Services are excellent, the hospital rates number one in terms of medical research in Western Europe and ethical standards are paramount since a catholic institution helms the clinic.

By: How I Lost Thirty Pounds in Thirty Days

How I Lost Thirty Pounds in Thirty Days — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:12:05 +0000

Hi, interesting post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for sharing. I will definitely be coming back to your site.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:52:48 +0000

I agree!
I work in Saudi Arabia at what is considered a very good well accredited hospital. The standards that one would expect to have do not exist here, unless JCIA is coming. Then everything is spruced up, cleaned up, and protocols are followed until they leave. Then it is business as usual. One thing to make a point of doing before surgery is to see the Central Supply Dept. After all, they are the ones that decontaminate and sterilize your surgical instruments prior to using them on you. The main hospital can be beautiful to behold, but it isn’t the cosmetics of the hospital that is important, it’s the cleanliness, professionalism of staff, and the sterilization procedures that matter.

By: Jon Montz-Graham

Jon Montz-Graham — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:19:30 +0000

I had an extensive hernia repair by Dra. Gabriela Guzman Stein in San Jose, Costa Rica. The results are outstanding. The care far better than I have seen delivered in my 25 years of nursing practice. The surgeon in board certified in Minnesota, Ohio, and Alabama. First as a general surgeon, then plastics. So I have virtually no scar. The costs: Hospital $1000. Surgeon $1000, Anesthesiologist $500. Yes, $2500 TOTAL. The same outpatient procedure in the US would cost upwards of $15,000. The anesthesiologist spent a full half hour with the interview instead if having a nurse fill out the paperwork for them to sign. The surgeon is like a personal friend. Of course she is fluent in English. She does mostly plastics, but reveled in going back to her roots. Try Costa Rica and Clina Santa Rita for your procedure, be it plastics, general, or private maternity.

By: nadine of oc

nadine of oc — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:44:16 +0000

My asthma inhaler in the U.S. with “good Insurance” costs $40 for co-pay. I purchased 3 inhalers for $37.00 in Costa Rica recently. Same box, same prescription.

Here’s a big secret the US and the FDA don’t want to publicize. 83% of our drugs and blood treatment products are manufactured in China like Heparin, etc.
The FDA issues bulletins to warn doctors and hospitals about errors, contamination, irregular dosages but NEVER inspect the plants there. You can sign up for these warnings via email, but be warned-they’re scary as hell.

By: Dilip Purohit

Dilip Purohit — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:39:31 +0000

Having JCI or any other accreditation does not guarantee that you will receive best treatments. Worldwide, doctors are exploiting hospitals and health care costs are spiraling.

What patients need is a direct relationship with a good doctor with higher success rate in surgeries, treatment. A platform where patients can provide feedback on their experiences will go a long way.

Kosansh.com is one such portal that has integrated rating for doctors and hospitals, points system for community participation, search by treatment, price, destination, types of rooms, secured sharing of medical records and lot more..