Orthopedic Testimonials

CARMEN W. - Orthopedic

Carmen vs Alberta Health Care

Carmen was a victim of Canada 's vaunted healthcare system. She got stuck in wait-list limbo. As a professional violist, she needs to use her arms. A couple of years ago she started getting shoulder pains, for which her doctor prescribed Tylenol.

 

The pain got much worse after her 2007 tour of Prague with the Kitchener-Waterloo Orchestra, and her physician signed her up for an MRI - merely a 7-month wait! In the meantime she had to give up most of her performance schedule, reduce her teaching load, and take stronger and stronger medications.

 

The MRI showed a partial tendon tear and some arthritis, so her GP booked her for an appointment with a Calgary orthopedic specialist. The wait just to see the specialist - an estimated 18 months!

 

Alberta Health Care keeps a registry of wait times. You should know that this is from the time of consultation with the surgeon to the time of treatment; it does NOT include the wait time to see the specialist. The AHC site said that Carmen could expect another 8-month wait after seeing the specialist before getting treatment.

 

We were looking at 2 years or more before treatment. This was not acceptable, so we had to look for alternatives. We canvassed other Alberta specialists and facilities. No luck. We looked at private facilities in Vancouver : an estimated $12,000 just for the surgery, plus pre-consultation, medications and travel.

 

We felt forced to look at out-of-country options. We ultimately chose to use an organization called Med Journeys. Med Journeys arranged for Carmen to travel to Costa Rica for surgery by Dr. Oscar Oeding at Clinica Biblica in San Jose , and recovery at a specialist recovery facility called CheTica Ranch. I went along for moral support.

To say that Dr. Oeding and Clinica Biblica were first-rate is to understate the service that we received. Starlene, Rogelio and Bill of the hospital's International Department led us by the hand to all appointments: to the pre-surgery consultation with Dr. Carlos Wu Chin and the pre-op tests; to hospital admission on the day of the surgery; to the recovery room (a private room more akin to a nice hotel suite) and the surgical floor; to the post-surgery consultation, and to three sessions with Nazaret, the best physiotherapist that Carmen has ever encountered.

 

Our total experience was superb. I would strongly recommend that anyone stuck with poor service in Canada immediately contact Med Journeys.

 

Our next step is to recover some of our expenses from Alberta Health Care. Even if we don't collect a nickel, the cost was worth it. Carmen is now pain and medication-free. She has been able to resume her full musical life.

Leonard L. - Hip Replacement

Hello Tim, Jeff and the Med Journeys team I have been back now for one week. I am healing up and doing very well in the recovery process. I just want to send you a THANK YOU note to let you all know how VERY, VERY pleased I am with the entire experience from start to finish.

 

It is a pretty scary thing to make the decision, to take the step to go over seas to have a hip replacement, which I did. With so many scams on the internet, and not doing any research before I Googled hip replacement out side the U.S.and having all this info pop up, I am very thankful that I decided to go with Med Journeys. From the time of our first contact until I got on the plane was less than 60 days. You helped me and guided me through every step of the way, which is something I could not have done on my own. From visa to airline reservations to medical forms to talking to Dr. Hegda in India before leaving, you guys did everything on a very professional level that took care of a lot of my concerns.

 

With Prabha and Dean watching over every detail and every appointment in India for me I was able to relax and focus just on the operation and leave the driving to you. You had someone waiting for me at the airport in New Delhi , even though I got in at midnight. The hospitals were very clean, the staff, nurses,doctors were very nice, kind and took care of me like I was royalty. Dr. Hegda and the ortho team were super and I got all the attention anybody could want. They were definitely on top of it and did a very complete pre surgery set of tests. No corners were cut and I never felt like I was getting the bums rush or the short end of the stick. I felt like every one took great care of me, much better than the hospital treatment I would have gotten in the U.S.

 

The Charter House where I recovered after I was discharged from the hospital was far beyond my wildest expectations. Rita, Amy and their staff were great. The best way I can describe it, is liken it to a super nice bed and breakfast with beautiful grounds and gourmet meals. We all had private rooms with a TV in each room and your own private bathroom. They took care of every detail with Med Journeys so I was able to just relax, recuperate and enjoy myself, just as though I was on vacation. It was a super great experience and I thank you all very much and I will recommend you without reservations. Thank you all very much Leonard