Meeting needs and seeing the world
When I asked our family doctor for yet another referral to out of state care, he joked that we’re becoming medical tourists. I’d never thought about it, but he’s not wrong!
Medical tourism, refers to the practice of individuals traveling to a different location or country to receive medical treatment, care, or procedures. This phenomenon has gained popularity as advancements in healthcare, transportation, and technology have made it easier for people to seek medical services outside their home region. The fact of the matter is, we go where the care is best!
Why Medical Tourism
Medical tourism encompasses a wide range of healthcare services, including elective procedures, specialized treatments, rehabilitation, and even routine medical care. The reasons for medical travel vary and can include seeking more affordable healthcare options, accessing specialized medical expertise, avoiding long wait times for certain procedures, or combining medical treatment with leisure travel.
The main thing we’ve traveled for has been intensive physical therapy programs, primarily because of limited availability and the length of wait lists. We also use the Spina Bifida Clinic at Cleveland Clinic because they’re the best we’ve found.
**Side note – we don’t need to travel for intensive physical therapy anymore since Now I Can opened in Lititz! If you’re interested in therapy here, I’m happy to share about the grants we received. I can also start you off with $500 off of the three week (four hours a day) intensive PT program, using the code WONDERS24.**
Key aspects of medical travel include:
- Seeking Specialized Care: Patients may travel to specific destinations to receive specialized medical treatments that may not be readily available or may be more advanced in those locations.
- Cost Considerations: Affordability is a significant factor driving medical travel. Some individuals find that certain medical procedures or treatments are more cost-effective in other countries due to differences in healthcare pricing.
- Reducing Wait Times: In some cases, patients choose medical travel to avoid long waiting lists for certain procedures in their home country. Accessing prompt medical care becomes a priority for those seeking timely treatment.
- Combining Medical Care with Tourism: Medical travel often involves combining healthcare with tourism. Patients and their families may choose destinations that offer not only quality medical services but also opportunities for leisure and relaxation.
- Accessibility to Innovative Treatments: Certain countries may be at the forefront of medical research and innovation. Patients may travel to access cutting-edge treatments, technologies, or medical expertise that may not be available in their home country.
- Cultural and Language Considerations: Patients may choose destinations based on language preferences, cultural compatibility, or personal comfort. The familiarity of language and cultural aspects can contribute to a more positive overall experience.
Where Can We Go as Medical Tourists?
Anywhere! The whole point is going to where your needs will best be met. We’ve traveled to St Pete, Florida and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Amelia Island, Florida for spinal stim with Gerti, and Richmond, Virginia for intensive physical therapy at Richmond Hope. We visit Cleveland yearly for Spina bifida clinic at Cleveland Clinic.
Philadelphia, Boston, Hershey, and D.C. are also known for their children’s hospitals.
What’s the Benefit?
In addition to the obvious benefit of having your medical needs met, there are a few travel perks with medical tourism. If you’re already paying to travel for medical needs, it may make sense to build a vacation in with your trip (especially since you probably just blew all your vacation money).
When we travel for intensive physical therapy or clinic visits that span over days, we qualify to stay in a Ronald McDonald house, or a hotel that offers a significant discount for hospital guests. This makes long stays financially manageable.
What’s the Downside?
Why do we not plan month long trips all over the world in the name of medical care?
Well, first of all, not everywhere has medical care as good as home, no less better.
Second, insurance. Our primary insurance has never denied an out of state need. Medicaid, on the other hand, is an ordeal. They don’t officially cover anything out of state, unless it’s an emergency. We’ve spent countless hours on the phone and filling out paperwork to get around this, but it doesn’t always work. Out of state care may cost more than meeting your needs at home.
Third, there’s no continuity of care. I wish that we had been able to do Jaden’s big urological surgery at the Cleveland Clinic last year, but they advised us that the follow-up would be too intense. We had weekly visits for several months. The only practical way to make it work would have been to stay in the area for a full nine months. (Although, I do still wonder if we’d had it done somewhere else if he would’ve required as much healing time.)
Conclusion
It’s important to note that while medical travel offers various benefits, there are also considerations such as cultural differences, healthcare standards, and potential risks. Adequate research, careful planning, and consultation with healthcare professionals are essential for a successful and safe medical travel experience.