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Safety-minded things to consider for medical tourism
Recent news of the kidnapping of four Americans, one of which was seeking cosmetic surgery in Mexico, by a Mexican drug cartel has given pause, and for good reason, to those looking for less expensive medical care outside the United States. Sadly two people in her group were found dead. Although the surgery sought by the medical tourist was not orthopaedic surgery, it is important to consider better alternatives to any surgery outside of the United States. There are certainly important things to consider with medical tourism.
Risks of Seeking Surgery Outside the U.S.
According to the CNN Health website and this website, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines several risk factors involved with traveling outside the United States looking for less expensive surgical options than those found in the states. Some of those include:
- Risk of infection
- Questionable quality of care
- Standards for care in foreign countries may not meet high U.S. standards
- Communication issues with the medical staff
- Also, who is responsible if complications occur after the patient returns to the U.S.
- Unstable political and safety situations
Procedures Sought Outside the U.S.
The types of procedures U.S. citizens seek outside the country include cosmetic surgery, fertility treatment, dental care, organ and tissue transplants, cancer treatments, and other general and orthopaedic surgeries. Apparently India is a popular location for hip and knee surgeries.
The CNN article also stated that Mexico is the second most popular international destination for medical tourism with approximately 1.4 million to 3 million people entering that country to take advantage of less expensive treatment, according to the group Patients Beyond Borders.
However, as cartel violence in Mexico appears to be escalating, with the burned bodies of six missing women having been found this March, the U.S. State Department and Texas Department of Public Safety have warned Americans not to travel to Mexico. An article on The Center Square website quoted a strongly worded advisory by the State Department:
“Violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread and common in Mexico. The U.S. Government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas in Mexico.”
Even if a medical tourist could evade the cartel violence in Mexico, there is another danger that has been discovered that could easily affect the medical tourist – the safety of drugs being sold in pharmacies. The State Department issued another strongly worded advisory March 17 warning Americans to “exercise caution” regarding the purchase of medications in Mexican drugstores. This danger is nothing to dismiss, and the Los Angeles Times reports that whether or not you have a doctor’s prescription, you could face a deadly risk because some medications have been effectively poisoned.
The alert stated:
“The U.S. Department of State is aware of media reports regarding counterfeit pharmaceuticals available at pharmacies in Mexico, including those tainted with fentanyl and methamphetamine.”
Additionally, those who might consider travelling to India for orthopaedic surgeries should seriously re-consider that idea. Another travel advisory by the State Department, dated as recently as October of 2022, warned Americans to avoid traveling to certain areas of India because of crime and terrorism.
The advisory states:
“Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities.”
The risk of sexual assault in India has prompted the State Department to warn women against travelling there alone.
International travel is no longer necessary for lower-cost Surgery
Keeping in mind the current concern regarding violent drug cartels in Mexico and other risks when traveling outside the U.S. to receive medical/surgical treatment, more competitive market options are available right here. The booming success of free market medical care within the U.S. means that those who are seeking treatment for various health, or even cosmetic, issues do not need to take the risks involved with foreign travel.
What is free market healthcare? It is based on the principle that the consumer of any medical or surgical procedure has the right to know up-front what they will be paying for that procedure. One of the bulwarks of the healthcare system in the U.S., that has actually caused the cost of healthcare to rise precipitously, has been standard health insurance that makes it very difficult for a patient to get a straight answer regarding the total cost of a proposed procedure prior to the procedure. Not only that, prices for medical/surgical are generally very fragmented into categories such as the surgeon’s, anesthesiologist’s and facility fees, many of which are pre-negotiated with each provider rather than offering one all-inclusive and transparent price. No wonder, so many people are seeking alternatives to these astronomical prices outside of the U.S.
So, things to consider regarding medical tourism outside of your local area are not just the price of your procedure, but the safety in the area to which you plan to travel. With all the instability and lawlessness in countries outside the U.S., the best advice these days is, “Don’t leave the U.S.” You have much less expensive and safer options right here.
Cedar Orthopaedic Surgery Center Has Your Least Expensive, Safer Answer
Cedar Orthopaedic Surgery Center, led by Randy Delcore, M.D., has been pioneering outpatient orthopaedic surgery for much lower cash amounts than standard hospital treatment since 2004. First of all, travel within the U.S. is certainly less expensive and less dangerous than traveling outside the country, especially when it is just not necessary.
Our surgery center boasts excellent all-inclusive pricing for most standard orthopaedic surgeries, including joint replacements. Pricing for these surgeries includes the surgeon’s, anesthesiologist’s and facility fees along with the cost of any implant that may be necessary in your surgery. To find out the price for your surgery, just go to the home page of this website, find the body illustration, and click on the body part for which you are needing surgery. You will get a list of the common surgeries COSC offers for that body part along with the cash prices for those surgeries.
Cedar Orthopaedics has a reputation for excellent care, and you can find video testimonies of happy patients who have traveled to Cedar City from within and outside of the U.S. for their surgeries. In fact, Dr. Delcore has been named Best Orthopaedic Surgeon in Iron County for three years in a row. Additionally, he was recently recognized by Outpatient Surgery Magazine with the 2022 OR Excellence Award for his perioperative pain management practices that de-emphasize the use of opioids during surgeries. These practices are known to help patients get up and moving within a couple hours after surgery with much fewer post-operative side effects that are common with standard anesthesia practices.
Cedar City is the “Go To” Place for Any Kind of Tourism
Another thing to consider regarding medical tourism within the U.S. is the location you are traveling to, and Cedar City is a great tourist destination whether you are coming just for the many activities available here or to have a lower-cost surgery performed. It is a small city with a population of approximately 35,000. It is an especially popular tourist destination during the summer when the Utah Summer Games, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, SimonFest (Neil Simon theater group), July Jamboree car show and many other activities are in full swing. The police force here is excellent so there is little reason to fear common threats found outside the U.S. and even in large U.S. cities.
Also, should you travel here to COSC for your orthopaedic surgery, we are proud to offer luxury accommodations that are either included (for total joint surgeries) or discounted to a very reasonable price for all others here at our Kordeluxe Luxury Suites and Studios just a half-block away from the surgery center. These townhome suites and studios have been built specifically to meet the needs of our medical tourist patient population, and the proximity of these accommodations make follow-up visits at the surgery practice almost effortless.
COSC invites you to check out our surgery pricing and our beautiful, safe city and have your orthopaedic surgery done here.
WATCH OUR PATIENT TESTIMONIAL VIDEOS
Our Pricing Is Transparent
No Hidden Fees or Costs
(Implants Included)
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Choose Procedure or Surgery
- ACL Reconstruction with Allograft
- ACL Reconstruction with Autograft
- Arthroscopic Knee Synovectomy/
Plicectomy - Arthroscopy with Lateral Release
- Arthroscopy with Meniscectomy
- Diagnostic Arthroscopy
- Knee Manipulation Under Anesthesia
- Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy
- Total Knee Arthroplasty
- Unicompartmental Arthroplasty
- Acromioplasty/
Decompression - Acromioplasty/
Decompression/ Distal Clavicle Resection - Bankart Stabilization
- Biceps Tenotomy/
Tenodesis - Distal Clavicle Resection
- Pectoralis Tendon Repair
- Rotator Cuff Repair
- Shoulder Manipulation Under Anesthesia
- Total Shoulder Replacement
- Total Shoulder Replacement (Reverse)
Fractures
PLEASE NOTE: If you schedule surgery at our facility and will be using insurance, the prices listed on this website do not apply to you.
We want your surgery to be as easy to plan for as possible. Please read this disclaimer in its entirety so you can make the most informed decision regarding our prices and services. The cash prices on our website are only for patients who will not be filing an insurance claim or prefer to pay for their own surgical needs. The fees listed will be paid up front via cash, check or credit card and are to be paid in full prior to the surgery.
Price quoted is for payment via cash, check, or money order. For credit card charges, a 3% transaction fee will be added to cover merchant services.
The prices for the surgeries listed on our website DO cover the following:
- The initial consultation with the surgeon is included, as is uncomplicated follow-up care. There is an initial $150 fee which will be applied to the total cost of the procedure if surgery is indicated and you choose to have the surgery. If the surgery is not indicated or you choose to not have the surgery, the fee will be retained by the surgeon for the consultation.
- Cedar Orthopaedic Surgery Center – Same Day Surgery, Post Anesthesia Unit (if applicable) and Operating Room
- Surgeon’s Fees
- Anesthesia Fees (If applicable)
- Joint Replacements – The fee also covers the implants and Physical Therapy.
- In-Surgery X-Rays/Imagery (If applicable)
The prices for the surgeries listed on our website DO NOT cover the following:
- Any diagnostic studies necessary prior to surgery such as labs, MRI, X-Rays, specialist consultations to determine medical risk/management, physical therapy.
- Any hardware for fractures (including, but not limited to, pins, screws, plates, rods, and external fixation devices). These types of surgeries may need a single or numerous implants, depending on the nature of the injury. Once you have had your consultation with Dr. Delcore, the price information will be provided to you regarding the necessary implants. We only charge invoice costs to our patients and do not mark up implants.
- Postoperative prescription medications and/or any required assistive devices.
- Expenses for travel and lodging
- Expenses or fees from complications during/following the completion of surgery and discharge from Cedar Orthopaedic Surgery Center.
The procedures listed on our website are only a partial list of the surgeries we can offer. If you have a surgical need that is not listed on our website, please contact us and we will discuss the availability and pricing.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 34.0 or higher, you may well qualify for up to a $3,000 surcharge.
If you have any questions regarding our services and prices, please contact us via email or phone and our dedicated staff will work with you to answer any questions you may have.