High Flexion Total Knee Replacement – Dr. A.K. Venkatachalam

A welcome boon for patients with Knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of knees affects predominantly the senior citizen age group. Total knee replacement is a permanent solution to the aged suffering to provide permanent pain relief. The elderly become pain free and the quality of life improves.

However there has been a universal feeling amongst south Indians that the majority of implants available in India and Chennai do not allow more than 100 degrees of knee bending. The patients say that they are unable to squat on the floor or climb stairs easily with the operated leg going up first and have to drag it behind the good one.  Even computer assisted surgery cannot achieve these unless the prosthesis is designed to provide this extra bend.

They may have difficulty in climbing stairs, using Indian toilet and squatting on the floor. This is a great disadvantage to majority of South Indians who prefer to squat on the floor for prayer, social activities and meals. So, many people refrain from undergoing the surgery and suffer in silence.

Now with the advent of a new type of prosthesis, patients in South India undergoing a knee replacement need not be functionally impaired.  A new design of prosthesis allows knee bending up to 155 degrees.  The patient has to be motivated to regain high knee flexion and participate in early and aggressive physiotherapy.  They should not be obese and the pre operative knee bend should be above 90 degrees.

This prosthesis is implanted by special instrumentation which is minimally invasive and does not damage the tissues. Hence post operative pain is less and rehabilitation is faster. This prosthesis is different to the many claims of rotating platform prosthesis.

To read remaining article, click here…

Middle East Healthcare Expansion : 12 May 2008

BUSINESS CLUB MEETINGS
Middle East Healthcare Expansion offers an effective platform for sharing of health care experience and expertise, networking and forging of new business partnerships in a unique business-driven environment.

The event features a two-day educational session with case studies presentations and interactive sessions. Middle East Healthcare Expansion only invites the decision makers within the healthcare industry and provides an exclusive, business-driven environment using prescheduled one-to-one business meetings and educational sessions that are strictly limited to upper-level executives.

Benefit from
Ensuring the best return on investment. We work proactively with solution providers before, during and after the event.

Meeting the ultimate decision makers in a true business-driven environment. As a solution provider, you will have the opportunity to sell your products and services during focused meeting sessions. You will shorten your sales cycle and close deals.

Receiving prior notification of all attending buyers. This allows you and your sales executives to research and tailor-make presentations for each one of your meetings.

Guaranteed exclusive business environment for limited number of solution providers from induvidual healthcare categories

Learn more about Middle East Healthcare Expansion

The National Conference on Health Care Consumerism : 04 May 2008

The National Conference On Health Care Consumerism features two tracks of programming: Best Employer Healthcare Strategies and Wellness & Prevention Strategies to Improve Employee Health & Corporate Performance. These three tracks will connect innovative plan design and funding options with wellness and prevention strategies that improve employee health and corporate performance. With dedicated programming for employer strategies and wellness/prevention strategies, this conference will focus on lowering employers’ health beneift costs while also improving productivity.

The Health Care Globalization Summit… Connecting You to a World of Opportunity

The Health Care Globalization Summit will showcase the solutions, including information technology and platforms, that are enabling the globalization of care and guaranteeing an unbroken continuum of care for patients receiving treatment abroad. US providers and employers will also be brought to the table to see the opportunities of a global healthcare model. Highlights of the Summit will include:

• Presenting the final version of the McKinsey Report on cross-border patient flow
• Showcasing solution providers that enable global healthcare
• Connecting US corporations and companies that sell global plans or overseas medical services
• Demonstrating the opportunities of a global model to US providers
• Removing issues of quality and liability as barriers to global healthcare

Learn more about National Conference on Health Care Consumerism

 

Breathe Again – National Heart Centre Singapore

Nigerian Very Reverend Professor Samuel Uwhubetine Erivwo experienced occasions of breathlessness for five years before being informed of the need for a heart operation. His son, a doctor by profession, chose to send him to Singapore for surgery when it became clear that his father needed urgent attention.

Professor Samuel had his first experience of breathlessness during his son’s wedding five years ago and had difficulty climbing a short flight of stairs. Thereafter, he experienced similar attacks and was prescribed medication to cope with the discomfort.

During his church’s Easter retreat this year, Professor Samuel again experienced breathlessness. He was unconscious for two hours and was eventually sent to a local hospital for treatment.

Professor Samuel was then referred to a specialist in the capital city and prescribed drugs which he later learnt was similar to previous medications he had taken. They controlled and suppressed symptoms, but would not cure his condition.

On further probing by Dr. Polycarp Erivwo, Professor Samuel’s son, the specialist revealed that Professor Samuel would require an operation.

Within ten days of being discharged from hospital, Professor Samuel had another attack.

Dr. Polycarp saw the urgency in the situation and made queries on treatment options with friends in Europe and South Africa.

Upon suggestion by his brother in Malaysia that their father sought treatment in Singapore, Dr. Polycarp contacted the National Heart Centre. The Global Patient Services Team at the National Heart Centre tended to his queries and allayed any doubts that he had.

Professor Samuel was no stranger to Singapore as he had visited the city on a few occasions on gospel missions. Coupled with positive feedback from friends, Dr. Polycarp decided to send his father to Singapore for treatment.

Dr. Polycarp elaborated, “The healthcare facilities in Singapore are excellent and cost of surgery is affordable. The high number of surgeries that the National Heart Centre in Singapore had performed was our deciding factor. It is also the only hospital in Singapore approved for heart transplants.”

The National Heart Centre’s Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery crossed the 15,000 mark in its number of cardiac surgeries in 2002. It is the only approved centre in Singapore for heart and lung transplants.

Click here  to read complete article…

West African Health Expo & Conference 2008: 13 August 2008

West African Health Expo 2008 is an International Exhibition focusing on medical equipment, scientific and laboratory instruments, hospital furniture, pharmaceutical products and services to be hosted in Nigeria at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

It builds on the success of West African Health 2007, which has attracted over 150 exhibitors and over 9,400 trade visitors. West African Health Expo 2008 is an international trade exhibition targeting international manufacturers and traders interested in the African market.

Click here to learn more about the West African Health Expo.

Go Safari or Taj Mahal with Global Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery Abroad
The trend for international medical procedures, treatments and surgeries abroad are expanding among the American and British healthcare markets. Medical tourism has provided an avenue for Canadians, Britons, and Americans fed up with the high costs of healthcare services to travel cross-border and exotic destinations to reduce medical costs and wait times.

According to the United States Census Bureau, nearly 47 million Americans had no medical insurance as of 2005. Statistics in Britain and Canada are alarming as well.  Global healthcare has become a very viable option and alternative to address those seeking orthopedic treatments and surgeries.

Why Go?
Orthopedic surgeries are a specialty that deals specifically with the correction and repair of injuries to bones and their associated muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The rising cost of surgical procedures, especially those involving orthopedics, prevents many from receiving necessary and often life-changing treatments and surgeries. 

More than 500,000 Americans traveled outside of the country in 2007.  The National Coalition on Health Care determined that orthopedic surgical procedures comprised the bulk of those numbers.

Norway, South Africa, Thailand, India, and Panama are becoming popular tourist destinations for those wishing to undergo various orthopedic surgeries, including but not limited to:
• Partial knee replacement
• Total knee replacement
• Total hip replacement
• Hip resurfacing
• Shoulder joint replacement
• Anterior cruciate ligament repair

Wait times for orthopedic surgeries in the United States and Britain can last months. Overseas and abroad, wait times are decreased because there is less “red tape” between health care professionals and medical insurance providers to deal with.

Dollars and Sense
World-class medical services, state-of-the-art facilities, and certified and accredited physicians and surgeons are available in many countries around the world to address the specific needs of not only those wishing to undergo surgical procedures, but wanting to combine such services with recuperation and recovery in an exotic location.  Websites such as PlacidWay.com provide extensive resources to help one choose procedure and location of orthopedic treatments.

Hip replacement surgical procedures in the United States can cost up to $43,000. Cost for the same procedures in Thailand or Singapore run roughly $12,000, and $9,000 in India. In South Africa, the cost is approximately $10,700.

Knee replacement surgeries in the United States run up to $40,000 apiece! The same procedure in India will cost $8,500, and roughly $10,000 in Thailand, and $13,000 in Singapore. In South Africa, the same procedure will cost roughly $12,600.

Cautions and Security
When combining medical procedures with exotic travel and vacation destinations, it is suggested that consumers deal with reputable companies specializing in such business. As always, consumers are responsible for doing their homework, researching options, and checking on source reliability.

Medical tourism is here to stay, and as with anything else, there are pros and cons in this field. One thing that medical travelers should be advised is that any orthopedic surgical procedure requires ample recuperation, sanitation, and rehabilitative therapies. When searching for a facility to meet specific needs, consumers should find out and understand both pre-and post-op requirements and expectations.

Whether you want to safari in Africa or explore the jungles of Thailand or experience breath taking beauty of Taj Mahal, medical tourists must allow ample time for recovery when venturing to such exotic locations. Ask plenty of questions, and make sure that answers are obtained before making arrangements to travel.

Well-known universities and hospitals in the United States, Britain and Canada abroad often train orthopedic surgeons. Training in the latest techniques and methods of orthopedic surgical procedures have thrust many International surgeons to the top of their fields.

Are They Qualified?
When seeking the professional services of any physician or facility, consumers need to be aware. Physicians should, of course, have a medical license as well as board-certified credentials in their area of expertise. Board certifications ensure that physicians and surgeons have met qualification requirements to practice in their field.

Belonging to a professional membership, organization, or association is not enough to assure that an individual or facility is licensed or credentialed. They do however, standardize quality and hold to certain requirements that must be met by members.  Physicians and surgeons are certified by boards of specialists in the area they want to practice in.

Consumers are responsible for researching and understanding the different titles and certifications as well as requirements in countries abroad to ensure that they meet standards for quality care and expertise. Referring to professional organizations or to the Placidway.com references will help guide consumers to locate the best-qualified professionals in the field.

 

Click here to learn more about Orthopedic Surgeries Abroad.

Going Global For Cosmetic Surgery

There are many advantages to going global for cosmetic surgery. Exotic locations in Thailand, Argentina, and Brazil beckon to thousands hoping not only to save money on cosmetic surgical procedures, but also to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunities to visit foreign destinations. 

Cost comparisons between surgical procedures performed in the United States and the United Kingdom with those that can be found in Brazil, Africa, Argentina and Thailand are proving increasingly attractive to young and old alike when it comes to choosing cosmetic surgery.

Why Travel for Your Cosmetic Surgery?
Whether you’re looking to reshape your nose or take care of that face-lift without anyone knowing what you’re up to, traveling for cosmetic surgery is on the rise. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, trends for traveling for cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures are on the rise. The top five cosmetic procedures performed in the United States and around the world today are:

• Breast augmentation
• Liposuction
• Nose reshaping
• Eyelid surgery
• Tummy tucks

 

Over $12 billion have been spent on cosmetic procedures from the year 2000 to 2007 in the United States alone, a nearly 60% increase in a mere six years. From facelifts to breast lifts to Botox injections and reconstructive procedures, the cosmetic surgery industry is booming, with price tags to match.

The majority of cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States are not covered by health or medical insurance. Unless cosmetic plastic surgery or procedures are necessary due to injury and trauma, they are considered elective procedures and must be paid through individual out-of-pocket expenses.

Cost Considerations
Breast augmentation in the United States can run $8,000 as compared to the under $4,000 charged in India, and the $3,000 charged in Costa Rica.

Liposuction in the United States can cost $13,500, as compared to the $2,700 charged in Bolivia, or $4,800 charged in India.

A facelift can cost $15,000 in the United States. Facelift procedures performed in Costa Rica can cost just under $3,000, and about $4,500 in India.

Countries like South Africa, Thailand, and Hong Kong, as well as India are increasing their global advertising campaigns in comparative surgical prices as medical tourism brings more visitors from the United States and the United Kingdom than ever before.

Do’s and Don’ts Of Surgery Abroad
However, there are many things that global travelers need to know about medical tourism. Is it safe? Can medical facilities in exotic locations in Thailand, Singapore, and Brazil offer safe and comparable skill levels in cosmetic surgical procedures and training? The answer is yes.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons suggests that any global travelers seeking cosmetic surgical procedures abroad ensure that the expertise and certification of the physicians they are considering. Several online services are available as resources, including The ASPS Member Surgeon Abroad Program and websites like Placidway.com reference sections, which profile multiple physicians and facilities worldwide.

Individuals should also realize that medical qualification standards may differ from those in the United States, but growing numbers of doctors practicing outside of the United States and Britain are Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Cosmetic Surgery Tourism
Appealing prices and exotic locales combine the best of vacation destinations with affordable financing for a wide range of cosmetic surgical procedures. In all cases, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons urges patients to research the cosmetic procedure they intend to undergo, but the location as well as qualifications of physicians and staff to meet the needs during consultations, procedures, and recuperation periods following surgery.  Placidway.com is one of those sites where patients can research on finest cosmetic surgeons around the world.

The following questions may (and should) be asked of any plastic or cosmetic surgeon:

• Are you an ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) member?
• Has the American Board of Plastic Surgery or another International board or association certified you?
• Do you have hospital privileges?
• How many procedures of this type have you performed?
• Is the surgical facility accredited?

While cost is a major selling point in the growing field of cosmetic surgery tourism, and patients are able to combine the cost of surgical packages with vacation packages for less than the cost of the surgical procedure in the United States, patients must take a common sense approach when seeking the services of any position, whether at home or abroad.

Cardiac Screening Examinations – by Dr. Michael Moreton, Bangkok Hospital

Every Hospital and Clinic is offering screening examinations and encouraging you to undergo examinations and testing. It is difficult for you to judge whether this is an appropriate for you, which tests should be performed and whether the benefits justify the expense. The Bangkok Heart Hospital, in the Bangkok Hospital Medical Center offers excellent Cardiac Screening programs. Here is some information to help you to understand them.

Screening Examinations
The ideal medical screening tests are ones that can be done easily, with minimal risk, are reliable in detecting existing disease and can also detect the presence of conditions which may not be causing any problems at the present time, but will, if left untreated, give problems in the future. A test is said to have a ‘predictive value” if it can forecast the future by identifying situations which will lead, if untreated, to problems occurring in the future. The purpose of screening examinations is to detect ‘hidden’ problems and to treat them before they become life-threatening.

The tests that are available for assessing cardiac status fulfill all these criteria. We can test your heart, assess both its present status and also predict whether there are hidden problems that may lead to problems in the future. Like all things in medicine these forecasts are not a hundred percent accurate but they do have a high ‘predictive value.

It is a strange irony that the heart, the organ that pumps blood to every other part of the body, can be damaged by not being able to pump enough blood to itself. The principle function of blood is to carry oxygen as every cell in the body needs oxygen to survive. As arteries age they can be damaged by a sediment that builds up in their walls. The coronary arteries that supply blood to the muscular wall of the heart are the arteries most likely to be blocked by this plaque that builds up in the wall of arteries. The development of the cholesterol plaque is influenced by life style risk factors such as: diet, smoking, high cholesterol level, diabetes, high blood pressure and the lack of exercise. These atheromatous plaques narrow the arteries but as long as the heart muscles are getting a reasonable amount of oxygen from the blood supply, there will be no symptoms. If, however, the arteries narrow to a critical level then the blood flow will be insufficient to support the heart muscles cells and a group of them, lacking oxygen, may die. The patient may have a heart attack; some may not survive.

The Bangkok Heart Hospital offers Cardiac screening programs which provide a thorough assessment of your cardiac status and can identify treatment or life-style changes that will lower you chances of you developing serious heart problems in the future.

Read complete article at PlacidWay.com

Please click here to request additional information from Bangkok Hospital.

America’s Angry Patients – By Catherine Arnst

They pay more, wait longer to be seen, and suffer a higher rate of medical mistakes

Politicians often boast that the U.S. has the best health-care system in the world. Patients apparently disagree. According to a new survey published on Nov. 1 in the journal Health Affairs, a third of Americans believe the U.S. health-care system needs to be rebuilt completely–double the percentage who want a dramatic overhaul in the six other nations polled. And the U.S. ranked dead last out of the seven countries when residents were asked if only minor changes were needed.The Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit that studies health-care issues, surveyed 12,000 adults in Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the U.S. in an effort to get a handle on actual patient experiences and perceptions. “There are lessons to be learned from looking abroad,” says the study’s authors. “This survey shows that patients in the U.S. are frustrated by high costs and a complicated health-care system.”

All the countries surveyed except the U.S. have universal coverage–and the other six spend about half as much of their GDP as the U.S. does on health care. Americans also pay more out of pocket for health care, with 30% of U.S. respondents having spent $1,000 or more over the past year. The percentage of patients laying out that much in the other six nations ranged from 4% (Britain) to 19% (Australia).

More…

Addressing the Health Needs of Baby Boomers

Understanding the Special Needs of Boomers
Baby Boomers – you know who you are – born in the post World War II years more commonly known as “war babies” back then. This generation, born in the period of 1946 to 1964, is slated to reach staggering numbers. Citizens around the world between the ages of 55 and 65 are one of the largest age demographic groups in the annals of history.

Along with this distinction comes a variety of health needs addressing chronic problems, rising health care costs, and the retiree’s desire to travel around the globe. Enter Medical Tourism to meet this growing demand. Sites such as PlacidWay.com offer resources to assist in the decision process and coordination of care and travel. These sites help to ease an often overwhelming task.

This generation is also expected to live longer and be more active than generations before them. Longevity increases the necessity to treat chronic problems and injuries, including the pervasive rise of a larger ratio of the population suffering from diabetes, coronary heart disease, asthma, and of course, the deterioration that comes with the aging process.

A significant percent of these baby boomers are currently uninsured. Many who belong to this age group have lost their jobs due to aging, unemployment or downsizing and are no longer covered by affordable health insurance.

Traveling beyond local borders offers this group, more than any other demographic, the opportunity to pursue and receive premium healthcare, alternative treatments and travel, all at the same time. How is that possible? Web sites such as PlacidWay.com promote Medical Tourism by offering consumers a wide range of options for receiving health care, and offering the tools to coordinate care and travel. 

Boomers are leading the way to more affordable healthcare. Boomers, more than any other age group, are seeking medical care overseas to address such needs as dental care, orthopedic procedures like knee and hip replacement surgeries, cardiac care, and alternative treatments for chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and cardiac.

Leading Treatments and Procedures for the Boomer Generation
Leading health issues among baby boomers can be categorized as common health issues resulting from lifestyle habits indulged by this age group more than any other. These habits include, for some, smoking, inadequate diet, and poor exercise habits. The most common afflictions and conditions experienced by boomers today are:
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Arterial sclerosis
• Osteoporosis
• Breast, lung, and colon cancer
• Stroke
• Joint Complaints: bursitis, arthritis, tendonitis

Dealing with such chronic issues is not cheap, especially with the rising cost of health care. Coupled with astronomical fees, patients are often required to endure long wait times between physician’s visits as well as scheduling of treatments, procedures, and surgeries.

What Are Baby Boomers Doing about Medical Care?
Retirement is looming for many baby boomers. Many have the desire to travel. Research has shown that medical tourism, or the desire to travel internationally and across borders for health reasons, is becoming a viable alternative for the treatment and care of the specialized health issues experienced by this group of people from around the world.

After comparing the cost of procedures in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia, most baby boomers are combining their retirement desires with ongoing medical care by traveling to various destinations for their needs.

For example, American boomers needing dental care and prescriptions often travel south of the border into Mexico or even as far as Brazil, Argentina, Panama, and Costa Rica for their needs. Dental procedures, as well as medications in Latin American countries, are less than half of what comparable procedures and medications cost in the United States.

Thailand, India, and Singapore are popular destinations for those needing hip or knee replacement or heart surgeries. Europeans are making trips to Hungary, Croatia and Poland for dental and cosmetic procedures at great savings, even after including the cost of travel and hotel or clinic accommodations.

Hospitals in South America or Asia generally cost one half of the price charged in the United States and Europe. For example, cardiac and orthopedic surgeries performed in India can save health travelers nearly $20,000 or more with one surgical procedure.

Who Benefits from International Healthcare?
Baby boomers are competing with the Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1980) for alternative healthcare treatments. Such treatments are growing increasingly popular among Americans and include aspects of yoga, meditation, ayurveda, and herbal therapies. The benefits of ancient Chinese practices such as acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain caused by bone disease, as well as for the treatment of depression, diabetes and obesity are also appealing.

When it comes to treating the special needs of the baby boomer generation, meaning arthritis, orthopedic procedures, cardiac care and cancer treatments; international facilities are increasingly catering to the needs of this age group.

Research and doing your homework
Standardization of credentialing is becoming more common.  A credentialing process requires facilities such as hospitals to meet specific quality/performance criteria. JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation has been sought by a number of international hospitals.  The JCI web site lists those facilities. 

Many international physicians have been educated in countries such as the UK and the USA. Many of them also practiced for a number of years in those countries before returning to their home countries to set up practices. Some of them have obtained board certification in the USA.  It is important to research the qualifications, education and experience of any physician or healthcare provider before receiving care.  Membership in professional organization can also be a good indicator of a reliable healthcare provider.

USA based health care organizations such as Johns Hopkins, the Cleveland Clinic, Christus Health have affiliation and ownership of facilities in international settings outside of the USA.  Quality of care is essential, no matter where a procedure is performed. Foreign healthcare providers continue to offer superlative facilities, physicians, and surgeons to meet the needs of an ever-increasing number of foreign travelers. Learn more about the top healthcare centers across the world by visiting PlacidWay (www.placidway.com) web portal.