Bypass That Saved His Life – National Heart Centre Singapore

Five years ago, Indonesian Goenawan Endro started experiencing tightness at his chest area and chest pain. Visits to the doctor in his hometown Surabaya revealed that he had a heart problem. He was prescribed medication, told to stop smoking and was recommended to go for a balloon angioplasty. Mr Goenawan took all but the advice to go for the angioplasty as he felt that his medication was enough for him. He was also apprehensive of the complications that may arise from the procedure. He had since changed doctors three times.

In end 2005, Mr Goenawan’s symptoms took a turn for the worse and he suffered a heart attack. The doctor Mr Goenawan saw after his heart attack suggested that he should go through the angioplasty for his own good. This time round, Mr Goenawan complied. “Dr Irwan is very patient, he is unlike my previous doctors who only instructed me to go for the angioplasty without being able to tell me exactly why I needed to do it. This doctor explained my condition in detail and the need to go for the procedure. After 2 to 3 visits, I was finally convinced to go for the procedure,” said Mr Goenawan.

The angioplasty revealed that Mr Goenawan had very serious blockages in his arteries – total blockage on his left side and 20 to 30% on his right. Given the results, Dr Irwan advised him to go for a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). Dr Irwan provided him with the choice of undergoing treatment locally, in Indonesia or in Singapore. He was informed that the National Heart Centre of Singapore (NHC) offered a comprehensive and affordable package that suited his needs. Mr Goenawan finally decided on Singapore after strong recommendations from friends and relatives.

Arrangements were made with a Global Patient Services Officer at the National Heart Centre and the family took a flight over to Singapore. At the National Heart Centre, the cardiothoracic surgeons performed a successful CABG on Mr Goenawan. Post-operation, he was warded for observation for 6 days.

Visibly happy with the success of his operation and positive experience at the National Heart Centre, Mr Goenawan gave two thumbs-up to the staff of the National Heart Centre, “The service quality is very good, we felt welcomed and I was well taken care of. The nurses, especially those in the intensive care unit, were professional and kind. My doctor-in-charge, Dr Sin, was very informative and professional as well. I also did not have much problems communicating with him because he could speak Bahasa Indonesia.”

Click here to read complete story at PlacidWay.com

World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress : 09 September 2008

World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress Highlights

World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress will pre-arrange meetings and connect you with top international hospitals, medical tourism companies and other professionals, Self Fnded Health Plans and Insurance Companies and assist in the development of new relationships and valuable new contracts.

• Over 40 Exhibitors and up to 1,000 attendees
• Over 50 U.S. Healthcare and Insurance Companies Interested in Outsourcing Surgeries Overseas.
• Guaranteed Networking Sessions and Meetings with Top International Hospitals, Medical Tourism Companies, US Insurance and Healthcare Companies
• Industry Players from over 30 Countries
• 500 “Buyers” invited from the United States, Canada, European Union and other countries looking at sending patients overseas
• Special Networking Sessions and one on one pre-arranged meetings

Click Here to request additional information about Medical Tourism Annual Congress in San Francisco, USA

 

This event has one sole purpose, to put Insurance Companies, Self Funded Employers, Health Insurance Agents and Healthcare Companies in one place together with International Hospitals, Medical Tourism Companies and Medical Tourism Experts for the ultimate educational learning and networking event. This event is meant for US Employers and companies to create new relationships and new contracts in the area of Medical Tourism, as well as to learn how to properly implement Medical Tourism into a US health plan with success. The Medical Tourism Association will pre-arrange meetings and connect international hospitals with executives from top US healthcare companies to assist in the development of new relationships and valuable new contracts. We will also help International Hospitals in attracting patients from the Middle East and Asia. 

This is the one event per year where US health Insurers, TPA’s, Self Funded Employers and Health Insurance Agents have the opportunity to meet the top executives from the leading international hospitals. It’s time for the US Marketplace to seriously step outside the box and look at Medical Tourism as a real solution to the rising costs of healthcare.

Medical Tourism is the Ultimate Consumer Driven Benefit Tool!

Read complete story on Medical Tourism Congress in San Francisco, USA at PlacidWay.com

 

 

 

 

A Hearty Experience

For three years, Vietnamese Mdm Nguyen Thi Sen experienced shortness of breath and frequent coughing. When her symptoms worsened a year ago, Mdm Nguyen consulted a specialist in Ho Chi Minh City who informed her of an impending heart problem.

Mdm Nguyen’s daughter, Phuong Lee, decided to send her mother overseas for treatment. She felt that her mother’s condition was worsening and prompt treatment was required. Phuong Lee’s husband suggested that Mdm Nguyen be sent to the National Heart Centre in Singapore for consultation and treatment.

Mdm Nguyen underwent a percutaneous procedure  to correct a secundum atrial septal defect, commonly known as “a hole in the heart”.

The morning following the operation, Mdm Nguyen was up and about, and able to walk and eat as normal. Phuong Lee and her mother were visibly happy and eagerly expressed their satisfaction with the operation. “Look at my mother now. She is so healthy and very happy after the operation. The price of the operation is less in Singapore as compared to one in Australia or in America. The healthcare treatments in Singapore are as good as in America. The medical equipment are top-notch and the hospital facilities are first-rate too.”

Mdm Nguyen was discharged after 14 days in the hospital and Phuong Lee took her shopping the day after, using a wheelchair.  She exclaimed, “I like Singapore.  The shopping is great.  We were out from early morning till late night yesterday.”  Phuong Lee added, “We will tell the people in Vietnam about the high standard of healthcare facilities and medical treatments in Singapore. A lot of people in Vietnam are ignorant on treatment options.”

“My mother wants to help the people in Vietnam who do not know about the types of medical treatments offered overseas.  She wants to tell them about the National Heart Centre .” Speaking in Vietnamese, Mcm Nguyen said, “I hope that people with this same problem will know about the National Heart Centre and visit Singapore for treatment.”

Read complete story at PlacidWay.com

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…