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  Hip Replacement 


An Alternative to Exorbitant U.S. Healthcare Costs


"SURGERY ABROAD"


...save up to 80% for the exact same procedure performed at world-class medical
facilities
staffed with board certified surgeons using state-of-the-art equipment.

 
When considering a hip replacement surgery outside of the U.S., don’t go through the process alone. You should seek assistance from a professional organization that specializes in facilitating medical tourists. That’s where MedRetreat can help. You will have the opportunity to utilize our years of research and due diligence to choose a surgeon in the destination of your preference. We have established relationships with many surgeons and hospitals, in multiple destinations; so, you are able to choose from an extensive list that best suits your personal needs. By the way, you’ll be happy to know, there is no cost or obligation for our assistance.
 
 
To begin, let’s address this question…
 
 
…Is Medical Tourism For You?
 
 
With a little bit of research, we can help you to answer this question. But first, you must be completely comfortable with who we are and how we can help you.
 
Getting to know us…
 
MedRetreat is the first U.S. based medical tourism service agent facilitating the healthcare needs and travel desires of Americans. We’ll go into detail about the unprecedented service we offer in a moment, in the meantime, please consider this question: 

  
Are you affected by the exorbitant healthcare costs in the U.S.?
 
 
If so, we’ve got great news for you!
 
If you are:
  • One of the 45 million Americans without medical insurance;
  • One of the 250 million people with insurance, but, have restricted coverage due to pre-existing conditions; or
  • One of the potential 300 million Americans seeking elective cosmetic or dental surgery;
…then, you’ll be amazed at the value of traveling abroad to combine your healthcare needs and travel desires.
 
 
A quick look into the cost savings
   

  • Total Hip Replacement in the U.S. (including prosthesis) up to $45,000.00
     
  • Total Hip Replacement through MedRetreat (including prosthesis) as low as $9,000.00

As you can see, the cost savings are enormous. Let's move on.
   

Imagine traveling to these exotic locations, in complete anonymity…

Thailand
 
 
                                
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Malaysia

   







Brazil

 
 
India
 
 







Turkey
    
                             







Argentina
 
                             
South Africa
 
 
     
With a personal assistant at your side…
 
…you’ll have your procedure performed by some of the best surgeons, at world-class medical facilities, with state-of-the-art equipment.
  
Then, you’ll recuperate in a beautiful, serene setting, with peace and quite. As an added benefit, you may also choose to enjoy the interesting attractions your destination offers. You will receive all this for a fraction of the cost of the medical procedure alone in the U.S. Make this vision a reality by selecting MedRetreat as your medical tourism service agent.
 
 
You see, we’ve done all the legwork for you.
 
Through our due diligence process, we’ve traveled to these locations to carefully inspect, verify and select our business associates and their facilities. Only the best surgeons, hospitals, hotels and destination program managers have met our stringent criteria and have been chosen to participate in this program.
 
 
There are many advantages to choosing MedRetreat
as your medical tourism service agent.
 
 
Please feel free to navigate our website @ www.medretreat.com. If you would like the assistance of a MedRetreat U.S Program Manager, go to step 3 on our homepage to fill out the on line application form for a free membership. Once approved, a Program Manager will be available to help assess your needs and help you plan the entire process.
 
 
NO RISK OFFER
 
There is absolutely no charge or obligation for our assistance. We receive compensation from our overseas partners for our role in the process. In fact, your procedure will cost less by booking through MedRetreat. We have negotiated more favorable pricing due to high volume patient flow. You will not be able to receive a better price, even by going direct. So, in essence, our services are completely free to you. And, we’re confident, once you get to know us, you won’t want to go through the process in any other way. We’ll help to ensure a safe and pleasurable trip.
 
 
Please click on the following link for more information about MedRetreat and the medical tourism process. You can begin familiarizing yourself with our services by starting at step one on our homepage.
 
 


www.medretreat.com
 
  
 
If you require a little more information before visiting our website, then allow us to provide a quick peak into the medical tourism process that will be facilitated by MedRetreat.
 

The Medical Tourism Process
 
25 Steps to a Successful Medical Retreat

 
1. Visit
http://www.medretreat.com/
View our three-minute online presentation to familiarize your self with MedRetreat’s services and benefits.
(Step 1 on the homepage)
 
2. Review this step-by-step process
You are currently reading the 25-step process document that explains the medical tourism-planning format. Please familiarize yourself with the information contained within. (Step 2 on the homepage)
 
3. Complete the Online Membership Application Form
Please complete the online membership application form (Step 3 on the homepage), or, call us, Toll Free, at 1-877-876-3373, and, we’ll complete the form for you. Once accepted, you will receive unlimited, free support to our services. From the moment you contact us, we’ll begin to work for you to answer all your questions and address your concerns. You’ll receive a wealth of pertinent information that will allow you to make an informed decision about whether or not medical tourism is for you. And, if you do decide to move forward, we’ll help you every step of the way.
 
4. Introduction to your U.S. Program Manager
Once we receive your information you will be assigned a U.S. Program Manager (USPM). Your USPM will be available to assist you over the phone, fax, Instant Message, or, via email, which ever you prefer. They will answer all your questions about our services and assist you in preparing your medical retreat. At this time you will receive a privacy number to protect your anonymity in any future correspondence.
 
5. Review your medical procedure requirements
Once your USPM knows the medical procedure that you are seeking, they will begin the process of designing the available treatment options for your specific procedure. You will then receive detailed information about the hospitals and doctors.
 
6. Provide transcripts, MRI, x-rays, etc.
For many medical procedures, the doctor will need to see your transcripts, MRI’s, x-rays, photos, etc. In order to better facilitate this process we have partnered with a US digital imaging company that can duplicate and digitize your records so that we can easily transfer them to your overseas physician. To ensure your total privacy, this process is absolutely secure and in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
 
7. Receive a price quotation for the procedure(s) and accommodations
During this process, you will receive a price quotation for the procedure(s) and accommodations.
 
8. Review the price quotation, financing options and discuss potential dates to travel
At this point, we will discuss your procedure(s) and accommodations. Also, we’ll talk about any financing issues or special accommodations necessary to your specific situation. If the pricing is acceptable to you, we can then move on to the other aspects of the medical retreat.
 
9. Facilitate questions you may have for your chosen surgeon
In this segment of the process, you will be allowed to pose questions or concerns you have for your chosen surgeon. We will coordinate the communication process via email in this stage. You may have an opportunity to speak directly with your surgeon further along in the process, should you so choose. And, we will pay for the teleconference. These calls are generally made in the late evening hours because of the time difference.
 
10. Receive a price quotation for air travel, travel insurance and any special services you may require
You will be directed to speak with our specialists to develop a travel itinerary that best suits your needs.
Also, you may want to consider travel insurance for added protection.
 
11. Passport/Visa acquisition
If you do not already possess a Passport or Visa (Visa, India only), your USPM will assist you in acquiring these documents.
 
12. Complete the Medical Questionnaire & Agreement
You will complete a 3 page medical questionnaire to best inform your surgeon of your medical history. This will advise your physician of any potential risks or conditions that may be necessary to know in conjunction with your procedures(s). Also, you will sign the medical tourism agreement that documents the terms and conditions of the process.
 
13. Deposit funds into MedRetreat’s U.S. holding account
To help you feel more comfortable about the safety of your money, we have an agreement with our partners abroad to allow you to forward your medical retreat funds into our U.S. bank account and hold for release at a later date. Unlike other foreign medical tourism providers, who make you pay 100% of the cost upfront, we will hold your funds until we receive an authorization from you, once you’ve had your doctor consultation abroad. This way, if for any reason you decide not to move forward with your procedure, you will only pay for the services you’ve used.
 
14. Confirm procedure, flight, hospital, doctor, hotel, and excursion reservations
We will confirm all your reservations and submit an itinerary for your review. Please check this document carefully to understand the time line of your trip. We will also send you information very specific to your travel destination so you can be prepared to make the most of your travel experience.
 
15. Introduction to your Destination Program Manager (DPM)
When you select a destination for your medical treatment, you will be introduced to your Destination Program Manager (DPM), the person that will greet you upon your arrival at your chosen destination, and, be your personal assistant throughout your stay.
 
16. Pre-travel consultation with the Doctor
Before traveling, we will facilitate your correspondence with the doctor abroad to ensure your comfort and satisfaction with your choice. This will also be the time to ask any last minute questions or voice any tentative concerns.
 
17. Departure from your local airport
Say goodbye to your family and friends as you board your plane to begin your MedRetreat.
 
18. Arrival in destination and greeted by your DPM
Your DPM will be your personal assistant throughout your stay. He/she is fluent in English and will be there for you every step of the way. This person will accompany you to all your doctor’s appointments and medical treatments. In some cases, you will be given a cell phone upon your arrival so that you can contact your DPM at any time. It is important for you to know that we have carefully selected the DPM’s from every country. These DPM’s are professionals with extensive experience in the medical tourism business. We have traveled to all the destinations that we offer and met with our DPM’s personally, as we understand that our reputation is in their hands. 
 
19. Transport to Hotel
From the airport you will be driven to your hotel in a private car and accompanied by your DPM.
 
20. Relax and review the itinerary with your DPM
Upon arrival at the hotel, you can immediately begin relaxing, as your DPM will have already taken care of the check-in process for you. You can take a moment to begin reviewing and discussing your itinerary with your DPM.
 
21. Pre-Surgery consultation with medical team
After a day of relaxation, you will be accompanied by your DPM to the physician’s office for the pre-surgery consultation. Here, the doctor will review your medical transcripts and conduct additional tests to ensure that
you are ready for your procedure.
 
22. Surgical procedure
During the procedure, your DPM will be checking on your status. If you wish, they will also relay your progress to your family and friends back home.
 
23. Post treatment recuperation
When the doctor is satisfied with you condition, you will be released from the hospital and driven back to your hotel to begin the recuperation process. During this time you will not have to worry about anything, as your DPM will check in on you several times a day. Also the entire hotel staff will have been briefed on your condition and will be checking your comfort level from time to time.
 
24. Post treatment enjoyment
After recuperating, and the surgeon is satisfied with your progress, you will be given a list of activities for you to enjoy. Your DPM will assist you in researching and arranging the activities that you are most interested in.
 
25. Return home
Upon your arrival home, your USPM will be available to assist in any home care needs you may require.  


Now, please click on the following link for more information about MedRetreat and the medical retreat process, and, receive the personal assistance necessary to make medical tourism an alternative for you.

 
 
 
Just to be sure a hip replacement is what you are seeking, let's quickly review a hip replacement scenario.
 
 
What is a Hip Replacement?

You have developed arthritis in your hip. The surfaces of the ball-and-socket joint between your thigh bone and pelvis bone are no longer smooth. The bones surfaces are rough and the cartilage lining has worn away. As a result, your hip is painful and stiff.



Images © Copyright EMIS and PIP 2005

The Operation
 
You will have a general or spinal anesthetic. A cut about 10 inches long is made along the side of your hip and thigh. The damaged bone ends are removed. These are replaced with an artificial joint. The artificial hip consists of a ball on a stem, and a socket. The stem is fixed into your thigh bone, and the new socket into the space in your pelvis. The skin is then closed with stitches or clips. There are many different types of artificial hips. Most have a metal ball in a plastic cup. Some are held in with special bone cement, some are not. The surgeon will explain the type he or she intends to use and the reasons for this choice. The aim of the operation is to stop the pain in your hip. The range of movement in your hip may not improve very much, but the pain should go. As a result you will be able to walk further and climb stairs more easily. You should not have a new hip if you have angina (chest pains) or shortness of breath that limit your walking more than your hip pain. You should not have a hip replacement if you have a urinary infection. This may result in infection of your new hip. Your urine will be checked. If it is infected, we will give you antibiotics before your operation. The same applies to other infections. They have to be cleared before you have your operation. You should not have a hip replacement if you are a man with prostate problems. If you have poor urinary flow, it is better to have this investigated and treated before your hip is replaced.

Any Alternatives
 
If you leave things as they are, the hip problem will probably get worse. Tablets and avoiding the things that make the hip painful may be all you need. Physiotherapy will not diminish the pain. Very rarely these days, the thigh bone can just be cut across to change the pressures on your hip to relieve the pain. Usually a hip replacement is better. If the pain in your hip interferes with your life and the X-rays show that the joint is severely damaged, then you should have your hip replaced.

Before the operation
 
Stop smoking and get your weight down if you are overweight. (See Healthy Living). If you know that you have problems with your blood pressure, your heart, or your lungs, ask your family doctor to check that these are under control. Check the hospital's advice about taking the Pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT.) Check you have a relative or friend who can come with you to the hospital, take you home and look after you for the first week after the operation. Bring all your tablets and medicines with you to the hospital. On the ward, you may be checked for past illnesses and may have special tests, to make sure that you are well prepared and that you can have the operation as safely as possible.. Many hospitals now run special preadmission clinics, where you visit for an hour or two, a week or so before the operation for these checks..

After - In Hospital
 
You may have a fine plastic drainage tube coming out of the skin near the wound, connected to a container. This is to drain any residual blood from the operation. Your legs may be held apart by a special pillow. This is to prevent you from crossing your legs, which may make the new ball slip out of the new socket and dislocate your new hip. The wound may be painful. You will be given injections or tablets to control this. Ask for more if the pain gets worse. The physiotherapist will tell you how to get out of bed, rise from a chair, and teach you exercises and how to walk with walking aids. The occupational therapist will show you how to do many daily tasks, such as washing and dressing. For the first six weeks, you must be very careful not to do things that may dislocate the new hip joint.
  • Do not cross your legs, either in bed or when sitting.
  • Do not bend your hip beyond a right angle.
  • When in bed you may sit up, but you must not lean forward, for example, to reach your foot.
  • You must not bend your knee up to put on socks or shoes.
  • You must not sit on a low seat such as a toilet. You may be given a raised toilet seat if necessary to take home.
  • While in hospital, you must sleep on your back.
The wound will probably have a simple adhesive dressing over it. The nurses will pull out your wound drain 24-48 hours after your operation. This does not hurt. Your stitches or clips will be taken out about 12 days after the operation. You will be in hospital for 7 to 10 days following your operation depending on your circumstances. You may go home when you can walk safely with crutches or sticks. You will be given an appointment to visit the orthopedic outpatient department six weeks or so after your operation. Please ask the nurses about sick notes, certificates etc.

After - At Home
 
When you go home, you will be able to move around the house and manage stairs. You will not be able to go shopping for the first few weeks after you go home. Please arrange for friends or family to shop for you. Your hip will continue to improve for at least six months. At home, it is advisable to sleep on your back for six weeks. If you must sleep on your side, sleep on your operated side with a pillow between your legs. Lie on the side that has been operated upon. You will not be able to drive for six weeks after your operation. You will not be able to perform an emergency stop as quickly as normal before then. How soon you can return to work depends on your job. If you mainly sit at work, you may be able to return to work three to four weeks after your operation. This also depends on your being able to get to work. You should not do manual work after a total hip replacement.

Possible Complications
 
As with any operation under general anesthetic there is a very small risk of complications related to your heart or your lungs. If you have the operation under a spinal anesthetic, you also have a very small risk of having a blood clot or an injury to you spinal cord (the bundle of nerves that runs from your brain to the lower area of your back). Regardless of which type of anesthetic you are going to have, the tests that you will have before the operation will make sure that you can have the operation in the safest possible way and will bring the risk of such complications very close to zero.

Complications occur in about 1 out of 20 operations. Wound infection sometimes happens. You will be given antibiotics to try and prevent this. You can develop a blood clot in the veins of your calf (deep vein thrombosis -DVT). A combination of medicine (an injection of a blood thinner), special compression stockings or foot pumps will be used to try to prevent this. The thigh bone can break while the surgeons are trying to put in your artificial joint. This is rare. The exact treatment depends on the nature of the break. Dislocation can occur, especially immediately after your operation. Artificial joints last for many years. However they can become loose and painful after years of use. A further operation may then be necessary.

General Advice
 
The operation is neither very simple nor very complicated but somewhere in between. You should end up much better off after the operation. We hope these notes will help you through your operation. They are a general guide. They do not cover everything. Also, all hospitals and surgeons vary a little. If you have any queries or problems, please ask the doctors or nurses.
 
 
Hopefully, we have provided enough information for you to make an informed decision to visit our website. Please click on the following link for more information about MedRetreat and the medical retreat process, and, receive the personal assistance necessary to make medical tourism an alternative for you.
 
 
www.medretreat.com
 
 
If you still require more information, please feel free to contact us via our toll free telephone number @ 1-877-876-3373. We’ll be happy to assist you in any way necessary to help you make the decision whether or not medical tourism is for you.
 
 
Wishing you a happy and healthy day,
 
The MedRetreat Team
 
 
 
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