Best Hospitals in Panama

By Ilene Little on Saturday, January 28, 2012

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Hospital Punta Pacifica in Panama Central America

Hospital Punta Pacifica – Centro Medico Paitilla – Clinica Hospital San Fernando -

Great Reasons Why You Should Visit Panama, Central America, for Your Health

Close proximity to the USA, US dollar economy, great hotels and resorts, and exceptional doctors are key factors for considering medical surgery in Panama.

Panama is a tropical paradise with more beaches that we can count, or name.  It has off-shore islands, great spas, jungle resorts, the Panama Canal, mountains and super nice people who welcome any visitor.  In addition to its eco-friendly designation, Panama offers value shopping, great food, exceptional medical and dental professionals and a keen desire to help you spend your money.

Another great benefit is its very reasonably priced real estate market, and the inclusion of the American money system which makes for a robust economy.

You will feel right at home, because there are many friendly English speakers within this country.

But, of all the enticing reasons to visit Panama, the greatest benefit is the profound health care sector that includes many well-educated physicians and modern hospitals!

The Top Medical Facilities in Panama

This dreamy country is a wealth of information, booming with technology and specially trained medical doctors to meet your needs, no matter what they are.

The medical sector of Panama is actually led by four flagship hospital facilities:

• Clinica Hospital San Fernando (affiliated with Jackson Memorial Hospital) is a private hospital established in 1947.
• Centro Medico Paitilla, (a.k.a Pie-tiya Medical Center affiliated with Cleveland Clinic) was established in 1970,
• Hospital Punta Pacifica,(affiliated with Johns Hopkins Hospital) was established in 2005, and offers the amenities of an ultra-boutique hospital.
• Hospital Santo Tomas (Largest Trauma Center in Central America)

Most beneficial of all, however, are the large numbers of English speaking physicians who have actually studied abroad, obtaining only the best medical knowledge, and have since made Panama their home.

Hospital Punta Pacifica (Affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International) is managed by an American CEO that is an employee of Johns Hopkins Hospital International.

The hospital has a large group of well-trained physicians and is a center of excellence for minimally invasive cardiac surgery, general surgery, neuro-surgery, urology procedures, reproductive OB (fertility treatment) and ophthalmology.

It also has an exceptional outpatient rehabilitation program and reputable allergy and immunology experts.

Clinica Hospital San Fernando is a family-owned hospital. As Panama’s first private hospital (est. 1947), it has a great tradition of excellence and commitment to compassionate care.

This hospital is well known for its state of the art inpatient pharmacy, as well as for its diagnostic imaging, orthopedic, vascular surgery, general surgery and critical care programs.

Centro Medico Paitilla (a.k.a Pie-tiya Medical Center affiliated with Cleveland Clinic) is an excellent quality, very busy, general hospital in the heart of Panama City.  CMP is a top choice hospital for tertiary care.

They have excellent diagnostic imaging, good cancer treatment program (radiation, general surgery and chemo) and solid cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, ENT and internal medicine programs.

You may be questioning how foreign health care and travelling abroad works?

Top Procedures and General Prices in Panama

At all three leading hospitals, you can expect prices of procedures to be upwards of 70% lower than the same quality procedures in the States.  Consider a vacation that combines a comprehensive physical exam, cardiac evaluation, or dental procedures.

Pricing is secondary to quality outcomes, however, which is where Panama scores very high in value, as we stress in our book “How to Plan a Successful Medical Tourism Trip”. Panama’s proximity to the U.S. is another plus, as travel distance is a factor emphasized in our index of treatment destination choices.

The wide range of medical expertise available in Panama is sure to meet your needs.  You can trust that all your health and safety needs will be meet with exceeding quality at these leading hospitals.

The Top Doctors in Panama

The medically trained physicians available to you to help you obtain your health goals will meet you with an open mind and will be ready to listen so that they can tend to your health needs

Read “Best Doctors in Panama”.

It all boils down to quality care, and Panama is a safe medical destination.International Triage, a medical tourism company recommended by Traveling4Health and Escape Artist, is positioned as a friendly gate keeper to the best doctors and hospitals.

Shai Gold, CEO of International Triage, has managed some 3,000 cases and $150 million dollars in international medical services, and is the former founding Vice President of the International Medical Services Department at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fl.

Through a collaborative partnership with the Bern Hotel Group, patients of International Triage and their families can choose from a wide variety of leading international hotel brands, or rent a condo with maid service on a long term basis, to provide you and your family only the best quality care.

How to Schedule Your Trip with International Triage

To get information about scheduling a procedure, contact International Triage to initiate a phone call and consultation for free.  For your own peace of mind, get the advice you need before you go:  Ask about a 2^nd medical opinion, or get helping planning your medical tourism trip.

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A U.S. Dentist Uses Paper Clips in Root Canals

By Ilene Little on Tuesday, January 24, 2012

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Paper clips being used by a U.S. dentist in root canals? We're not kidding!

Dental Care –Dentist Reviews –Rate a Dentist

Michael Clair, a former dentist in Massachusetts, has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud for using paper clips instead of stainless steel posts in root canals.  Source:  1/24/12 Associated Press

Since the emphasis in news story seems to be focused on the “Medicare Fraud” aspect, I want to focus, here, on the patient.

Seriously, folks, this is a rude “wake-up” call that you can’t assume your local dentist is ethical or any good at what they do.

Since I’m in the business of educating people on what a highly-skilled and ethical dentist is and does – and promoting only those dentists recommended by our members, I’ll share one article here:  ”Can your dentist pass the litmus test?”

I also suggest you read the reviews other patients have posted on Traveling 4 Health & Retirement, where only patient-generated reviews are allowed, i.e., no 3^rd party advertising.  No medical provider can “pay” to play here.  The review process is free to patients and only patients can post reviews.

This patient-generated review process is a new feature of our website.  We created the page so that people can read standardized reports on dental and medical service providers.  How this differs from reading patient testimonials on a dentist’s website, is that we facilitate unfiltered conversations between you and the patient who posted the testimony.

In other words, you can contact the patients and talk to them without having to contact the dentist or doctor.  This facilitates passive research that avoids the problem of being influenced by a sales-person.

What we’re finding is an eye-opener, folks . . . .  We are amazed at how many medical and dental professionals cannot, or will not, request their patients to post a review that the doctors cannot control.  Instead, they opt to “pick & choose” what a patient says and post on their own websites only what they can control.

The good news is that 1) the best doctors and dentists will participate, as they welcome the opportunity to distinguish themselves through unbiased patient-reviews, and 2) the unethical doctors and dentists will be exposed.

Our provider review feature is for you, folks.  We are the only place on the web where you can talk to other patients as if you were sitting next to them in the doctor’s waiting room.

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We are open to suggestions on how to make the review results more meaningful to patients searching for information.  We welcome your feedback at Ilene@traveling4health.com.  Here is where you, as the patient, can post a review of a dentist.

Tip: If you are researching a good dentist whose name does not appear on the reviewed list, then make that a condition of your becoming their patient and suggest that they submit a request to be reviewed by their own patients.

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New York Hospital Makes “Big Mistaka”

By Ilene Little on Wednesday, January 18, 2012

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New York Hospital Makes “Big Mistaka” (file / credit: Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center)

Patient Care in the Bronx – Hospital Report New York City

To borrow a phrase from the Jimmy Buffet song, “Jamaica Mistaka”, a hospital in New York made a “big Mistaka” resulting in patients getting billed for tens of millions of dollars for medical services.  (source:  http://nydn.us/AjolYU).

Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center is a general medical and surgical hospital in Bronx, NY, reported by USNews.com to be one of the best hospitals in the U.S.

The company that does the billing for the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital erroneously put the invoice number in the space where the invoice amount should go. So the billing company is to blame, but the buck stops at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital.

I’m sure this is all an embarrassment to the hospital; but can you imagine the shock of one patient who received a bill saying he owed $44.8 million dollars? (more…)

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IVF Vacations in South Africa? Buyer Beware!

By Ilene Little on Monday, January 16, 2012

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Risks associated with IVF Vacations in South Africa

IVF Vacation in Africa – In vitro fertilization – Medical Tourism Report on IVF

A press release announcing a new IVF Vacation Center in South Africa is marketing South Africa as “A New Option For Infertile Couples and Singles Looking To Save Money In Beautiful Vacation Destinations.”  (Source:  Retrieved from http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=151385 )

The challenge is, press releases aren’t designed to give you both sides of the story; the risks, as well as the cost-advantages, even supposing the medical services are indeed excellent.

So, I’m here to give you a heads’ up; not to discourage you, but just so you can make an informed decision about where to go. (more…)

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