Will Punishing the Provinces for Utilizing Private Pay be Beneficial?

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Will Punishing the Provinces for Utilizing Private Pay be Beneficial?

In 2015, Saskatchewan started a MRI and CT Scan program which allowed for private facilities to offer them at an out of pocket cost in an effort to reduce their time waiting for one through the system.  Last week the federal government decided to not only put a stop to that but also take money back from the provinces who have allowed the private clinics to provide the pay out of pocket diagnostics.  They claim ‘pay for scans hasn’t worked in other provinces to reduce wait lists, so why would it here?’  It was deemed a failed experiment.

Health Minister Paul Merriman of SK argued that wait times haven’t gone down because there are more people living in the province than there were in 2015.  The province intends to continue providing private services despite the fact they will be penalized each time someone uses it by taking money away from the province for every dollar earned through the private sector.  As of now that amount is $740,000.

What this new rule essentially will do is close down the private clinics within a  province.  My question is how do they know that it hasn’t worked to reduce wait times?  Who is tracking this?  It seems logical that the number of people on the list will decrease as  each person who pays out of pocket is 1 less person on the list.  These private clinics are profitable enough to stay open so one could assume it helps enough Canadians and  does reduce the wait times through the system.  Has anyone looked at things like an increase in population vs how many machines and techs are available in the public system?  Have there been more machines and techs added to serve  the increase in population and/or need for a CT Scan or MRI?  Where is the research on that?  Wouldn’t the wait lists be longer if those people had no option for paying out of pocket?  Something is not adding up.

The bottom line is if there are no private facilities, and people are waiting longer, two things will happen:  1. People will find a way to get it done sooner (i.e. go to a different province or the US) or 2. Waiting may impact the severity of their condition, thus calling for more care down the road.  The expense of an MRI vs expense of a more complex surgery that the public system will now have to bear will increase.

Why A Medical Facilitator for Private Surgery

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Why A Medical Facilitator for Private Surgery

We had an email inquiry last month asking for information regarding a private hip replacement.  We provided her with costs, including our transparent service fee, approximate wait time and locations as an initial start.  She responded by saying she had already contacted the facilities we work with and it took her all of 15 minutes to do so.  She proceeded to tell us that she didn’t need the services of a fraudulent company. 

For starters, we are not a fraudulent company.  We are a small business owned by two women who met at the carpool pick for our young kids.  We have been in business since 2016 helping many Canadians on the long wait list to access private options in a safe and timely manner.  Our company began out of a true desire to help Canadians navigate arranging a private medical service.   We had both experienced challenges within the system ourselves.  We both felt like it was a complicated, difficult, and down right challenging process.  Having some experience with US health care, we wanted to provide the guidance and knowledge on how to do it in a safe and effective manner.

Health Vantis is a medical concierge service.  I can assure you we spend more than 15 minutes on your case.  We dedicate many hours of our time to provide a seamless and thorough process to make sure your surgery is:  1) done in a safe manner and 2) a successful process.  We manage your case from start to finish and continue to follow up with you and the surgeon well after you are home recovering.  

Paying for private care can be incredibly expensive.  It is not always a simple process.  There are many things you may be unaware of or the extent of how much planning is needed to travel for surgery.  The last thing you want is to invest your time and money into something not being fully aware what is required of you or showing up to the surgeon’s office unprepared.  Paying a little extra to have someone who knows and understands the process to walk you through everything is worth the additional investment and will save you time in the long run.

Contact us to discuss how we can help you.  

Health Vantis

www.healthvantis.ca

877-344-3544

info@healthvantis.com  

You Can Get Private GYN Surgery When The System Has Failed You

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You Can Get Private GYN Surgery When The System Has Failed You

One of the most common calls we get are from women regarding GYN issues.  This is one area where the system fails women over and over again, especially for GYN oncology.  Women have been underserved and failed for many years in every province.

Currently, British Columbia only has 8 GYN oncologists for the entire province.  That is 1 doctor for every 637,000 people!  Vancouver Island has a population of 865,000, and a population growth of about 1% each year, however, has only had 2 for the past 10 years.  Ontario has 1 for every 350,000 and Saskatchewan only has 7 for a population of 1.2MM people.  For BC to come close to the number ON has, they would need to almost double the number they have and that will still make women very underserved. It is no wonder the wait lists are as long as they are.

If you are waiting for a GYN surgery and would like to explore your options, watch our short video on how easy it can be to get private GYN surgery as Health Vantis as your guide here: 

 

Health Vantis

www.healthvantis.ca

877-344-3544

info@healthvantis.com  

Private Surgery or Waiting: Canada Medical Wait Times 2022

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According to Fraser Institute, 2022 was worse than 2021 for medical wait times. Compared to 2021, the medical wait times in Canada increased by 1.8 weeks. The total waiting time between referral from a general practitioner and delivery of medically necessary elective treatment by a specialist averaged across all 12 specialties and 10 provinces surveyed, has risen from 25.6 weeks in 2021 to 27.4 in 2022. As a reminder in the year 1993, it was just 9.3 weeks.

Ontario reports the shortest total wait in 2022 (20.3 weeks), followed by British Columbia (25.8 weeks) and Quebec (29.4 weeks). Prince Edward Island has the longest total wait at 64.7 weeks, followed by Nova Scotia (58.2 weeks) and New Brunswick (43.3 weeks).

So even if you are in Ontario, you could be facing a 5-month wait time. However, if you are in Atlantic Canada, your medical delays can be close to over a year. The full report by the Fraser institute can be found here.

It is understandable that many Canadians do not wish to wait and look for private options for surgeries or specialty consultations. Health Vantis can help by connecting you to a safe and affordable private medical facility and providing you with white glove medical concierge service, making all the logistical arrangements for you.

Private medical facilities we work with have virtually no wait times. In most cases, we can get someone to surgery in 3-4 weeks from the date we receive their medical records. If you are wondering about your private medical options, please reach out to us to discuss, email info@healthvantis.com or toll-free 877-344 3544

Private Surgery Pre-Op Testing

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One of the steps to get ready for private surgery is pre-op testing. Most of it can be done locally, at no cost to you as provincial health plans cover these tests. However, you will need to see your family doctor and ask for requisitions to get the testing done.

Below are the most common tests and forms that are required. Each case is different, however, and there may be something that is needed specifically for your case. Health Vantis will inform you well in advance of all the required pre-op.

Bloodwork

The most common blood work that is asked for includes CBC, sodium, potassium, creatinine, blood glucose, and sometimes INR. You can ask your family doctor for a requisition and get it done locally at a lab. The wait times should not be long and in some provinces, you can schedule blood work appointments online within just a couple of days.  The results can be sent directly to us or to the private surgical facility.

ECG/EKG or Cardiology Clearance

If you have no heart issues, such as previous cardiological surgeries, heart disease, or/and high blood pressure, usually ECG is sufficient. The requisition also should be obtained from your family doctor, at the same time as your blood work.

Sometimes a cardiology clearance is required. If you are able to see your local cardiologist to obtain it, that is the least expensive path. Some of the facilities we work with can suggest a local cardiologist that can schedule a consult on short notice to accommodate your surgery date. The cost varies per doctor and location and will be communicated to you by Health Vantis upfront.

Physical Exam from Your Family Doctor

A physical form is also required in most cases. It contains general questions about your past and present health history. Health Vantis will provide it to you to give to your family doctor to fill out. Your family doctor can either fax or email it to us, or fax it directly to the private surgical facility.

If you are considering private surgery and have any questions, we are here to help! Reach out to us by toll-free at 877 344 3544 or email info@helathvantis.com

Private Surgery in the US or Canada – Post Op Care

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Who will take care of me when I am back home? This is a question we often get asked when we discuss traveling for surgery with our potential clients.

Traveling for medical treatment can be overwhelming. Not only is there the actual research, calling, follow-ups, and travel planning, but there is also a worry about what happens when you get back home. Sometimes stitches need to be removed. What about following up further?

All these worries should be discussed with your medical facilitator, as they are very experienced with these types of situations and plan ahead. Below we provide the answers to the most common follow-up care when you are back home in Canada.

What if there is a complication?

Complications can happen after any surgery as any surgery carries certain risks with it. Usually during the initial consultation surgeons discuss possible complications and their rate of occurrence. If you are traveling to the US, we advise you to look into medical complications insurance. If it is in Canada, you will be covered by your provincial health plan.

If a complication occurs once you are back home, we advise that you go to the emergency room or see your family doctor. This is very rare as most complications occur within 24 to 48 hours of surgery and during this period of time you would still be at the location of your surgery and will be able to contact the facility or surgeon who performed your treatment for their help

Who will be removing my stitches when I get home?

On very few occasions there is a need to remove the stitches. Most of the facilities we work with use dissolvable stitches and there is no need to remove them. However, we advise our clients to inform their family doctor or nurse practitioner about their medical travel and ask them if they would be able to do this upon their return. We understand that such conversations can be difficult to have, but honestly, we are yet to hear about a family doctor who has not been receptive to surgery someplace else in order to get timely help. Family doctors know how long it takes and most are very receptive to such conversations. In addition, they provide insight and another opinion about the surgery, so it is always a good idea to keep your family doctor in the conversation.

Who would follow up with me post-op?

After the surgery, you will go back to a hotel to recover. Before you can travel back home, there is usually a follow-up in about 3 days post-op to clear you to fly or drive home. Depending on the type of surgery, sometimes there is a follow-up in two weeks post surgery and takes place virtually. Some of the facilities we work with in the US offer follow-up until it is no longer needed.

If you are curious about private surgery and would like to get more information about it, please contact us by toll-free 877 344 3544 or email info@healthvantis.com and we would be happy to answer your questions.

 

Our Customers Say Health Vantis is ‘Extremely Responsive’. The Health Care System? Not so Much.

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Our Customers Say Health Vantis is ‘Extremely Responsive’. The Health Care System? Not so Much.

When we take a case on, we treat our clients as if they are one of our friends or family.  We understand the delays and pain they have been in, because we’ve also experienced them at one point or another ourselves.  Providing them with the support they need is one of our greatest strengths as a business.  When they have a question or concern, we handle it immediately and get them the answers they need quickly and efficiently.  We are proud of the dedication and service we provide our clients, because we know that when dealing with the Canadian health care system, the experience is much different.

Once a client has completed their medical journey to a better quality of life and they are back home recuperated, we follow up to have them complete a survey about their experience with us as well as the facility they had their surgery.  One of number one comments we get from our clients is that we are ‘extremely responsive’.  We try our best to be fully attentive knowing that they most likely haven’t experienced that with the health care system.  Unfortunately, people get lost in the shuffle of the long wait times, budget limitations and over worked health care professionals.  It is our main priority to make sure that does not happen.  They are after-all, paying for something the health care system should be covering and in essence, paying twice for.

If you have been forgotten about with the health care system, contact Health Vantis to assist you with a private surgery.  You will be our priority and we will be committed to you until you are back to a healthy self.

Health Vantis

www.healthvantis.ca

877-344-3544

info@healthvantis.com

Continued Care From the Facilities We Work With

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Continued Care From the Facilities We Work With

Back in November of 2020, a client of ours, Teresa Hannah, had a hip replacement surgery in the US.  We have spotlighted her in our newsletter due to the wonderful experience she had. 

If you recall, she stated, ‘I could have purchased a new car or a new hip’.  To this day, she still stands by this statement.  Just this week we heard from her again.  Back in September of 2021, she began experiencing some challenges with her new hip.  She reached back out to the facility we referred her to and they immediately addressed her concerns.

An x-ray was done and reviewed by the surgeon that did her surgery.  After confirming everything structurally was in good order, he re-connected her with the physiotherapist that worked with her right after the surgery.  She provided her with some new exercises via zoom including some follow zoom calls at no charge.  Her message to us was thanking the surgeons office, his staff and Health Vantis.  The new exercises made a huge difference.  She was able to enjoy a fabulous week in Acadia National Park in Maine with her husband hiking miles of trails.  This is something they love to do together and her biggest goal to achieve after the initial surgery.

The facilities we work with care about their patients and are always willing to assist if anything ever arises.  Even though Teresa’s issues developed 10 months post surgery, they were still right there to assist her.  The dedication and commitment to care is stellar because the main goal is the same for everyone, that they get their life back to normal.  Health Vantis focuses on providing a great experience with attention to being responsive to our client’s needs.  Our facilities have the exact same purpose. 

If you are considering private surgery, contact Health Vantis to assist in finding the right facility that will ensure you and your care are their main priority.

Health Vantis

www.healthvantis.ca

info@healthvantis.com

877-344-3544

Private Surgery in Canada or the USA – What Our Customers Say

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Health Vantis helps Canadians arrange their private surgeries in the USA or Canada. When clients contact us, we know they have tried every way possible to get their medical issues resolved locally. They contact us to get help in a timely and professional manner. Below there are some customer testimonials that we received in the past.

“I could have gotten a new car or a new hip. My new hip is 100 times more precious to me than a new car. That said, it is deeply disappointing to me that the Canadian health system has allowed joint replacements to be so low on the totem pole, especially for relatively young and active people who could get back to productive work and more enjoyable and productive lives, in general, more quickly if the waitlist was shorter.”

“I was very pleased with how quickly you began researching and organizing everything for us once we contacted you. Every question or concern either my husband or I had throughout the planning and trip, Health Vantis was there to research and answer for us.”

“I just wanted to let you know and to also thank you for helping me when no one else would. I won’t forget your assistance and know where to go or send others, should the need arise.  Thank you again.”

If you would like to learn more about private surgery without delays, please email us at info@healthvantis.com or call us toll-free 877 344 344.

Can I Get a Private Surgery Faster?

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The short answer to this question is yes. Medical waits in the public system come close to 2 years for some joint replacement surgeries and other elective surgeries. We can help get you to private surgery anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months. Below are some of the components of medical travel with explanations of how they work and why they are important.

Medical records

Clients that already have their medical records will have a time advantage. If not, we can help get them, but in most provinces, it can take up to 30 days to receive. As well, for those that have their diagnostic tests done, it will be a little bit faster, because doctors we work with can review them and provide their recommendations over a virtual or phone consultation.

Travel Companion

All facilities we work with require a travel companion. Most of the surgeries we arrange are day surgeries and do not require an overnight hospital stay.  You will be under anesthesia during your surgery. Thus, you will not be able to drive for 24h post-surgery.

Therefore, when you are released, you are typically groggy, on pain medication, can have cognitive confusion and are not always able to move quickly during those first 24 hours. A responsible adult will need to pick you up and care for you after surgery.

Additionally, the first 24-48 hours after surgery are crucial to spot any complications and someone will need to keep a close eye on you an

Vaccination Status

Currently to travel to the US all travelers by air have to be fully vaccinated. Medical facilities in the US do not require full vaccination to do a surgery. They will do a COVID screening prior to surgery.

If your private surgery is to take place in Canada, and you are not fully vaccinated (2 shots) some facilities will require a negative PCR test done 24-72 hours prior to surgery. Vaccination requirements do change and Health Vantis keeps a close eye on all the changes so we can inform our clients of the current situation.

If you would like to learn more about private surgery without delays, please email us at info@healthvantis.com or call us toll-free 877 344 344