Private MRI in Canada

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Diagnostic test such as an MRI is done to help the doctor see what may be happening in your body. It helps diagnose or investigate conditions that affect soft tissue, such as muscles, ligaments, and others. It can be used to diagnose spinal cord disorders, brain tumors, stroke, muscle or ligament tears, and many other medical conditions.

Even though the suspected reasons for an MRI referral can be many, including some that are scarier than others, the wait times can be long. Canadians can wait months if not years for a non-urgent MRI. Needless to say, it can be unsettling and frustrating to many people who have not even been told when their turn for an MRI is. They are just waiting in hopes that it will be soon.

Luckily, there are a few private facilities in Canada that offer a private MRI. All they need is a referral from your doctor and they will be able to fit you in much sooner than the public system. In some provinces it can happen as early as the next day and in some within a couple of weeks.

How would you go about finding these facilities? We made a comprehensive list right here. The list includes the facility name, location, contact info, cost range, and other details. It can be purchased here for a very low price of $19.99 plus tax. Instead of spending your precious time googling and calling, our file gives you all the important info you will need to call the facility and schedule your private MRI.

Is Private Lumbar Disc Replacement Available in Canada?

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Is Private Lumbar Disc Replacement Available in Canada?

Artificial disc replacement is a treatment therapy used when all other traditional therapies have failed and only after extensive testing is completed.  The testing would include a discogram, which is aided by x-ray technology.  This test can determine whether the patient’s pain is directly caused by a degenerative disc.

Degenerative disc disease means the disc between the vertebrae has worn down or lost some or all of its cushioning.  The discs act as shock absorbers and when there is little to no cushion, it creates pain.  Artificial disc replacement surgery replaces the bad disc in hopes of better mobility and pain relief by restoring the disc to its original height.  This provides less risk for the adjoining discs to degenerate as seen in spinal fusions.  Lumbar disc replacement can only be done on 2 of the discs, the last two which are L4-5 or L5-S1.  It is also reserved for those patients with discogenic pain, ie. a form of low back pain caused by chemically or mechanically damaged intervertebral discs.

Finding a private spine surgeon in Canada is very tricky because there are really only a couple of neurosurgeons practicing on a private basis.  Private lumbar disc replacement is very specialized and requires an experienced neurosurgeon who has had extensive training doing them.  Currently, we do not know of anyone doing these on a private basis in Canada so going to the US would be the next likely option.  Because it is so specialized and the patient needs to meet very specific criteria, there are not as many neurosurgeons doing lumbar disc replacement as there are cervical disc replacement.

If you have been told you are a candidate for private lumbar disc replacement, contact us and we can facilitate this surgery for you with an experienced neurosurgeon.  We can be reached at 877-344-3544 or info@healthvantis.com.

GYN Wait times in the Maritimes

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GYN Wait times in the Maritimes

Most Canadians have experienced wait times within the health care system.  It is something they have had to accept as part of their health insurance.  Wait times have grown by 195% since 1993 when the average wait was only 9.3 weeks.  Today, the median wait time across all specialties is 27.4 weeks.  That is a tad over half a year.  In Novas Scotia, the median wait time is 58.2 weeks, which is more than a year.  GYN wait times are far greater, coming in at 110.7 weeks!  That is almost 2 years!

In some of the other Maritimes provinces, the wait is much greater.  For example, PEI has a wait list of 104 weeks to see a GYN specialist and then an additional 26 weeks for treatment.  That is approaching 3 years wait time, which is outrageous and unacceptable.  *It is important to note that if there is any kind of GYN cancer involved, the treatments are fast tracked.

Women in need of a GYN surgery, such as a hysterectomy, have significant, life impacting symptoms. Some of those include heavy periods, pelvic pain, prolapse of the uterus and/or cancer of the ovaries, womb or cervix.  The wait time to just see a specialist in Nova Scotia to treat these symptoms is 52 weeks.  Imagine bleeding continuously or having major pelvic pain for a year with no relief.  This can create other issues such as anemia, which in turn can cause weakness, tiredness, shortness of breath or irregular heartbeat.  It makes it incredibly hard for a female in distress like this to function in a normal manner with regards to family life and career.

What can be done to address this?  Unfortunately, not much unless you are willing to take things into your own hands.  The problem?  There are no private GYN’s in Canada.  This is one of those specialties that does not offer an option to pay out of pocket.  What can be done is to contact a medical facilitator, such as Health Vantis, who is connected to private GYN surgeons in the US that can help.  They can get you a consultation within a week or 2 and surgery within 2 weeks after the consultation in most cases.  Pricing is fair and affordable.

If you have been experiencing a long wait for a hysterectomy or other GYN surgery, contact us to find out your private options at info@healthvantis.com or 877-344-3544.

 

Health Vantis

www.healthvantis.ca

877-344-3544

info@healthvantis.com

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