A Medical Tourist in Panama
(thepanamareport.com) Although a resident of Panama for the past five years, I like to approach my experiences within Panama's private medical system as a tourist. Why? It is a hell of a lot more fun interacting with doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies in the mindset of a vacationing tourist rather than that of a patient. I look at my orthopedic surgeon as my tour guide who is going take me to a five star resort (hospital) and introduce me to his favorite anesthesiologist (bar tender) who is going to serve me a variety of delightful tropical cocktails (pain killers) to help me relax on my vacation.
My luxurious suite comes with 24 room service (nurses) complete with multiple visits by the local masseuse (physical therapist) all for one special off season package of $4,000 (wow) of which I get an 80% discount (local insurance company) for having booked early (pre-approval). Now wasn't that more fun than your last visit to the hospital.
Mine and my family's experience with the local private medical care system has mostly been a positive one. I, fortunately and unfortunately, am well qualified to make an assessment. My wife and I have both had surgery in Panama, her a hernia and me an achilles tendon operation, our son was born here along with all of the accompanying pre and postnatal care, and I have been on three tours of physical therapy - a knee, a shoulder, and currently my achilles tendon.
Coming from the USA, there are some marked differences between private medical care in the USA and Panama. Difference number one - the lack of sticker shock. My entire operation cost will total about $4,000 and that includes pre and post doctor visits, my initial MRI, two surgeons, an anesthesiologist, hospital surgery charges, overnight stay in the hospital, a urologist, drugs, and physical therapy. Considering my insurance will cover about 80% of the costs, I would say it was a down right bargain compared to the same procedure in the United States. This didn't impress my wife as much coming from the high quality hybrid socialized / private medical system of Austria, but that's another story. As an American, I wonder what I am paying for in the USA - some CEO's executive compensation package in a managed health care corporation?
Difference number two - the amount of personal attention you will receive from your doctor. I talked to my orthopedic surgeon before my operation in the hospital - in the elevator, in the prep room, and in the operation room before they put me under. We had quality time together, enough for him to determine I was going to be a lousy patient in the hospital as I was a borderline anxiety freak. After the operation he came to my room twice to check on me. The next morning, he checked on me again and he personally prepped and wrapped my cast. He mentioned that if in a major city in the US, he wouldn't be able to give this kind of personal medical care. When he was training in the US and on an orthopedic rotation, he could see up to 40 or more patients a day in the hospital, in Panama it wouldn't exceed 10 allowing him to give better service and more attention to his patients.
Difference number three - recovery. With physical therapy comes the imagery of hard work and pain, this doesn't go away in Panama. However, it comes with a level of pampering unlike that of some of the world's finer spas. Well staffed and professional, the clinic that I chose was the perfect ending to my medical vacation.
Difference number four - due to the other differences, you can actually enjoy it and join those of us who have discovered this wonderful fantasy escape known as a medical vacation.
