Nip, Tuck and Knees in Costa Rica? Why U.S. Citizens seek Medical Care and Surgery in Costa Rica

Rosemary Arriving Home 5 Hours After Surgery!  At left at home with the best nurse in the world, Lola, who has cared for our house and family for over 9 years and  4legged nurse, Bucky

Having lived in Costa Rica for over 10 years this is not my first surgery in tropical paradise.  The first arthroscopic surgery was done over two years ago, by one of the best knee men in the business, Dr. Oscar Oeding Bermudez who works out of Clinica Biblica in San Jose, Costa Rica.    I call him the Dr. to the Stars because last week a U.S film crew was following him around as part of a documentary on why so many U.S Citizens are flocking to Costa Rica for both medical and elective surgery.   It was on 20/20! Costa Rica offers outstanding medical care at a fraction of U.S health care prices--something hopefully the next U.S president will be able to address.  It's really quite a concern when the citizens of a first world country like the United States are required to leave their borders to find quality care at affordable prices.  Today, it was time for the left knee surgery, caused by what my Dr. says is pure, dumb luck and bad knees!  I didn't tell him that when I'm conducting leadership, customer service and creativity seminars, I run around for 8 hours non-stop and even do management martial arts.  Nor the fact that my first injury was caused by watching a Billy Blanks Tae Boe Video and really embracing the concept of no pain/no gain.  When Billy  challenged me in his dog tags to push past it...I listened.  Unfortunately I pushed past my meniscus.

So Why Costa Rica and What Can you Expect from Surgery Here?

First, the Dinero!

The surgery that I had today cost me out of pocket slightly more than $500.00.  I have very reasonable and very good in-country insurance but if you were paying without coverage the cost would be $2,700.  Comparatively in the United States the same operation would be approximately $8,000 - $10,000.  This ratio holds true for most medical procedures.  Take for example, the woman from Florida who was going into surgery while I was in recovery.

She saw that special on 20/20 and was having breast implants, full lipo including a tummy tuck and a face lift.  Her costs which cover hospital stay and two weeks at a luxury recovery center will be $11,000.  She priced it in the states: $40,000.   This procedure has been a dream for her since she lost over 100 pounds and wanted things to hang in the right places.  I believe we were bed mates for a reason.  She told me that all of her family and friends could not believe she was going to a foreign country to have this done.  Her mother waiting outside pacing the halls.  I'm sure she found it comforting that her bed was next to mine.  Here's a gringa and fellow veteran of the medical war  who not only  speaks English, she is  seemingly coherent just one hour after surgery.  I also told her about the many other women I had worked with through Retreats Costa Rica that spent their first week at the Recovery Spa, and spend a few days with us, exploring the country.  Women use that extra time to attend personal growth and goal setting/health workshops, so that both mind and body are in harmony. i.e.  Having work done" also means  an inside job on your own psychology including personal goal setting and techniques to replace unhealthy habits with healthy ones.   

Let's Talk About the Quality of Patient Care in Costa Rica

Pre-Operative:  The week before my surgery, Dr. Oeding and Damarys, his able assistant were e-mailing me  over the weekend, not only checking on my discomfort from the injury but advising me of check-in procedures.  An MRI gave the Dr. a clear vision of the problem and he expedited all the paperwork that was waiting for me at the hospital.  Honestly, it felt like I was checking into a Hyatt, not a Hospital as Jonathan, My Concierge, AKA Admissions rep, had my arm band, paperwork and chart ready and within 20 minutes was taking my overnight bag and personally escorting me to pre-op.  I may coach him a tad on hospital humor.  When he saw My Dr's name he said  "Don't worrry Rosemary, you have a good doctor."  I asked him "okay, so when you look at the chart and see a bad Dr., do you tell  the patients that they've got a dog?"

Let us not forget the hospital rooms in our medical spa hospital have flat screen T.V's and Companion Beds so that you don't need to sleep alone.

Now regardless of what hospital you go to.....don't you just those hospital gowns?  Well they are breezy and hardly make a fashion statement even in Costa Rica.  (Hot Hospital Gowns to Go is my next idea for on-line marketing.)  Picture this, choice of Hot Color and Hospital Logo and while allowing for needed access by the medical staff, keeps you under wraps.  But I must say Clinica Biblica compensates with a hot blower under the blanket.  Yes, a toasty state of the art blowing machine that keeps you warm while you're under wraps is a treat to die for.

Let's talk state of the art medial care .... I have a video of the entire operation coming next week when I check in with the Dr.    In comparison to the Bad B movies I have been renting lately it will be a treat.  Makes me nostalgic for that old 60's movie where they shrunk the people and placed them in a human body.  My movie friend, Dan is here, and tells me the movie featured the Goddess, Raquel Welch and is called "The Fantastic Voyage"

Pain Management! Important!  Dr. Oeding puts a numbing agent in the knee during the surgery, so I'm in very little pain for the worst part of the recovery--the first three days.  Let us not forget that the first surgery gave me complete mobility so I have no doubt that my surgeon is a magician.

Finally, Party Time.   I have visited friends frequently in the hospital and we gringos have created our own tradition.  It's called the "Clinica Biblica Blues Party".    When someone goes in the hospital, friends and family gather with libations and tasty treats.  Somehow I'm thinking that would be against the rules in U.S. Hospitals.      I recall when new mother here had her family in right after delivery,  cracking champagne to celebrate the new birth.  It was nice to see the celebration and I've never seen in the states.

I hope this blog helps some of you who may be considering surgery in Costa Rica including "having a little work done".  It may also be soothing to those of you considering a move to Costa Rica and evaluation of health care.

Or:   If you don't need to work on body parts, you can simply  get a "Life Lift" at Retreats Costa Rica.  For Additional Information on our Personal Growth, Leadership and Executive Incentive Business meetings in Costa Rica write us at www.retreatscostarica.com   Costa Rica is only a 2.5 hour flight from Miami, 3.5 from Houston and 4.5 hours from New York.  It also qualifies a s a tax-deductible location for business expenses.

www.retreatscostarica.com

For information on Living in Costa Rica and Real Estate  www.dreamincostarica.com

For information on Rosemary's new Book with Dr. Stephen Covey and Ken Blanchard, visit www.gowildgogreat.com.  You can bring Rosemary's Go Wild! Go GREAT Safaris in Customer Service, Leadership and Creativity to your organization.

 

Rosemary Arriving Home 5 Hours After Surgery!  At left at home with the best nurse in the world, Lola, who has cared for our house and family for over 9 years and  4legged nurse, Bucky

Having lived in Costa Rica for over 10 years this is not my first surgery in tropical paradise.  The first arthroscopic surgery was done over two years ago, by one of the best knee men in the business, Dr. Oscar Oeding Bermudez who works out of Clinica Biblica in San Jose, Costa Rica.    I call him the Dr. to the Stars because last week a U.S film crew was following him around as part of a documentary on why so many U.S Citizens are flocking to Costa Rica for both medical and elective surgery.   It was on 20/20! Costa Rica offers outstanding medical care at a fraction of U.S health care prices--something hopefully the next U.S president will be able to address.  It's really quite a concern when the citizens of a first world country like the United States are required to leave their borders to find quality care at affordable prices.  Today, it was time for the left knee surgery, caused by what my Dr. says is pure, dumb luck and bad knees!  I didn't tell him that when I'm conducting leadership, customer service and creativity seminars, I run around for 8 hours non-stop and even do management martial arts.  Nor the fact that my first injury was caused by watching a Billy Blanks Tae Boe Video and really embracing the concept of no pain/no gain.  When Billy  challenged me in his dog tags to push past it...I listened.  Unfortunately I pushed past my meniscus.

So Why Costa Rica and What Can you Expect from Surgery Here?

First, the Dinero!

The surgery that I had today cost me out of pocket slightly more than $500.00.  I have very reasonable and very good in-country insurance but if you were paying without coverage the cost would be $2,700.  Comparatively in the United States the same operation would be approximately $8,000 - $10,000.  This ratio holds true for most medical procedures.  Take for example, the woman from Florida who was going into surgery while I was in recovery.

She saw that special on 20/20 and was having breast implants, full lipo including a tummy tuck and a face lift.  Her costs which cover hospital stay and two weeks at a luxury recovery center will be $11,000.  She priced it in the states: $40,000.   This procedure has been a dream for her since she lost over 100 pounds and wanted things to hang in the right places.  I believe we were bed mates for a reason.  She told me that all of her family and friends could not believe she was going to a foreign country to have this done.  Her mother waiting outside pacing the halls.  I'm sure she found it comforting that her bed was next to mine.  Here's a gringa and fellow veteran of the medical war  who not only  speaks English, she is  seemingly coherent just one hour after surgery.  I also told her about the many other women I had worked with through Retreats Costa Rica that spent their first week at the Recovery Spa, and spend a few days with us, exploring the country.  Women use that extra time to attend personal growth and goal setting/health workshops, so that both mind and body are in harmony. i.e.  Having work done" also means  an inside job on your own psychology including personal goal setting and techniques to replace unhealthy habits with healthy ones.   

Let's Talk About the Quality of Patient Care in Costa Rica

Pre-Operative:  The week before my surgery, Dr. Oeding and Damarys, his able assistant were e-mailing me  over the weekend, not only checking on my discomfort from the injury but advising me of check-in procedures.  An MRI gave the Dr. a clear vision of the problem and he expedited all the paperwork that was waiting for me at the hospital.  Honestly, it felt like I was checking into a Hyatt, not a Hospital as Jonathan, My Concierge, AKA Admissions rep, had my arm band, paperwork and chart ready and within 20 minutes was taking my overnight bag and personally escorting me to pre-op.  I may coach him a tad on hospital humor.  When he saw My Dr's name he said  "Don't worrry Rosemary, you have a good doctor."  I asked him "okay, so when you look at the chart and see a bad Dr., do you tell  the patients that they've got a dog?"

Let us not forget the hospital rooms in our medical spa hospital have flat screen T.V's and Companion Beds so that you don't need to sleep alone.

Now regardless of what hospital you go to.....don't you just those hospital gowns?  Well they are breezy and hardly make a fashion statement even in Costa Rica.  (Hot Hospital Gowns to Go is my next idea for on-line marketing.)  Picture this, choice of Hot Color and Hospital Logo and while allowing for needed access by the medical staff, keeps you under wraps.  But I must say Clinica Biblica compensates with a hot blower under the blanket.  Yes, a toasty state of the art blowing machine that keeps you warm while you're under wraps is a treat to die for.

Let's talk state of the art medial care .... I have a video of the entire operation coming next week when I check in with the Dr.    In comparison to the Bad B movies I have been renting lately it will be a treat.  Makes me nostalgic for that old 60's movie where they shrunk the people and placed them in a human body.  My movie friend, Dan is here, and tells me the movie featured the Goddess, Raquel Welch and is called "The Fantastic Voyage"

Pain Management! Important!  Dr. Oeding puts a numbing agent in the knee during the surgery, so I'm in very little pain for the worst part of the recovery--the first three days.  Let us not forget that the first surgery gave me complete mobility so I have no doubt that my surgeon is a magician.

Finally, Party Time.   I have visited friends frequently in the hospital and we gringos have created our own tradition.  It's called the "Clinica Biblica Blues Party".    When someone goes in the hospital, friends and family gather with libations and tasty treats.  Somehow I'm thinking that would be against the rules in U.S. Hospitals.      I recall when new mother here had her family in right after delivery,  cracking champagne to celebrate the new birth.  It was nice to see the celebration and I've never seen in the states.

I hope this blog helps some of you who may be considering surgery in Costa Rica including "having a little work done".  It may also be soothing to those of you considering a move to Costa Rica and evaluation of health care.

Or:   If you don't need to work on body parts, you can simply  get a "Life Lift" at Retreats Costa Rica.  For Additional Information on our Personal Growth, Leadership and Executive Incentive Business meetings in Costa Rica write us at www.retreatscostarica.com   Costa Rica is only a 2.5 hour flight from Miami, 3.5 from Houston and 4.5 hours from New York.  It also qualifies a s a tax-deductible location for business expenses.

www.retreatscostarica.com

For information on Living in Costa Rica and Real Estate  www.dreamincostarica.com

For information on Rosemary's new Book with Dr. Stephen Covey and Ken Blanchard, visit www.gowildgogreat.com.  You can bring Rosemary's Go Wild! Go GREAT Safaris in Customer Service, Leadership and Creativity to your organization.