International Medical Travelers Guide to Traveling Overseas for Treatements
Friday, August 21, 2009
If you are traveling abroad for medical reasons for the first time, here are certain pointers to overcome Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
Precautions to avoid DVT
- Take short walks down the aisle on the plane.
- Exercise the muscles of your lower legs, which act as a pump for the blood in the veins.
- Wear loose fitting clothes.
- Drink enough water.Avoid alcohol & other caffeinated drinks.
- Avoid sleeping pills
- Wear graduated compression stockings if you have other risk factors for DVT
- If you have a history of DVT you may need heparin injections.
- Seek urgent medical advice if you develop swelling or pain in your calf/thigh or encounter breathing problems
You are more likely to have DVT if you have...
- A blood clot in a vein before
- A family history of blood clots in veins
- You have an inherited condition that makes your blood more likely to clot ( thrombophilia)
- You have blood diseases
- You have cancer, or have had cancer treatment
- You have circulation problems or heart failure
- You had recent surgery or an injury, especially to your hips or knees
General Tips and Instructions for Medical Travelers
- Verify your overseas travel fitness with your doctor based on your current medical condition.
- When you decide to continue your treatment abroad, keep your local doctor informed to ensure you continue your follow up treatment without a hitch.
- While selecting the international hospital that's right for your needs, you should consider the hospital's accreditation, awards and recognitions, infrastructure and equipment etc.
- Study the credentials and experience of the doctor who will treat you thoroughly
- Educate yourself on the procedure and compare your expectations with what's achievable by the surgery. Also be clear about follow-up care needed, time required for recovery, physical therapy etc.
- You should understand that in most cases the final decisions on your treatment will be made only after the doctor meets you and examines you in person. It is possible that your doctor, upon examining you, may decide that you are not fit for surgery, or may recommend a course of treatment different from what you had planned.
- You must ensure that you always carry the necessary documents with you, in person. It is recommended that you carry copies of these documents, while storing the originals in a safe place.
- Records like X-Rays, MRI's, health histories, photographs, immunization records, prescriptions and any other health records relevant to the surgery. Remember to carry all these medical reports and any medicines in your carry-on luggage.
- Passport and visa: You will need a passport for yourself and your travel companion (if any). Depending upon the country you are traveling from, you may or may not need a visa.
- Credit cards, debit cards and travelers checks: Bring some local currency, travelers checks and one or two major credit cards and debit cards.
- Carry your driver's license and make sure it will remain valid while you're traveling.
Our Cardiac Medical Breakthroughs
The Four Prong Strategy:
Nobody wanted to treat a 12 year old girl with a Congenital Cardiac defect of criss-crossed ventricles and arteries. Medication could do little if not much and a temporary fix of the valves would only buy time. The team at Wockhardt Hospitals wanted more for the girl and thus took on the challenge to give her back the normal life of a 12 year old. It took a whole year of tests and scans and 4 high risks surgeries to re-arrange the girl's heart. The girl has completely recovered and has gone back to her life of a normal 12 year old.
The Radio Maze Therapy:
Heart Specialists at Wockhardt Hospitals have found an extremely advantageous surgical procedure which will offer a permanent solution during Atrial Fibrillation - an abnormal fast beating of the heart caused by disturbed electrical discharges. The surgery uses the technique of Irrigated Radio Frequency Modified MAZE Procedure, which is performed to treat Atrial Fibrillation along with an Open heart surgery for valve replacement.
Wake Up to a New World:
A 78 year old patient walked into Wockhardt Hospitals with chest pain. An emergency angiogram indicated the urgent need for a bypass. The problem? He was a smoker and affected lungs meant that he could not tolerate general anesthesia. Plus there were other complications like diabetes and renal problems which eliminated the heart lung machines. In most other hospitals, this would have been the end of the story. But the Wockhardt Cardiac Team came up with a medical plan to perform a Minimally Invasive Coronary bypass without general anesthesia or a ventilator support, using the technique called high Epidural Analgesia. The operation lasted 45 minutes and was a success - and the patient was awake all through.
Brains Behind The Heart
A 22 year old was brought to Wockhardt Hospitals with a rare condition. He had a cancerous tumour in his heart - a condition that is normally found in the brain. In fact, it's so rare that there isn't even enough medical literature about it. But that didn't stop Wockhardt Hospitals Cardiac Team. In an epic surgery that lasted longer than 6 hours, the tumor was successfully removed and a large part of the heart was literally rebuilt.
The 900gm Miracle:
Most hospitals wouldn't operate on a baby, who was just four months old and weighed a mere 900 grams - just about the size of a palm. The baby's heart was one-inch-long and had a one - centimeter fungal mass in the right chamber, which had infected his blood.
An open heart surgery was his only chance of survival, but was risky, considering his loss of weight. Understandably it was a risk that most hospitals were unwilling to take. They wanted to wait till the baby gained more weight, which meant they needed more time - and time was something that was not available.
But the team at Wockhardt had belief - belief in their skills and a strong one that they would be able to save the baby's life. The six hour surgery was a success and the baby - the 900 gram miracle, was reborn.
Lifestyle Diseases Linked to Renal Complications
Doctors are worried over the sharp rise in the number of patients with kidney complications, which they attribute to lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension and obesity. The trend has triggered more patients landing up at nephrology departments units in several private hospitals.
Doctors perceive a paradigm shift in the cause of kidney diseases over the past few years. Earlier, only infectious diseases caused renal complications, but now, lifestyle diseases are more to be blamed for increasing Kidney Complications.
According to Arup Ratan Dutta, chief nephrologist at Wockhardt Hospital and Kidney Institute,Kolkata , several organs of the body get affected if high blood-sugar level persists for a few years. ?More than 30 per cent of the patients on dialysis are diabetic and the number is increasing fast.
Dr Arup Dutta Dutta attributes the rise in cases of kidney complications in the metro cities two principal reasons. First, the average longevity of a person has increased. Advances in medical science have lengthened the lifespan of patients suffering from hypertension and diabetes.They are living long enough to develop complications like chronic renal failure. he pointed out.
Heart Care Services at Wockhardt Hospitals,Bannerghata Road,Bangalore
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wockhardt Hospitals ,Bangalore is a center of excellence in interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Surgeries in the country, it has to its name a history of path- breaking procedures, be it the first- ever Conscious Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery and Awake Heart Surgery in India.
Wockhardt Hospital and Heart Institute,, Cunningham Road has been our first, single- specialty corporate Cardiac care Hospital. This center has performed more than 15,000 heart operations and 40,000 interventional cardiology procedures since its inception and has become a renowned tertiary level heart care center. The Institute is now a preferred destination for cardiac patients not only in India but also from all over the US, UK, Canada, Middle East and Africa. It is also a teaching center for clinicians from the sub- continent.
Heart care Services
Heart care Services
Adult Cardiology & Cardiac surgery
- Interventional Cardiology procedures
- Coronary Angiography, Angioplasty and Stenting
- Angiography & Angioplasty of arteries of neck, leg, arm and kidney
- EP Study Diagnostic and Ablation
- Permanent pacemaker (Single & Double Chamber)
- Heart failure device and AICD implantation
- Valvuloplasty
- ASD, VSD, PDA device closure
- Endovascular aneurysm repair
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery procedures
- Off pump bypass surgeries (almost all the bypass surgeries are done off pump)
- Valve surgeries
- Valve repairs
- Maize procedures for AF
- ROSS restriction and valve sparing root replacement Awake heart surgeries (on or off pump cardiac surgeries under high thoracic epidural without sensational anesthesia) Surgery for heart failure
- Left ventricle size restoration surgery
- Left ventricle artist services
- Pediatric Cardiology & Cardiac- surgery
- Endovascular aneurysm repair
- Balloon pulmonary valvotomy (BPV)
- Balloon aortic valvuloplasty
- Device closure of ASD, VSD, PDA Embolisation of MAPCA
- Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
- The entire gamut of cardiac diseases from newborn to adolescent, Dedicated operating rooms and post- operative ICUs with state-of-the-art equipment and experienced staff round the clock to provide continuous, excellent care.
- Procedures performed Closed heart surgeries like BT shunt, PDA interception, BD Glenn Shunt Simple open heart surgeries, like ASD closure and VSD closure Complex open heart surgeries, like intra cardiac repairs, Arterial switch operation, double switch operation, Rastelli operation, etc Valve repairs, replacements, ROSS procedure ECMO facility.
Wockhardt Hospitals Specialty Clinic at Koramangala,Bangalore
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
We are pleased to launch our specialty clinic at Koramangla. People living in and around Koramangala can now visit our Specialty Clinic and seek consultation with Wockhardt Hospital Doctors near your doorstep.You can seek appointments and consultations with the following doctors by sending an email to enquiries@wockhardthospitals.net
Consultation Timings 8am to 8pm
Consultation Timings 8am to 8pm
Cardiology S Venkatesh
Dermatology & Cosmetology S T Rajendra,Rasya Dixit
ENT S M Hashim
General Medicine: H S Karunesh Kumar,J Raghu
Minimal Access Surgery: Shabeer Ahmed
Obstetrics & Gynecology : Mamatha Devi,Anuradha Khar
Orthopedics: J V Srinivas
Paediatrics : Prashant Nayak,Prasanna Betala,K Satish
Spine Surgery : Kiran Rajappa
Wockhardt Hospitals Specialty Clinic
No 107 ,Artarcade
4th Floor,80 Feet Road
Koramangala
4th Block
Bangalore-34
Phone no:65364444/41461151
Urology Doctors at Wockhardt Kidney Institute
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Dr Shivaji Basu
Chief Urologist
FRCS (Edin), FRCS (London), MS (Calcutta University)
Dr Shivaji Basu brings with him 30 years of world-class experience in Urology.Dr Basu has performed over 22,000 Uro surgeries and procedures to date, he is regarded as one of the most renowned urologist of the country .He has been associated with Whipps Cross Hospital, London, Lodge Moore Hospital, Sheffield and Charing Cross Hospital, London.
Dr. Arup Ratan DuttaChief Nephrologist
MBBS, MD, DM-Nephrology
Dr Arup Ratan Dutta has an experience of over 18 years and is the Chief Nephrologist at WHKI and is also an integral part of the team that conducts Renal Transplants at WHKI.
Dr Amlan Chakraborty
Consultant Urologist
Qualification
MBBS, MS, FRCS
Dr Chakraborty is a young surgeon par excellence in the domain of Uro surgery. He is one of the few surgeons in the eastern region to have pioneered in Laparoscopic Urology
Dr Avishek Mukherjee
Consultant Urologist
Qualification
MS - AIIMS, M Ch – PGI Chandigarh
Dr Avishek Mukherjee has pioneered Penile Surgery in the eastern part of the country and is regarded as one of the eminent experts in Male Infertility.
Dr R K Gopala Krishna
Consultant Urologist
MBBS, MS, DNB-Gen.Surg., FRCS-Edinburgh,
FRCS-Glasgow, DNB-Urology
Dr Gopala Krishna is a specialist in Stone Mangement.After awarded DNB in General Surgery by National Board of Examination he moved to UK for his FRCS from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Dr. Prasanna Kumar Mishra
Consutant - Urologist
MBBS, MS, M Ch (Urology)
Dr Mishra brings with him more than a decade of experience in Uro surgeries and Procedures.
For Consultations and Appointments with our Doctors please email enquiries@wockhardthospitals.net
Urology Services at Wockhardt Hospital and Kidney Institute
The Department of Urology at the Wockhardt Hospital and Kidney Institute is a national leader in urological treatments and research. The department of Urology is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art medical and surgical care in all aspects of adult and pediatric urology.
The department of Urology provides screening, staging and the most up-to-date treatment of all uro-genital tumors including kidney, ureter, bladder and prostate. The Department of Urology has a complete range of facilities to provide comprehensive services in the management of urological conditions.
Facilties and Procedures performed at Kolkata Hospital and Kidney Institute
TURP :Transuretheral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure to deal with patients with an enlarged, benign (non cancerous) prostate, called Benign Prostate Hyperplasia or BPH.
Bladder Tumor :A bladder tumor is an excess growth of cells that line the inside of the bladder. A tumor may be either cancerous or non cancerous.
Pediatric Urology - Pediatric Urology involves the diagnosis and treatment of all urological problems encountered in children.
Uroendoscopy A device consisting of a tube and optical system for observing the inside of a hollow organ or cavity. This observation may be done through a natural body opening or a small incision.
Urooncology :Treatment of patients with cancer disease in the urinary tract including major surgery on bladder and prostate.
Prostate Disease Specialty clinic- The Wockhardt Hospital and Kidney Institute has a specialty clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate diseases.
Treatment of Incontinence :The loss of bladder control.
Treatment of Haematuria :Haematuria is the presence of red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine. The urine appears normal to the naked eye, but examination under a microscope shows a high number of RBCs. We effectively evaluate and treat all types of urinary incontinence and haematuria.
The department of Urology has nationally and internationally renowned urological surgeons and physicians, offering uniquely comprehensive range of innovative care for all urological disorders.
To schedule an appointment or consultation with our urology Specialist,please email to enquiries@wockhardthospitals.net
Outsourcing legacy upgrades knees, hips, Heart to India
Computerworld recently wrote a now familiar story by now"Outsourcing legacy upgrades -- knees, hips, looks -- to India: " about how "Rising medical cost has been helping to foster medical tourism for lower cost.International visitors, particularly from the US are traveling to Indian to get their Knee and Hip Replacements done and are going back to US by spending almost 50% of what they they would have paid in US Hospitals.
Take the case of Terry,(name changed) a public school teacher in Texas, went to India in June for cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin after a major weight loss. The cost of this surgery in the U.S. was somewhere between $25,000 and $30,000 and not covered by her insurance carrier.
Instead, Terry contacted her travel agent who connected her with BridgeHealth International inc., in Greenwood Village, Co., one of number of firms that arrange overseas medical treatment. Costa Rica or Mexico was closer, but Terry, an experienced traveler, had never been to India and so the decision was made."
U.S insurers are beginning to test programs to pay for elective medical work overseas. The incentive for patients may include elimination of deductibles and travel for a spouse, as well as paying the cost of hotel and travel.
In these insurance programs, the operative words are "non-emergency" and "cost-effective," according to Dr. Virginia Cardin, a senior healthcare consultant with Frost & Sullivan. The latter involves measuring immediate outcomes and required follow-up care that would be done in the U.S.
India's medical tourism industry may benefit in a number of ways, some direct and some indirect, from U.S. IT offshore outsourcing.
For one, the expertise that offshore firms acquire in upgrading hospital systems can be applied to Indian environments. Increasing familiarity by U.S. residents with India may help as well.
It's also possible that IT outsourcing in India and elsewhere may make some companies comfortable with the idea of offering medical tourism as an employee option.
A 2008 US survey by audit firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu found that 40% of US respondents were willing to travel abroad for treatment if the quality was comparable and savings were 50% or more. India had nearly 450,000 medical visitors last year and average medical costs were at 20% of that in the US, the report showed.
“India has good medical infrastructure and is also culturally more amenable to having guests who can be treated,” says consultant P.R. Srinivas of Deloitte. “The waiting time for patients is also far less than in some developed countries.”
However most medical tourism hospitals in India would tell you, that Outsourcing to Indian Hospitals is much more than merely costs savings. Most International medical travelers who have come to India are often pleasantly surprised by the quality of care at Leading Corporate Indian Hospitals.
Although the cost factor might be a big factor initially on deciding on the destination,but the real clincher on why India is much sought after among medical tourism destination is "about the quality of care"which an International patient experiences when they are in their hospital beds.
Its important for everyone connected to the healthcare industry to understand that in the long term, its going to be the quality of care,including the nursing staff,the doctors ,the immediacy of care, post rehab, infection control and all the support staff that are involved in care giving process to an International patient which are responsible in making the stay of an international medical traveler a much better experience.
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