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Patient Vacation Patient Vacation, LLC was formed when the theoretical crashed, literally, into the practical.
In 2005, I decided to go to Bangkok and get a complete physical. I went on the web and found an ultra-modern hospital, Bumrungrad, and scheduled my exam there. In January of 2006, I walked into what appeared to be a five star hotel. Yes, this was a hospital but it was welcoming and servicing the needs of the patient was apparently of prime importance. The physical exam was thorough, professional, and efficient. My initial blood test raised a question, and so I was immediately and personally escorted to the hematology clinic for a consultation with a specialist. After clearly explaining my results and what they could indicate, he recommended that I undergo a series of tests. He took time to answer my questions and, within another hour, the tests were done and I was out of the hospital. Two days later, I had another consultation with the doctor, and luckily, nothing was serious. The price for all this was about 70-80% less than what it would have been in the US, except that in Bangkok time spent with the doctor was unrushed and I was treated by all with respect and courtesy.
I then headed to the island of Ko Tau in the Gulf of Thailand for two weeks in a bungalow by the lapping azure sea. I had rented a small motorcycle (scooter), and that changed my trip and my life. I had an accident, broke my right clavicle in three pieces and tore all my shoulder ligaments. Ko Tao is about 5 miles long with a clinic and no doctor. Thus, I painfully made my way back to Bangkok and ended up on the operating table in Bumrungrad Hospital. The theoretical was now a practical emergency. Dr. Winyou Ratanachai patched me up utilizing a new technique to remedy the difficult break. The results, in my eyes, have been nothing short of miraculous. I had 100% motion and almost total strength back in well under a year. The hospital room, the treatment by the nursing staff, the care taken, and the entire facility exceeded my expectations. The price was about 75% less than a similar operation and hospital stay in the US. If the proof is in the pudding, look no further.
Most of my life I have worked in the construction field which has enabled me to take a break from the long winters of Ithaca, NY. Beginning in 1976, with a six month overland journey from Ithaca to La Paz, Bolivia, I have traveled extensively throughout the third world. First concentrating on the South American continent, I spent two to three months each in Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. After exploring Central America and Mexico over multiple trips, I ventured to the other side of the globe. Since 1986, I have spent extended lengths of time in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Denmark, Morocco, Egypt, the Philippines, Cambodia, Australia, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Jordan, France and Kenya.
In 1998 I was abruptly dropped by my health insurance carrier after paying obediently year after year and never making a claim. Money down the drain and left out in the cold, I had my fill of the American medical/insurance/pharmaceutical rip-off. Believing that this group cares as little for my health as MacDonald's cares about my nutrition, I decided to look for alternatives-to take my healthcare and well being into my own hands.
Over the years on the road, I had the opportunity to discuss and experience how different cultures and nations treated health and medical issues. Just as importantly, I had seen how friends and others with inadequate insurance or Medicaid or no insurance had been mistreated in the United States. The stories and anecdotes were sobering, and, in some cases, there was a lack of judgment, care or medical competence. Thus, my decision became obvious. Thailand had been my destination on four of my last ten journeys. The reasons were many ranging from the gracious Thai people, the varied geography encompassing breathtaking islands, the northern mountains and hill tribes, the verdant northeast; the calming Theravada Buddhist culture and its inspiring and whimsical wats, chedis, and temple grounds, and the modern vibrant city of Bangkok. All I can say about the food is that it is the greatest movable feast I have ever experienced. From noodle soup stalls, to take out stands offering curries and stews and satays, to prawns as large as lobster tails, to outrageous fresh fruits and shakes, nothing prepares you for the overwhelming smells and tastes found on the streets of Bangkok and throughout all of Thailand.
I have been back to Thailand to gather more information on the medical, dental, and varied therapies and spas found there. Patient Vacation, wants to help you to take your health and well being into your own hands. Why not get the best quality care that is offered and at affordable prices? Recover on a tropical island or in the mountains. Patient Vacation will consult and advise to better inform you on how to do this on an individual basis. We will give you the tools to take care of your health and get preventative tests and consultations to insure your well being. We will aid you in implementing your plan, helping you schedule your time while in Thailand to achieve your medical goals and maximize your vacation experience.
We will meet you at the airport in Bangkok and accompany you to a hotel recommended by us or one you have chosen. We will take a walk together to acquaint you with Bangkok and traveling in Thailand. If you desire, we will accompany you to your first consultation. And we will be by your bed when you get out of surgery (if you elect to undergo that form of treatment). You will have our cell (mobile) phone number and can call if you need help or advice. We will help plan your recovery time and assist you in finding bungalows, hotels, and wonderful locations to recover.
Think about the possibilities! You take care of your health worries and woes. Get those implants, root canals, crowns that you were dreading (cost-wise). Perhaps lasik eye surgery at one of the most modern eye clinics in the world. You might want laser skin treatments and aloe body wraps. Maybe glasses are needed or contact lens. And what about just shopping? You might not have the money to afford this care in the States. In Bangkok you will spend 70 to 80% less. Any way you cut it, you are making money and having a vacation in "paradise. And, most importantly, you will return home in better health with fewer worries.
YOU OWE IT TO YOUR HEALTH. DO IT FOR YOURSELF. RECOOPERATE IN PARADISE.
Patient Vacation, LLC ROBERT COOPER PATIENT VACATION 2166 Perry City Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 E-mail: patientvacation@lightlink.com www.patientvacation.com Tel: 607 351-7724 (USA) |