"Medical tourism", "medical travel", "health tourism," are all terms coined to describe those who travel outside their own nations to receive medical care. Put simply, it is outsourcing the individual's medical care.  Fifty years ago the most popular destinations were the United States and certain Western European nations, but times and the complexion of medical travel have changed.

Exceptional quality modern medical education, training, and facilities are found in pockets throughout the world.  These nations overseas have repeatedly shown themselves to be at the least the equal of the United States in healthcare.  For many who can not afford to seek treatment or even testing, the savings offered without the loss of quality is the logical alternative.

For those who wish to take control of their personal health care and not trust in the insurance industry, medical travel is the answer.  The other part of medical travel is the vacation aspect.  You can recuperate in a climate or location that is conducive to recovery and leisure.

The bottom line is that people will go overseas to get better medical care and a better value on surgical procedures, and the growing popularity of medical tourism is proving that.

The answer to this is a resounding YES!  While this is a new concept to Americans it has been going on for years.  By utilizing Patient Vacation, you can rest assured that nothing will be left to chance.  We will easily allay any fears you may have and capably answer all your questions both about travel and healthcare.  There is no way that we would be in business if we didn't know that you would be receiving the best medical care in the world.  Why would you travel anywhere if the medical care was inferior?

The hospitals we recommend (and you choose), the doctors, and all the health care givers utilized have too much to lose if they are not offering you the highest quality care and the best results imaginable.  We know this on a personal level as Robert Cooper, our founder, can attest to.  He gets all his medical and dental care in Thailand.  Twice he was operated on due to unforeseen emergencies-a severely broken shoulder and implantation of a stent to correct an arterial blockage.  Even more important, all of our clients (see "Testimonials") have expressed their admiration and incredulity at the superb quality of care they received.

Our TICA's (see our TICA section for a full list of services) will ensure that you are always relaxed and prepared.  They will be at your disposal for any emergencies you may encounter while in Thailand.  Any appointments you have, any medical papers you need for your follow up in your own country, any travel plans you make will be aided by our TICA.  Whether it is figuring out how to get to a market, your next medical clinic, or a flight to Chang Mai, all will be made easier by this TICA.  We will meet you at the airport and be there every step of your journey.

Since the mid-60's when the Vietnam War was in full swing Thailand has been the destination of medical travelers in Asia.  This position, as the number one medical travel destination, has only been reinforced in the last twenty years.  Today Bangkok is full of new ultra modern medical facilities-Vejthani, Phaya Thai, Nonthavej, Samitivej, to name a few- that treat thousands of medical tourists each year. The equipment found at these hospitals are technologically equal to or better than those found in American hospitals.

The hospitals are staffed by excellent doctors trained in Thailand, the United States, Europe, Australia, China and Japan.  They daily perform the same procedures as their counterparts in the United States with a better rate of success.  Almost all speak English and hospitals regularly have a translator right alongside the patient if there are communication difficulties.  We at Patient Vacation are more concerned with the skill of the doctor than what languages he or she speaks. 

Thailand is world renowned for its medical facilities, skilled and caring doctors, nurses and clinicians.     The Thai medical association is one of the most advanced in the world.  The training that Thai doctors receive is parallel to that offered anywhere in the world.  In fact, it is easier for a Thai national to get into medical school in the US than in Thailand.  Many doctors undertake specialist training abroad-Japan, United Stated, Germany, England, France, Australia and more. The US consulate gives the Thai healthcare system high marks for quality, particularly Bangkok.

Thailand offers all medical procedures and even some that are not yet available in the US.  Alternative medical care is available at most all of the hospitals we recommend.  Whether you need cardiac, carpal tunnel, rotator cuff surgery, organ transplants, hip or knee replacement, dental implants, or cosmetic work, all can be found in Bangkok at affordable prices.  The cost of living, 25% of America's, and lack of a strangling insurance/litigation bureaucracy keeps prices down without affecting the quality available.  Thailand's world renowned service and hospitality sectors make sure that your hospital stay will be as comfortable as humanly possible.

The reasons for vacationing in Thailand are 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, a true shopping mecca.

The food is the greatest movable feast one will ever experience.  From noodle soup stalls, to take out stands offering curries, 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.  As proof that we are not alone in our humble opinion of Thailand look no further than the"World's Best Awards" list in the August 2008 "Travel + Leisure" magazine which lists Bangkok as the top overall city in the world, beating out such places as Florence, Rome, New York, Buenos Aires, and Istanbul.

Click here for the worlds top 10 cities, according to Travel and Leisure for 2008.

You can contact Patient Vacation by internet mail, phone, fill out the form on line, or regular mail.  We can give you a basic idea of the cost of your procedure(s), or exams, the cost of airfare and what you can expect to spend per day while in Thailand.  We are unique in that we expect you to do some of the work yourself with our guidance.  Do your homework.  In this way we hope that you will be able to take care of your next medical travel experience without us if you desire.

We are more a consultant and medical travel therapist than most other services we are aware of.  Each person receives care that is unique and each client can choose any doctor or dentist that he/she wants.  We, of course, will make recommendations of hospitals and doctors and dentists that we know and feel will be best for the client.  However, with the internet at their fingers, some clients (we encourage this) may choose to look on their own.  We also will help to do research on those physicians that our clients may request whom we are not familiar with(Sompoach's speciality).

After this first estimate is received and a bit of back and forth has gone on between the client and Patient Vacation, we ask for $125 intake fee.  This allows us to proceed to the next step, finalizing your trip and medical schedule.  We work with you purchasing your ticket, setting up e-mails and, if needed, phone calls between the client and the doctor(s).  We make reservations for you at whatever hotel you choose..

Keep in mind that we have a variety of hotels and spas that we recommend in all price ranges, but the decision is yours.  We work with you and the doctors you have chosen to send all pertinent and requested information that they may need to give a more accurate prognosis.  We will help you to know what to bring and what medical information you will need to travel with both going over and coming back.

Once you arrive in Thailand, you can rest assured that you will be taken care of until your departure if you have chosen to be met by our Thailand In Counry Aide (see our TICA section to find out what this entails).  If you choose not to utilize our TICA while in Thailand, we will make sure you have the number of our Thai associate should any unforeseen problems arise. All hospitals and clinics that we recommend are up to date on the medical records and papers you will need to supply for any medical follow up that you may need or desire upon your return home.  You will never be refused care in the U.S. because you do not have the correct medical records. That is a promise.

The answer is twofold.  First, we admit that as a small company we are limited in our ability to deal with many countries.  This is logical when you consider that Thailand has 80 million people and  thousands of healthcare providers.  Imagine if someone told you they knew the best doctors in five nations for all types of surgery.  You may wonder how thoroughly their research could be.  We want to get you the best care available and not the best commission for ourselves.

The second reason is that total medical care and after care is of the utmost importance for you and for your recovery.  Robert Cooper has travelled and spent months in India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Brazil and Venezuela among others and knows these lands and cultures well.  There is no doubt in our minds that Thailand has the total package.

From cleanliness to  service, food to accommodation,  spas to clinics-none of these other places can match Thailand.  The doctors are at least equivalent at the top of the medical profession and the facilities we use are superior.  But we firmly believe and have seen that Bangkok is a peaceful and serene city, especially in comparison to all those places mentioned above.  If we personally had a choice of recovering in any of the locales mentioned, we know there would be one high above all the others and that is why we concentrate solely in Thailand and Bangkok in particular.

Some medical tourist "experts" tell you that there is a formula to use to know whether medical travel is worth it.  We have never been a fan of formulas and here is why.  Everyone is different, with different needs and wants.  If you save enough to only cover the flight that will be more than enough for some people who just want to get away to a tropical paradise and "test the waters".

Some people will need essential lifesaving or quality of life surgeries that are just out of their price range in the US.  For these folks traveling for medical care should be a no brainer.  The more complicated the surgery, the greater the savings will be.  Cardiac surgery that may cost from $50,000 and up can be had for up to 80% less.  And the quality of care will be far beyond anything you will have experienced before.  (See our price list page for specific comparisons.)

The other side of this equation is not so easy to resolve.  We recommend that you look at the big picture of health and well being.  For example, a complete physical in the US for someone over 50 years old can run as much as $2,500 in the US.  This "super executive check-up" can cost as little as $500 in Bangkok.  You don't have to wait for results to these tests as you would in the U.S.  You will have them by the end of the day.

A consultation with a doctor is only $30 and you can see as many specialists as you need.  If you parlay your journey and take care of a variety of medical needs-dental, glasses, cancer screening, spas, massages-the savings get greater by the day.  Medications can be had for a fraction of what they cost here in the U.S.

Hospitals in Thailand are accredited by a national board that is state run.  Questions of how stringent this is can be debated by experts ad infinitum, but rest assured that these standards are every bit as tough as those in the U.S.  Lately, a privately funded group, the JCI (an affiliate of JCAHO that is located in the U.S.) has been certifying international hospitals.  Whether this group actually has improved the healthcare at these facilities is questionable.

They have, however, definitely increased the coffers of the JCI and led many hospitals to apply for their certification.  Unfortunately, the media has taken up the chant that this certification is essential when choosing a facility abroad.  We at Patient Vacation believe that the JCI can serve a purpose, but are not convinced they are the end all and be all in the field of accreditation.

We work with hospitals that are JCI accredited and some that are not.  We note no discernable differences in these facilities and believe that the quality of medical care is the same at the hospitals that we have inspected and used.  Imagine if there was a private Thai organization that inspected U.S. hospitals for a fee.  Would that sway your decision where to go?  As a final word, there is not a hospital that we have visited in the U.S. that would pass a JCI inspection as it is administered in foreign lands.

First of all, we must tell you that in Thailand, patients are expected to stay in the hospital until they are in better condition for release than in the U.S.  Typically, this allows them to ensure that infection and other complications will not occur.  Thus, certain procedures that are considered to be "day" surgery may require a two or three night stay.  The cost of the hospital room is so reasonable and care received so exceptional that you will be thrilled.

The key is that the hospital is focusing on the patient's well being and not what the insurance company decides.  This "patient first" is what makes medical care in Thailand inherently superior to that in the U.S.  You will normally see the surgeon for follow up care at least twice before returning to your home.  Once again, these visits are typically 75-85% cheaper and, in many cases, free.

Jonathan Edelhardt, vice president of the insurance group OptiMed Health/United Group programs, draws and analogy between five-star hotels and Motel 6-with U.S. hospitals more like Motel 6.  "Overseas hospitals are often nicer than ours, and their equipment is as good or better, as are the doctors....Americans have the impression that we have the world's best health care.  But it's possible to find better care over there than you do here."

Obviously that depends on what medical procedures you have.  However, rest assured that it is no different than if you had elected to have an operation in Chicago and returned to Dallas.  All the hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers we affiliate with in Thailand supply you with all your medical records for you to carry home.  In the case of any medical procedure, no matter how small, you will get a cd-rom of the operation so that your health care provider at home can actually watch the procedure.

Your TICA will also make sure that you have the correct papers and documents and will not let you forget them.  Not only that, but hospitals can e-mail all your records and x-rays (all are digital in the facilities we recommend) to your physician.  If need be, the doctors can talk to each over the phone.  Communication is much easier in this modern world and the Thai facilities we recommend are much more advanced in this sector of health care than those in the U.S.  Patient Vacation does not stop working with you when you return.  We will assist in any way possible.

Quite frankly, we will work together so that every client has multiple options that we will inform him/her of.  We at Patient Vacation have not only vast knowledge on Thailand's health care and practitioners, but worldwide experience in traveling (see "Who Are We").  You will find no one who has the overall travel experience that compares with Robert Cooper, who is involved with all our customers from the start.

Our esteemed associate, Sompoach Vuthikornudomkit, was born and raised in Bangkok, and has worked in hospital administration at one of Bangkok's finest hospitals.  Together they form a talented team that will not only research doctors and dentists, hospitals and clinics, but also tell you of markets that are not on the tourist trail and specific bungalows by pristine beaches or spas in the mountains in the north.

But we are not a travel agency and do not accompany you on your travels.  We will help you to book transportation and aid you in making reservations for your vacation experience.  Why should we book your rooms for you and charge you more than you can get it for yourself online.  That is for other companies that do the "total package price".  We are  medical travel consultants and "therapists", not middle men.