Medical tourism in... Oklahoma City?!?

[Nords]

http://retireearlylifestyle.com/blog/2013/01/14/domestic-medical-tourism/

I've been following Billy & Akaisha Kaderli for years (they're a big help with my book) and their blog gives other writers a chance to plug their own topics.  This one is a guest post from a doctor whose partnership offers medical care with open pricing.  They do not participate in Medicare/Medicaid.

We had hoped to make ourselves more “known” to the uninsured population requiring surgery, but primarily wanted to expose the price-fixing arrangements between hospitals and insurance groups.  The first thing that happened, however, shocked us.  Canadians started calling.  And then flying to Oklahoma City for their surgery. Individuals with high deductibles and increasingly, self-insured companies have been drawn to our upfront and bundled pricing as well, pricing that is all-inclusive; the facility, surgeon and anesthesia fees altogether.

If you've used this facility, or if you live near Oklahoma City, what's your experience?

By the way, Oklahoma City is closer to Oahu (~4800 miles) than Bangkok (~6800 miles).  However from my provincial Oahu perspective I have to admit that The Surgery Center in Oklahoma City seems to be at least as much of a foreign culture as Bumrungrad in Bangkok.  But it probably costs more money to get to Oklahoma City from Oahu... and it might be easier to understand the accented English spoken in Bangkok...

[TheDude]

Nords this all maybe true but the legal repercussions that are available to you are significantly more in OK.

However, Thailand sounds like more fun.

[Daley]

Fascinating. Can't say as I've had any personal experience with them, but I know who I'm contacting now if I can't get my gall bladder to behave itself and it comes down to it. OKC is an absolute trainwreck as far as healthcare is concerned... this looks like quite the little hidden oasis, and it doesn't surprise me one bit that it's known internationally, yet the locals are daft to it.

Nords, if you ever find yourself needing to come out here... look me up. Our accommodations are humble, but you're always welcome. And I promise, most of the locals are pretty coherent.

[James]

Being in the surgical field, I keep hearing of places like this and am certainly tempted to find a job in that sort of place.  I definitely think medical tourism is here to stay, and the only thing that can prevent it in the states is if the government puts a stop to it.  I certainly hope that won't be the case though.

Thanks much for the link, I found it greatly interesting and I hope in the future places like that continue to grow and develop.  The competition is certainly good for the system, even while I realize the end result is probably to shrink my salary in the long term.  :)

[Nords]

The competition is certainly good for the system, even while I realize the end result is probably to shrink my salary in the long term.  :)

I think the choices are to either take less pay at a concierge operation with a higher quality of life, or to run like a hypercaffeinated bunny on the patient treadmill until you burn out.  But at 14 minutes of contact time per patient, I bet your hourly rate really soars!