Unable to Wait 16 Months for Orthopedic Surgery, Canadian Patient Goes to Cuba for Treatment
Because he couldn't wait 16 months to have his orthopedic surgery done in Canada, a Winnipeg man will fly to Cuba on Monday (Oct. 8) to be get quick and discount-priced treatment there. Choice Medical Services, a leading medical tourism firm, is arranging his travel and treatment at an Havana hospital.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, October 04, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Unable to cope with physical discomfort and wait for 16 months to have his orthopedic surgery done in Canada, a Winnipeg man will fly to Cuba on Monday (Oct. 8) to have his treatment performed there next week.
The patient, Dave Kornachuck, hopes to recover quickly from his knee surgery so that he can give a swift kick to some of the first people he meets. Kornachuck is an amateur tae kwon-do participant.
Kornachuck, 45, completely tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) of his left knee when he was practicing the martial art in late January. The earliest he could schedule an appointment to see a specialist in Winnipeg to examine the injury was late this November, about 10 months after the injury occurred. And, if that visit went as planned, he would likely wait four to six more months for the surgery, making the total ordeal about 14 to 16 months in length.
“My injury happened so long ago, that the tear has healed, but it has left my knee very unstable, said Kornachuck, who wears a specially-designed brace when he engages in physical activity to add stability and protect his knee from further damage. “At present, my knee can give out at any time, so I’m looking forward to regaining stability and strength in my knee so I can walk and exercise again like the average person.”
Kornachuck, who is required to do considerable physical activity in his work as a CBC-TV cameraman, spoke with co-workers, one of which is married to a Cuban native, and learned that Cuba has an outstanding medical tourism program. So, he connected with Choice Medical Services, a Winnipeg-based medical tourism firm that arranged his travel and treatment.
“After his surgery in Cuba, Dave should eventually be able to perform the regular physical activity on his job as needed, and perfect his tae kwon-do techniques again,” said Bill Doran, CEO of Choice Medical Services. “We’re pleased that we could greatly shorten his treatment timeline.”
Kornachuck’s surgery will cost CDN/US$2500 in Cuba. He will be treated at Clinica Central Cira Garcia, a major Havana hospital treating international patients. In the US, the same surgery would cost about $11,500, according to WebMD’s Emedicine textbook. (source: http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/byname/anterior-cruciate-ligament-injury.htm
Kornachuck grew tired of the waiting time, which has become a major problem for Canadian healthcare patients. Statistics Canada reported that patients nationwide had a median wait time of 4.3 weeks to visit a specialist about a new illness or condition in 2005 (source: http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-575-XIE/2006002/tables/table04.htm) . An estimated 17.7 percent of patients getting non-emergency surgery waited three months or longer for treatment, while 44.2 percent were treated in less than one month, and 38.2 percent in one to three months. (source: http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-575-XIE/2006002/tables/table08.htm
Rising US healthcare costs and the movie “Sicko,” that praises Cuban healthcare and criticizes the U.S. healthcare system, have led more Americans to consider universal health care, practiced in Canada and most industrialized countries worldwide. American opponents of universal healthcare cite the Canadian wait times to counter the U.S. moving toward universal healthcare.
Choice Medical Services
Choice Medical Services helps North Americans obtain low-cost and safe medical care in Cuba. Choice serves Canadian patients, primarily those that are unable to endure long waits for treatment, and US patients, especially the uninsured and underinsured. For examples of the more affordable treatments, a hip replacement costs CDN/US$60,000 in the US, but in Cuba is $8000, an
86 percent savings. And, a tummy tuck is CDN/US$5060 in the US, but in Cuba is $2644, a 48 percent savings. Cuba has had an acclaimed medical tourism program for more than 40 years.
To learn more about Choice’s medical care services, visit www.choicemedicalservices.com or call toll-free 1-866-672-8284 (from US and Canada).
###
Editors Note to Media:
Mr. Kornachuck is available for media interviews from Winnipeg and Havana. He will be in Havana from Monday, Oct. 8 through Thursday, Oct. 12. To arrange an interview, please contact Michael Pirages of
Pirages Communications, Chicago PR firm, at mpirages@piragescom.com
Media Contact: Michael Pirages, Pirages Communications, 773-769-1616
mpirages@piragescom.com
The patient, Dave Kornachuck, hopes to recover quickly from his knee surgery so that he can give a swift kick to some of the first people he meets. Kornachuck is an amateur tae kwon-do participant.
Kornachuck, 45, completely tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) of his left knee when he was practicing the martial art in late January. The earliest he could schedule an appointment to see a specialist in Winnipeg to examine the injury was late this November, about 10 months after the injury occurred. And, if that visit went as planned, he would likely wait four to six more months for the surgery, making the total ordeal about 14 to 16 months in length.
“My injury happened so long ago, that the tear has healed, but it has left my knee very unstable, said Kornachuck, who wears a specially-designed brace when he engages in physical activity to add stability and protect his knee from further damage. “At present, my knee can give out at any time, so I’m looking forward to regaining stability and strength in my knee so I can walk and exercise again like the average person.”
Kornachuck, who is required to do considerable physical activity in his work as a CBC-TV cameraman, spoke with co-workers, one of which is married to a Cuban native, and learned that Cuba has an outstanding medical tourism program. So, he connected with Choice Medical Services, a Winnipeg-based medical tourism firm that arranged his travel and treatment.
“After his surgery in Cuba, Dave should eventually be able to perform the regular physical activity on his job as needed, and perfect his tae kwon-do techniques again,” said Bill Doran, CEO of Choice Medical Services. “We’re pleased that we could greatly shorten his treatment timeline.”
Kornachuck’s surgery will cost CDN/US$2500 in Cuba. He will be treated at Clinica Central Cira Garcia, a major Havana hospital treating international patients. In the US, the same surgery would cost about $11,500, according to WebMD’s Emedicine textbook. (source: http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/byname/anterior-cruciate-ligament-injury.htm
Kornachuck grew tired of the waiting time, which has become a major problem for Canadian healthcare patients. Statistics Canada reported that patients nationwide had a median wait time of 4.3 weeks to visit a specialist about a new illness or condition in 2005 (source: http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-575-XIE/2006002/tables/table04.htm) . An estimated 17.7 percent of patients getting non-emergency surgery waited three months or longer for treatment, while 44.2 percent were treated in less than one month, and 38.2 percent in one to three months. (source: http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-575-XIE/2006002/tables/table08.htm
Rising US healthcare costs and the movie “Sicko,” that praises Cuban healthcare and criticizes the U.S. healthcare system, have led more Americans to consider universal health care, practiced in Canada and most industrialized countries worldwide. American opponents of universal healthcare cite the Canadian wait times to counter the U.S. moving toward universal healthcare.
Choice Medical Services
Choice Medical Services helps North Americans obtain low-cost and safe medical care in Cuba. Choice serves Canadian patients, primarily those that are unable to endure long waits for treatment, and US patients, especially the uninsured and underinsured. For examples of the more affordable treatments, a hip replacement costs CDN/US$60,000 in the US, but in Cuba is $8000, an
86 percent savings. And, a tummy tuck is CDN/US$5060 in the US, but in Cuba is $2644, a 48 percent savings. Cuba has had an acclaimed medical tourism program for more than 40 years.
To learn more about Choice’s medical care services, visit www.choicemedicalservices.com or call toll-free 1-866-672-8284 (from US and Canada).
###
Editors Note to Media:
Mr. Kornachuck is available for media interviews from Winnipeg and Havana. He will be in Havana from Monday, Oct. 8 through Thursday, Oct. 12. To arrange an interview, please contact Michael Pirages of
Pirages Communications, Chicago PR firm, at mpirages@piragescom.com
Media Contact: Michael Pirages, Pirages Communications, 773-769-1616
mpirages@piragescom.com
Contact
Pirages Communications
Michael Pirages
773-769-1616
www.piragescom.com
Michael Pirages
773-769-1616
www.piragescom.com
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