Part two
Why the Caymans for a hip or knee replacement? Several years ago, I was invited to the Grand Cayman Island to evaluate its potential as a destination for medical tourism. Patients who could not enjoy the option at the time for hip resurfacing in the United States were traveling to India because of a delay in FDA approval. For those unfamiliar, hip resurfacing is an alternative to hip replacement and of great interest to a younger, active patient population. The promise is a more functional outcome when compared to that of a standard hip prosthesis. Medical tourism also was and still is of interest to the uninsured and the payer because of cost savings when health care is delivered outside of the United States. The question remains about the safety and outcomes of health care delivered without all of the safeguards we take for granted in the United States? Aware or the concerns about safety and access and with my experience in teaching orthopedic surgery around the world, I decided to investigate the potential of the Caymans as a destination close to the U.S., in a country that is a continuum of the British Commonwealth with all of the enticement of the Caribbean. English is the primary language, crime is at a minimum, the majority of physicians have been trained in the United States or Canada and the people are friendly.
What I have discovered is the potential for an optimum environment in which to access orthopedic surgery. Up until now, the expatriates who live in the Caymans have returned home for joint replacement and the Caymanians themselves have traveled to Florida for care. With further investigation, I learned that the principal reason for the medical tourism away from the Island was the lack of surgical subspecialty expertise. Three months ago, I found a contemporary design-imaging center with all of the services needed to provide clinical support to a surgical subspecialist. I learned of the growing number of fellowship trained, Board Certified surgeons and related medical services developing under the umbrella of Harmonic Health Consultants including hip and knee replacement. I have helped develop an intense and personally supervised rehabilitation/recovery program revolving around an integration of the physical, mental and minimum pain components. It makes sense to take a time out from your daily life and travel to the Caymans for your hip or knee replacement and dedicate a full week or two to recovery for the best possible outcome.
To learn more about orthopedic surgery in the Caymans, contact
The Harmonic Health Group : [email protected]