Recently, a PT in India contacted me to see if I could help put her American patient in touch with a PT in the United States. She provided me with the applicable details of her patient's surgery and postsurgical physical therapy needs. The patient was willing to go out of her network for quality physical therapy care. Of course, I was happy to be of any possible help to put her in touch with PTs for treatment upon her return to this country, but wondered how easy the transition of her medical information and postoperative care would be from one country to another.

Coincidentally, I came upon a recent article in the Los Angeles Times that highlighted a new player in the medical tourism niche. The article features Rudy Rupak, president and co-founder of PlanetHospital, a for-profit business that makes medical care more affordable for Americans … by sending them abroad.¹

In the article, Rupak states that patients in the United States are frustrated with being ushered in and out of physicians' offices, whereas in a foreign country, physicians will see patients at all hours of the day.¹ Rupak claims that some of his patients have even had dinner with their physician.

Rupak's business employs 30 people in 13 countries. He and his business partner, Valerie Capeloto, visit all of the hospitals and hotels where they send patients and look for "little things," such as low beds, which are common in Asia, that aren't good for a patient with hip surgery, for example.

One patient highlighted in the article used PlanetHospital's services when he decided to have hip surgery to resurface his hip joint. According to the article, the patient's HMO would have covered a more traditional full hip replacement but would not pay for the new resurfacing procedure—the patient said it would have cost him $20,000 with a different plan.¹ PlanetHospital arranged for the patient to have the operation overseas. The patient paid $12,000 for a month's stay abroad for him and his wife in a private hospital room and then a four-star hotel, three meals per day… and some sightseeing.

Rupak and Capeloto already have plans to expand their business. Capeloto is starting a foundation to bring PlanetHospital's services to people who can't afford any medical treatment at all. Last year, Rupak introduced the Best of Both Worlds service, in which American board-certified surgeons travel with patients to perform procedures overseas—Rupak states it saves patients 20% to 40% of the US costs.¹

Of course, there are drawbacks of using overseas health care providers, such as the lack of the ability to sue in some countries in case something goes wrong. There is also an element of distrust among Americans—although there is frustration about our national health care system, do we fully trust the medical systems of foreign countries? Rupak's goal is to change that element of distrust and convince as many people as he can that they can get quality health care at lower prices abroad.

Medical tourism isn't a new concept. However, what are the effects of its increasing popularity on our national health care system? How are rehabilitation professionals in this country affected by patients who seek postsurgical therapy from international medical procedures? I would love to hear from PTs who work with the World Confederation of Physical Therapy on any current international standards for postoperative physical therapy care, and how PTs work to fill in the gaps created by this market niche.

Arati Murti

Reference

1. Semuels A. Surgery and sightseeing, in one trip. Los Angeles Times. October 21, 2007: C2.