Kelly Meloche, President, International Health Care Providers Inc.

Having just returned from being the guest speaker representing Canadian patients at the Health Care Globalization Summit in Miami, Florida, I find myself , incredibly inspired and enriched.  This was an invitation only leadership conference where those of us interested in raising the bar of medical travel convened to share ideas, create opportunities and formulate standards.

As the regarded expert in medical travel for Canadians, I have spoken as the industry expert on both sides of the border, helped developed strategies for successful implementation of Internationl Patient Programs as well as created a business model that caters to the Canadian health care consumer, who despite somethimes having their lives in jeopardy, sometimes are more comfortable at working towards becoming “patient patients” rather than manufacturers of their own health care fate.

In 2003, when Canada was in full swing of the Universal Health Care rationale and struggling with wait time challenges, I was operating a wellness centre specializing in sports performance and chronic pain.  My clientele ranged from competitive athletes to grandmothers, all coping with severe pain.  It was here that I first experienced patients’ struggles with present day waiting lists within the Canadian system.   Witnessing patients forced to wait in pain and suffering while seeing this torment ripple through their families, was a tragedy from which I could not turn.

Along with this wonderful opportunity that medical travel offers Canadians, I also deeply caution potential medical travellers to be aware that this is currently an unregulated industry  This means that anyone can designate themselves as a medical travel facilitator and hide behind the smoke and mirrors of fictitious statistics and partnerships.  You need to arm yourself with questions and expectations.  Here  are some suggest questions to ask of your medical traveler facilitator:

• Who are your provider partners and why have you partnered with them?  What is your process for approving a hospital into your network?
• How do you get paid?
• Can I speak to former clients of yours before I make a choice?
• What is your background prior to entering into the Medical Travel Industry?
• How many clients have you facilitated in the past?
•  Can I speak to a representative of one or more of  the hospitals within your network to establish their satisfaction in working with you?

Working with a medical travel facilitator can relieve you of a tremendous amount of stress while expediting your care options at discounted rates.  Trust your instincts when deciding on what agency to work with and by all means, do not compromise quality for cost.  There are very few high quality, reputable agencies out there right now.  If it sounds too good to be true…then it probably is.

Taking your health care into your own hands is a liberating decision.  Yet delicate emotionally.  We are here to help you along the way.