Medical Tourism

State-of-the-Art Medical Care Recuperate on one of the Worlds Best Beaches

If Medical Tourism seems like an oxymoron to you, think again. Although one would wish to be perfectly healthy while on vacation, one need not be in the pink, to enjoy recuperating while on vacation. And if that vacation has been planned around a surgery or other procedure performed at the vacation destination, this might actually be a stress-free way to deal with particular medical issues. Consider this: Your entire medical vacation is coordinated by a very knowledgeable and competent Patients Advocate who books your travel, accommodations, medical procedures and hospital stay (if that is required). The hospitals (yes, ours) have received the highest award from Canadian hospital regulators, Accreditation Canada. The PA then arrives on-island to orchestrate your doctors daily visit, before and after your surgery, and handle any problems or difficulties you may encounter. And the entire package, including surgery, may cost less than the surgery itself back home. Medical tourism is, in a nutshell, travelling for/ because of your health. Why are patients literally lining up, to sign up for medical procedures in countries other than their own? It boils down to four basic goals: to circumvent a long waiting list; to maintain privacy; to reduce the cost of the procedure while still having a world class doctor and finally, because there are many places far more pleasant and conducive to healing than home to recover from surgeries and other treatments. Here in the Turks & Caicos, we have been attracting companies, like Global MedChoices and their patients, who have invested in our brand of MT for more than a year. The patients are usually here for joint repair, sports injury repairs or actual replacement of knees, hips and shoulders. Spinal surgeries are a real possibility by December and other areas are being investigated by InterHealth Canada TCI and medical tourism firms. And it is likely that the ten-bed hospital on Grand Turk, Cockburn Town Medical Centre, will also see medical tourism patients in the not so distant future. Ethically speaking, medical tourism as it is practiced here, is a cut above the norm in some other countries. Rather than sucking the cream of the crop from the local medical community to work on visiting patients only, thus depriving the native population of their services, the world class specialists who come here to make use of our hospital facilities and our climate, do pro bono work for our National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP). This means that NHIP, rather than paying many thou-

PRIME S P O RT S MEDICINE
Dr. J. F. LeMoine
MD, FRCPSC, Dip. Sports Med. Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Consultant

Sports injury care, orthobiologics, minor and major surgery. ! NEW Health Travel to Turks & Caicos for your knee or shoulder surgery.
Visit us at Physiologic within Courtyard Plaza, Leeward Highway 649.232.9563 info@primesportsmedicine.com www.primesportsmedicine.com

STORY BY KATHI BARRINGTON

Visit the Turks & Caicos Islands at www.WhereWhenHow.com SUMMER 2013

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sands of dollars to send an insured member overseas for certain treatments, need cover only the cost of any prosthesis and the care provided by the hospital staff right here on-island. Another benefit to the community is the boost in business for ancillary medical services and personnel like pharmacies, nutritionists and physiotherapists. And of course, as has happened with so many of our regular visitors, these visiting patients may very well fall in love with the islands. That could translate into return visits, with friends and family, as non-medical tourists. And of course, they could purchase land, a villa or a condo here. Dr. Joe LeMoine, an orthopaedic surgeon who arrived here after a tour of duty at the Winter Olympic Games in 2010, began practicing at the newly opened Providenciales facility in early April 2010. A graduate of Laval University and Sherbrooke University, (in Quebec, Canada), he practiced for twelve years in Ontario before arriving on our shores. A strong proponent for medical tourism here, he opened his private practice in March 2012 and operated on his first tourist in May. He now averages eight to ten cases per month; a mix of out of towners and resident patients. Dr. LeMoines Prime Sports Medicine clinic is in the Courtyard Plaza, at sports physiotherapist Fraser Dods (another Canadian) PhysioLogic. LeMoine performs examinations and injections at the clinic. He performs arthroscopic surgeries in hospital, and works with Global MedChoices for

joint replacements. With only 20 beds in the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre one might think that this is not a potential growth industry, but many sports medicine treatments and surgeries do not require a hospital stay at all, so by mixing them with patients who must stay for a couple of days, the numbers can work. A visiting surgeon, here for a week, can utilise one bed twice if he /she needs them. For example a uni-knee is a partial replacement of the knee and usually requires no hospital stay. On the other hand, full joint replacements do require an average of two overnights in hospital. Barely a year after this medical tourism program began, Global MedChoices and former head of InterHealth Canada here in the TCI, Dr. Roger Cheesman have already proposed to government that the number of beds be increased to accommodate this promising brand of tourism. It makes great sense. We get an injection of non-local funds to our medical programme and heightened awareness of the TCI as a safe, high quality medical destination for the patient. Residents can take advantage of visiting specialists at little to no cost. The patient receives state-of-the-art medical care in best-in-class operating rooms, performed by world-class doctors, many of them American and Canadian trained. After care is diligent, comprehensive and happens to include umbrella drinks on the beach, beside gin clear turquoise waters, in paradise. s

The protective barrier reef for which Providenciales is famous, breaks up the incoming surf to protect the calm, iridescent turquoise waters and our spectacular white sand beaches. Find the beach of your dreams. No matter where you go, you wont find a crowd. Remember to use protective sun screen and take water to drink, especially if you travel off the beaten path. * Best beaches for snorkelling. LONG BAY BEACH - This southeastern beach is 3 miles long and accessible by several paths from the Long Bay Beach Road or Leeward Highwy at the Shore Club turn off. This is THE beach for kiteboarders. Beautiful and isolated, eastern breezes bring treasures from as far away as South America. SAPODILLA BAY BEACH - To get to our southernmost beach, turn right off the road to South Dock. A quarter mile long white sand beach and gin clear shallow water make this beach a favourite gathering spot and yacht anchorage. MALCOLM ROADS - Enjoy a drive through the seaside communities of Blue Hills and Wheeland, then bear left for a five mile trek through the hills and bush to a two mile long white sand beach. *SMITHS REEF - At the mouth of the Turtle Cove Pond. Just off this point is Smiths Reef, an excellent spot to snorkel. This point also marks the beginning of a seven mile long stretch of beach that ends at Leeward. THE BIGHT BEACH - Easily accessible at the end of Pratts Road with a playground nearby. *THE BIGHT REEF - At the end of Penns Road this area offers an exquisite snorkelling experience close to shore. (PLEASE do not touch or stand on the fragile coral.) GRACE BAY BEACH - The beach running all along the front of our popular resorts is referred to as Grace Bay. From Beaches Resort & Spa to the Ocean Club Resort is approximately 3 miles. The most populated area is in the vicinity of Beaches Resort. LEEWARD BEACH - The eastern end of Grace Bay is accessible from a public access within the Leeward community. Secluded with white sand, limestone cliffs and stone jetties. All beaches in the Turks and Caicos Islands are public from the low tide line to the dune line. Please use marked public access routes, not private property for beach access or exploration. Do not leave valuables unattended either on the beach or in your car. Please do not litter. s

PROVOS BEACHES

26 SUMMER 2013 Where When How - Turks & Caicos Islands