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• The alternative to health care reform is medical ... - Examiner
• Alternative health care 101 - Vancouver Sun
• Weekend reader interests piqued with health care ... - Columbia Missourian

The alternative to health care reform is medical ... - Examiner Posted: 22 Mar 2010 11:46 AM PDT Comment Subscribe Subscribe Health care tourism is born. If you don't like that your health care is going to be rationed or your doctor chased away, you have an alternative. You can buy a plane ticket to Costa Rica and get all the quality health care you want. That is what it will take if you do not want to be treated as a piece of meat with a shelf life under Obamacare. See what happens when you let the free market do its job as in Costa Rica? You get world class care for a very reasonable price! Costa Rica Medical Tourism Search Costa Rica for -- choose category -- Aesthetics (non-surgical) Cancer Treatment Cardiac Surgery Cardiology Cosmetic Surgery Dentistry Dermatology Dialysis Ear Nose and Throat Endocrinology Eye Surgery Fertility Treatment Gastroenterology General Surgery Gynecology & Obstetrics Hair Transplant Imaging Nephrology Neurology Neurosurgery Orthopedic Surgery Pediatrics Rehabilitation Urology Weight Loss Surgery or browse Costa Rica hospitals and clinics Over the last decade, Costa Rica has evolved from being a mere eco-tourism destination to a country of choice for foreigners, particularly from United States and Canada, seeking quality healthcare services and surgeries at a much lower price than their home countries. In a report from McKinsey & Company, it was highlighted that medical tourists from the United States and Canada prefer Latin American countries like Costa Rica due to the shorter travel time, affordable costs, and an opportunity for a memorable vacation. Healthcare System in Costa Rica Aside from its close proximity to the United States, medical tourists flock to Costa Rica due to its excellent healthcare system which is ranked by the World Health Organization even higher than the US. Costa Rica has modern hospitals and state-of-the-art clinics utilizing the latest in medical technologies and board-certified surgeons who are trained and certified in North America or Europe. Aside from services offered to medical tourists, Costa Rica is also credited for providing a high quality public and private healthcare services with prestigious and reputable hospitals and other health facilities. Consider the following healthcare facts: The World Health Organization ranked Costa Rica's health system as one of the top three Latin America countries, ranked even higher than United States and New Zealand. The World Bank ranked Costa Rica to have the highest life expectancy, at 78.7 years, among all countries in Latin America. This is equivalent to the level in Canada and higher than the United States by a year. More... Cost of Medical Treatment in Costa Rica The following are cost comparisons between Medical procedures in Costa Rica and equivalent procedures in the United States: [sources: 1,2] USA Costa Rica Average Savings Medical Procedures In US In CostaRrica Heart Bypass Up to $130,000 $24,000 70-80% Heart Valve Replacement Up to $160,000 $15,000 80-90% Angioplasty Up to $57,000 $9,000 70-80% Hip Replacement Up to $43,000 $12,000 60-70% Hysterectomy Up to $20,000 $4,000 70-80% Knee Replacement Up to $40,000 $11,000 60-70% Spinal Fusion Up to $62,000 $25,000 50-60% Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Facelift $7,000-$9,000 $4,600 – $5,000 30-40% Rhinoplasty $8,000-$12,000 $3,500 – $3,900 50-65% Breast Lift $5,000-$8,000 $3,000 – $3,400 40-55% Breast Augmentation $5,000-$8,000 $2,700 – $2,900 50-65% Blepharoplasty(Eyelid Surgery) $4,000-$5,500 $2,000 - $2,200 50-60% Brazilian Butt Surgery Up to $10,000 $3,000 - $3,300 55-65% Tummy Tuck $6,000-$8,500 $3,900 – $4,200 45-50% Facelift $7,000-$9,000 $4,600 – $5,000 35-45% Male Breast Reduction Up to $6,000 $2000 - $2600 50-60% Bariatric Surgery Laparoscopic Gastroplasty Up to $30,000 $10,500 55-65% Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Up to $35,000 $14,000 50-60% General and Cosmetic Dentistry Bridges $1,000+ per tooth $250 – $400 per tooth 60-70% Crowns $1,000+ per tooth $250 - $400 per tooth 60-70% Implants $3,500+ per tooth $700 – $900 per tooth 70-80% Porcelain Veneers $1,500+ per tooth $300 – $500 per tooth 65-80% Root canal Up to $800 $315 55-60% Teeth whitening Up to $700 $250 55-65% Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Alternative health care 101 - Vancouver Sun Posted: 19 Mar 2010 09:12 AM PDT When the economy is down, there's always one safe investment: your health. If you've struggled to manage your diet or a chronic condition, you may want to enlist some help beyond our overstressed health-care system. But who, exactly, does what? Here's a breakdown of a few of the alternative health-care practitioners available, explaining the basics of what they offer and tips about their trade. To find one, ask your friends and family for names of practitioners they like. And always ask the practitioner for references, says holistic nutritionist Barb Thomas. "You don't want to just see their licence or ask where they've studied; you want to know if they've actually helped people," says Thomas, owner of Love2Eat Nutritional Consulting in Calgary. Discuss your plans with your regular doctor to ensure there'll be no conflicts with current treatments or medications. Some alternative treatments may be covered by third-party insurance, so check with your provider. Dietitians What they do Assess the foods you eat, develop better nutrition strategies, help you implement them and evaluate your success. The goal is to improve health and, in some cases, to treat illness through nutrition. Must have a bachelor's degree specializing in foods and nutrition, as well as a period of practical training in a hospital or community setting. In Alberta, a Registered Dietitian (RD) and Registered Nutritionist (RN) have the same education and training. However, use of the term "nutritionist" is not protected by law in Alberta, so anyone can use it. Qualifications Look for these titles or initials: Registered Dietitian, Registered Nutritionist, Dietitian or RD. To find one Visit Dietitians of Canada at dietitians.ca and click on Find a Nutrition Professional. Source: dietitians.ca and collegeofdietitians.ab.ca Naturopathic doctors (or naturopaths) What they do Primary care using natural medicine to help the body heal itself. Practitioners are trained in herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutrition and supplementation, among other things. Qualifications Must have graduated from an accredited naturopathic college or university and passed the Naturopathic Licensing Exams, which are standardized in North America. To find one Visit the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors at cand.ca. Source: naturopathic-alberta.com and Bruce Lofting, ND Holistic nutritionists What they do Assess your lifestyle, emotional well-being, activity level, supplementation and nutrition. Practitioners use food -- especially locally grown, whole foods -- to correct imbalances in the body. They do not diagnose or treat disease. Qualifications Most holistic nutritionists are graduates of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, but there are other accredited schools in Canada. Many choose to register with the International Organization of Nutritional Consultants (IONC). Tips Find out where the practitioner studied and ask if he or she is registered with the IONC. To find one Visit the IONC site at ionc.org and click on Member Directory. Source: Barb Thomas, RHN, owner of Love2Eat Nutritional Consulting Chinese medicine practitioners What they do Beyond examining your background, including previous conditions and family history, practitioners examine your tongue and take your pulse on both arms to get an overall reflection of how the body is doing internally. To treat, they use a mix of herbology, acupuncture and other techniques, such as massage and energy work. Qualifications Most study at Canadian colleges that offer programs in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, such as the acupuncture program at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton or the Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Calgary. Tips Make sure the practitioner is registered for acupuncture by asking to see his or her licence. To find one Visit the Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada at cmaac.ca. Source: Dennis Lee, dean of students at ACATCM Homeopathic doctors (or homeopaths) What they do Treat medical conditions using substances from plants, minerals and animals that are highly diluted in water and alcohol. Qualifications There are no regulations, so buyer beware. Homeopaths should have completed a three- to four-year homeopathy program from a recognized school that you can verify on the Internet. Ask practitioners where they studied, confirm that they graduated, and check the program online. Another good benchmark is to ask if they have at least 1,200 to 1,800 hours of homeopathic training. To find one Above all, seek referrals from other people. Conduct an Internet search for or check the Yellow Pages. Source: Helen Hardinge Field, president of the National United Professional Association of Trained Homepaths Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Weekend reader interests piqued with health care ... - Columbia Missourian Posted: 22 Mar 2010 12:43 PM PDT Local News Columbia Farmer's Market opens for season amid cold, snow (Columbia Missourian) Exploring nuances of Columbia's downtown camera debate (Columbia Missourian): Downtown cameras deter crime and are a great investigative tool. Or, downtown cameras have no effect on crime whatsoever. It all depends on who's talking and what kind of crime they're talking about. Sidebar: Council and mayoral candidates address Proposition 1 Contradancers welcome all comers in community of real movers and shakers (Columbia Daily Tribune): A feature about contradance, a 17th century tradition that's made its way to Columbia. Alternative Spring Break combines vacation, volunteering (The Maneater): With spring break less than a month away, eager MU students are planning skiing excursions, trips to the beach and visits to family and friends. Those who have chosen to participate in Alternative Spring Break are using their vacations to give back to society. State News Jefferson County foundation recycles sports equipment for kids (St. Louis Post-Dispatch): Jerry Thomas hated seeing the kids he coached wearing tennis shoes on the soccer field. The soles of tennis shoes lack the cleats that soccer players need to turn easily and avoid sliding on the grass. Wearing improper shoes increases the risk of injury and hinders their play, said Thomas, a father of four who lives in High Ridge. Commercial real estate woes loom over local banks (St. Louis Post-Dispatch): Banks based in St. Louis have $10.2 billion such loans on their books. They make up roughly 36 percent of all loans at local banks. As of Dec. 31, the last data available, 9.2 percent of commercial real estate loans were troubled, compared to 4.5 percent for all loans. Bankers fear that number will rise. Lifestyle changes can help slow dementia, experts say (St. Louis Post-Dispatch): This week is National Brain Awareness Week, and medical experts believe that raising awareness will take on added significance in coming years. Most of the 5.3 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease are 65 or older. That number is expected to grow markedly as the first wave of baby boomers begin turning 65 this year. A real Manhattan miracle: Frank Martin recalls his brush with death (Kansas City Star) A feature about a basketball coach who was diagnosed with a fatal disease. Health Care Against the tide, Roy Blunt voices final opposition to health care bill (St. Louis Post-Dispatch blog – Political Fix) Protesters shouting "KILL THE BILL" to be disappointed (St. Louis Post-Dispatch blog – Political Fix) WASHINGTON — Rep. Todd Akin was among House members waving from the balcony to hundreds of protesters on the Capitol lawn sounding scorn for the overhaul of the health insurance system in legislation likely to pass tonight. Top ten facts to know about health care reform (PolitiFact): PolitiFact has checked hundreds of claims about health care reform and read the plans under consideration by Congress. As the Democrats move toward a final vote, we've selected 10 facts about the actual health care legislation that every voter should know. Agree with the measure or not, here's what it intends to do and where the big unknowns are. Democrats hail landmark US health care bill (BBC News): Gives a good overview of the key points in the health care bill. »Contact an editor with corrections or additional information Leave a comment Speak up and join the conversation! You can comment below. (Click here to register.) Please be civil and refrain from profanities and name-calling; in other words, don't say anything you wouldn't otherwise say in public. If you see something objectionable, please tell us which comment and why it should be removed. When you post, please use your actual name. Read the full comment policy here. You must be logged in to comment. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

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