Whether you are the patient or you are caring for family and parents who is faced with a serious diagnosis or condition, navigating the complex U.S. healthcare environment can be challenging. We take on the burden of these challenges to deliver the resources and access you need when you need them. However, even before providing you with options here in the U.S., we would assess which specialist(s) and/or treatment(s) is available in your country. We always provide you with options at home first and then also options here in the U.S. Based on our experience and knowledge of what's available in your country, we can guide you. If you do not have a particular service/treatment optimally available, then we provide you with our services here which are:

• Serve as your personal health advocate
• Access to have your case reviewed by specialists to guide you. Specialist Second Opinion: we have standing relationships with specialists, which enables us to connect individuals with quality treatment options for a specific medical need.
• Organize and expedite your appointment(s).
• Access to great discounts to cost for service(s) and treatment(s).
• Medical Record Management: As appropriate and with patient consent, we will gather, organize, and transfer relevant medical records in advance of an expedited appointment.
• Access to all your medical records.
• We communicate with your medical team(s), home country and abroad, have them kept abreast of your case.
• We assist patients with understanding their medical options, their bills and their care.
• We liaise with your insurance company, when permitted, to access authorization(s), coverage details.
• We attend appointments and follow-up with patient, a patient navigator, when needed.
• Provide assistance with travel coordination from hotel discounts, transportation, etc.
• Provide solutions to healthcare challenges.
• Provide health and wellness service options.

Yes absolutely. We will always offer you the providers we work with simply because it's where we would go should we need a particular service; the doctors and specialists we work with are solid, well-trained and specialist in their respective field; their work speaks for itself; their technology; beautiful centers; their customer service by their wonderful staff - all were hand-picked for us to work with. They understand our patient's needs for excellent customer service, expedited service and they understand our urgency in access to care and finally their costs are competitive and have been set for our patients to be able to afford. For all these reasons, we work with our providers. However, if a patient has a specific request to go elsewhere, we will certainly still assist with concierge service but at that point, cannot guarantee all we have to offer. We can navigate the system for you as well and get you in, however the guarantee of us getting you the expedited concierge service is limited and the costs are usually set. We will negotiate as much as possible, however they are very little flexible.

No, unless it's an emergency and at that point, we advise you call 911 (or your nearest hospital/ambulance) in your own home country and get stabilized before traveling. If it is not an emergency, we advise you get your medical records together and send to us asap. You can contact us immediately and advise us of your case with the records and we can act quickly to advise you on next steps. Then you can book travel more efficiently, not wasting time and resources, by contacting us first before making travel arrangements.

Unfortunately, we have encountered this far too often. In the U.S., it is a legal patient right to have a copy of your medical records, however we cannot say this for the rest of the world. So, I would be persistent as a patient and kindly ask your doctor's practice to provide you with a copy of all records because you are being diligent and organizing a file with your case. If need be, it is only right to also have your family/caretaker involved to keep your medical file organized. You are entitled to receive a second, third or fourth opinion. If need be, ask that you pay for a copy of the medical records and get it expedited and pick it up when ready. Same goes for a copy of images/a CD with diagnostics you may need to ask for at a hospital. In the U.S., it is our right, however we also pay a nominal fee per page per copy and the usual turn-around time here to have a copy ready to be picked up or e-mail to us is about 1-4 business days.

We also ask that when you go to a specialist and bring a copy of your records, do not leave your only copy with them. Show them your records and ask them to make a copy for their records. You always keep your own copy.

Hiring a U.S.-based care manager can streamline the process of coordinating surgery in the United States. At H.O.P.E. Care Management, we offer years of experience in navigating the healthcare system, managing logistics, and providing support throughout the entire surgical journey.

In Canada, where a publicly funded healthcare system is in place, some individuals opt to seek medical treatment, including surgery, in the United States and choose to pay for these services privately. Securing the "right" surgeon and obtaining timely surgical care can be challenging; hence, the reason Canadians can benefit from hiring a care manager.

Accessibility, When Timing is Critical

A key factor motivating the decision to have surgery in the United States versus Canada is the concern over prolonged wait times for certain medical procedures within the Canadian healthcare system. While the system aims for equal access, high demand for specific treatments can result in delays, prompting some individuals to seek timelier care in the United States. Additionally, the choice to access specialized care, certain medical expertise, or technologies that may be less readily available in Canada plays a role in this decision. Some individuals may prefer specific doctors, hospitals, or treatment approaches in the U.S., leading them to pay privately for healthcare services to maintain greater control over their healthcare decisions. Moreover, private health insurance coverage may contribute to Canadians seeking treatment in the United States, as it can offset the financial burden. This phenomenon is not reflective of the entire Canadian healthcare system, as the majority of healthcare services are still provided through the public system. The decision to pursue private healthcare in another country is influenced by individual circumstances, preferences, and the nature of the medical condition.