Caroline E Sheppard1, Erica L W Lester2, Shahzeer Karmali1, Christopher J de Gara3, Daniel W Birch1. 1. Centre for the Advancement of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Room No. 502 CSC, 10240 Kingsway Avenue, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta T5H 3V9, Canada; University of Alberta, 2-590 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada. 2. University of Alberta, 2-590 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada. 3. University of Alberta, 2-590 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada. Electronic address: cdegara@ualberta.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medical tourists are defined as individuals who intentionally travel from their home province/country to receive medical care. Minimal literature exists on the cost of postoperative care and complications for medical tourists. The costs associated with these patients were reviewed. METHODS: Between February 2009 and June 2013, 62 patients were determined to be medical tourists. Patients were included if their initial surgery was performed between January 2003 and June 2013. A chart review was performed to identify intervention costs sustained upon their return. RESULTS: Conservatively, the costs of length of stay (n = 657, $1,433,673.00), operative procedures (n = 110, $148,924.30), investigations (n = 700, $214,499.06), blood work (n = 357, $19,656.90), and health professionals' time (n = 76, $17,414.87) were summated to the total cost of $1.8 million CAD. CONCLUSIONS: The absolute denominator of patients who go abroad for bariatric surgery is unknown. Despite this, a substantial cost is incurred because of medical tourism. Future investigations will analyze the cost effectiveness of bariatric surgery conducted abroad compared with local treatment.
BACKGROUND: Medical tourists are defined as individuals who intentionally travel from their home province/country to receive medical care. Minimal literature exists on the cost of postoperative care and complications for medical tourists. The costs associated with these patients were reviewed. METHODS: Between February 2009 and June 2013, 62 patients were determined to be medical tourists. Patients were included if their initial surgery was performed between January 2003 and June 2013. A chart review was performed to identify intervention costs sustained upon their return. RESULTS: Conservatively, the costs of length of stay (n = 657, $1,433,673.00), operative procedures (n = 110, $148,924.30), investigations (n = 700, $214,499.06), blood work (n = 357, $19,656.90), and health professionals' time (n = 76, $17,414.87) were summated to the total cost of $1.8 million CAD. CONCLUSIONS: The absolute denominator of patients who go abroad for bariatric surgery is unknown. Despite this, a substantial cost is incurred because of medical tourism. Future investigations will analyze the cost effectiveness of bariatric surgery conducted abroad compared with local treatment.
Authors: Caroline E Sheppard; Erica L W Lester; Anderson W Chuck; David H Kim; Shahzeer Karmali; Christopher J de Gara; Daniel W Birch Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2014-06-27 Impact factor: 4.584