F.A.Q.
Why should I consider medical or surgical procedures outside the U.S.?
Why is health care much cheaper in some countries than in others?
How can I trust the quality of foreign doctors?
How can I correspond with a doctor in a foreign country?
Why should I choose Panama as a health tourism destination?
What if I can not find the procedure of interest in our website?
What if my family doctor advises against a foreign medical procedure?
How can I be sure of flying properly after a surgical medical procedure?
How can I know if AWP is a legitimate ethical company?
What is Medical Tourism?
Medical Tourism, also known as health tourism, offers high quality medical attention and procedures at affordable prices, in foreign countries. Medical Tourism has gained acceptance in recent years due to the worldwide economic situation, giving the patients the opportunity to obtain these services abroad at lesser prices, while recuperating and unwind with tourism activities in the particular country. For this very reason, the experience could be very gratifying.
What Services are included?
There are a number of services offered by Ageless Wonders Panama that will guide you through the entire process, so that the only thing you have to worry about is your desire to receive a high quality medical procedure, and to experience a gratifying we take care of the rest. Just follow this link for more information http://www.agelesswonders-pma.com.
Why should I consider medical or surgical procedures outside the U.S.?
The cost of medical procedures in Panama is generally 50 percent cheaper than the same procedures in the U.S. This cost differential allows the opportunity of spending a holiday in an exotic country, staying in a five or four stars hotel and flying back home having spent an excellent time with less money, while solving their medical problems. Besides, most of the expenses may be tax deductible, according to the IRS website. So, choosing Ageless Wonders Panama with their all inclusive packages will save you time and money.
Why is health care much cheaper in some countries than in others?
Although Panama has followed the American health care system in terms of quality and technology, it has not adopted its legal system altogether. Responsibility is a major concern for some people. Under Panamanian law, the physician is responsible for their professional performance. What we find is not going to pay the so-called “punitive damages” in the order of millions of dollars in the rare case an issue of malpractice. This reduces the cost of malpractice insurances and therefore the final cost of the procedure. In addition to this insurance, certain economies are at different stages of development than the U.S. This does not mean that its technologies and health institutions are behind the U.S. In fact, most private hospitals in Panama are using the same or better equipment and instruments as the most advanced hospitals in the U.S.
How can I trust the quality of foreign doctors?
To begin, the most important service of Ageless Wonders Panama is to guarantee that its members are elected by their high qualifications and were chosen by recommendation of our Medical Board, who reviews their credentials and background, before being invited to join our team. We will provide you with the summaries of all our staff doctors and, if you are still not comfortable, we will provide the information about doctors that is important to you. Moreover, many of our network physicians were educated in the U.S. Some of them have even licensed to practice in the U.S. and/or certified in the U.S. for their respective specialty societies.
How can I correspond with a doctor in a foreign country?
As part of our service, we help to facilitate the initial consultation between you and the doctor. Additional correspondence before traveling can be done via phone and / or email. For cosmetic surgery, doctors need to see images of the regions designated for surgery. For dental treatment, our doctors will have to see x-rays, photos and / or treatment plans that have already been offered to you (no need to see the cost estimate given to you). These images can be emailed via our telemedicine system, which is safe and expertise.
Are the hospitals safe?
All hospitals in our network have accreditation from the Panamanian government and non-government institutions that regulate health. Most of them have membership in internationally recognized institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, Baptist Hospital of Miami, Miami Children’s Hospital, Tulane Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine Int´l., among others. So you will feel comfortable and safe in our hospitals.
Why should I choose Panama as a health tourism destination?
This is an excellent question, because there are many countries in the world that provide medical care at a fraction of the cost of the U.S. Panama is a country that has professionals in the branches of medicine and dentistry, with excellent academic preparations. Also with great experience in their respective fields and, have technological equipment of the highest quality within the global tourism sector. Panama is a safe country, closer to your hometown than other destinations (2-5 hour flight), within the same time zone (or very close to it), English is widely spoken and, the U.S. dollar is our legal currency. Furthermore, culturally, our country is very much alike the U.S., than many of the other destinations, and in most cases, you do not need a visa to come to Panama. All these reasons are striking, but more important is that health professionals in Panama are among the best in Latin America. Not to mention our natural beauty and the Panama Canal, which you will want to visit during your stay in our country.
What if I can not find the procedure of interest in our website?
If you are interested in a particular procedure that is not listed on our website, please contact us so we can help in your search. Our network covers a broad spectrum of medical procedures, from less invasive procedures, such as spas and massages, to more advanced procedures such as cancer therapy and cardiovascular surgery.
What if my family doctor advises against a foreign medical procedure?
Este asesoramiento es de esperar. Tengan la seguridad de que los EE.UU. no es el único país que tiene rigurosas normas de salud y de derechos de los pacientes. Los controles y las normas de Panamá son muy reguladas, con standares internacionales de excelencia y, en general, siguen los pasos de las academias americanas de medicina. Por favor, recuerde que su médico puede no saber muchas cosas acerca de Panamá y su sistema privado de salud, (o en otros países en el extranjero), y algunas dudas se puede esperar. Si su médico desea hablar con el médico que elija para ver, por favor, no dude en preguntarnos. Estamos seguros de que su médico tendrá una agradable comunicación y comprensión con nuestros médicos, ya que todos han recibido una formación similar. Recuerde que nuestros hospitales están afiliados a instituciones americanas de renombre.
How can I be sure of flying properly after a surgical medical procedure?
Your flying itinerary will undoubtedly be dictated by the surgical procedure you will choose. Many of our procedures are ambulatory and non invasive, which can allow you to travel even the same day, or the day after your surgery. As soon as you choose your procedure, we will inform you about the recommended recovery time, before you travel back to your country.
How can I know if AWP is a legitimate ethical company?
AWP is member of the Tourism Commission of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives, as well as of the Panamanian Tourism Authority. We´re in the process of registration with the Panamanian Chamber of Tourism, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture of Panama and, later on with the Medical Tourism Authority (MTA). We work closely with the Panamanian Tourism Authority and our goal is to facilitate the patients a safe treatment abroad, while giving them a fantastic tourism experience, in our great country.
What is the JCI?
Joint Commission International (JCI) is a division of Joint Commission Resources (JCR), the subsidiary of The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). For more than 50 years, The Joint Commission and its predecessor organization have been dedicated to improving the quality and safety of health care services. The Joint Commission and its subsidiary are both not-for-profit corporations
