Surgery in Mexico

Last fall, my friend Hugh came to me because he needed surgery and no insurance (he was in between jobs and his insurance had lapsed). He ended up going to Tijuana, Mexico and had his gall bladder removed for a fraction of what it would’ve have cost him out of pocket here in the states. While he was down there, he started talking to them about others who travel from the states to their office for services. He was amazed at how many people actually travel out of the country each year for procedures that they can’t afford here. He knew I had a background in healthcare sales and called me and asked if he thought we could set up a program where we could help people get the surgeries they want and need safely. There are horror stories out there of people who travel overseas for surgeries and come back with complications. So, last fall, I made a couple of trips to Mexico to meet with the doctors and the surgeons. They are absolutely wonderful people. We are working with a couple groups of Doctors now that are all board certified in the specialties and have been providing their services for many years. Many of them teach medicine at the University in Tijuana. They are kind, conscientious, and have excellent follow-up with their patients. Their clinic is beautiful and better equipped than many of the facilities you can find here, stateside.

It took a lot for Hugh to sell me on the idea to set up a medical travel company but after I met with the physicians, I was “sold”. We set up Destination New You as a referral source for people who need surgeries but can’t afford them here. Our first site is Tijuana because its so close and easy to get to. Patients, after being cleared by their physician, fly into San Diego and are escorted across the border and taken directly to the clinic. From the clinic, they are then driven to the hotel of their choice. We have negotiated prices with two hotels and one Bed and Breakfast.

My favorite place is Sadie’s Bed and Breakfast but Sonya, the owner, has not installed an elevator, so if your post-surgery requires that you can’t climb stairs, it might be a bit hard. Sonya and her mother moved down from San Francisco to set up this B&B and it is absolutely gorgeous. You can see it if you go to our web-site. I can’t wait for my next trip to Sadie’s. Their hospitality is fantastic!