Essential Medicine General

	Young or old, male or female, Costa Rican medicine provides needed healing power
	[General] [Men] [Women]
	[Cardiology] [Urology] [Dentistry] [Ophthamology] [General Specialties] [Pain]

Cardiology

Assuredly, heart surgery is not something to take lightly, and HTC does not. We work exclusively with the finest heart team, using the most modern surgical theaters in Costa Rica and Latin America. Headed by Dr. Longino Soto Pacheco, this cardiac/cardiovascular/thoracic team performed the first successful heart transplant in Costa Rica in March of 1991 and has since given nine others replacement hearts. Dr. Soto has been recognized internationally as one of the premier open heart surgeons currently operating and has received a number of awards for his pioneering work in open heart surgery. During the past thirty years, he has worked to make Costa Rica's health system one of the best in the world, and has succeeded admirably. The other members of the cardiac team are equally qualified, and under the direction of Dr. Soto, perform all heart surgeries with a dedication and degree of excellence and success found only in the finest heart centers around the world.

Would you come to Costa Rica for heart surgery--valve replacement, by-pass surgery, etc.? Possibly not, as the risks associated with these surgeries are often best met close to home. However, if given the choice of undergoing open heart surgery close to home by mediocre surgeons or in Costa Rica (with jet air ambulance on standby) by an incredibly successful team of gifted heart surgeons, and for significantly less cost, the choice becomes less clear.

Cost is low on the list of concerns when a life threatening heart condition requires intervention, especially when adequate health insurance is available. And cost should not stand in the way of receiving the best care available. By choosing Costa Rica and Dr. Soto's internationally recognized heart team, you are not only assured of first-class treatment in first-class surroundings with top-quality attention before, during and after the surgery, but you are assured that your health care dollar will be well spent.

HTC is proud to work exclusively with Dr. Soto and his team. This is one more example of HTC dedication to excellence in health care services as well as in vacation choices. If your choice is Costa Rica for heart surgery, HTC will see that your recuperation time will be passed in medically supervised and appropriate tropical surroundings. Dedicated to providing only the very best for the patient tourist, HTC will tailor a package exclusively for you, focused on both your health care needs and your recovery needs. As always, our services to the patient tourist are free of charge. We believe in Costa Rica and its ability to compete with health care systems world-wide; we believe in Dr. Soto and his team; and we believe that your choice of Costa Rica for your medical needs is a good one.

For those interested in just how well their heart is working, HTC offers a special complete heart check-up package. This check-up is performed by members of Dr. Soto's team.

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Urology

As with other medical specialities, a number of outstanding doctors and surgeons practice urology in Costa Rica. HTC works exclusively with Costa Rica's most prestigious team of urologists and radiologists. Headed by Dr. Guido Alvarez, this team uses ultra-modern equip ment and practices in a state-of-the-art facility. All procedures available in other developed countries are available here, and with the utilization of ITT surgical laser, all can be acomplished to the highest standards.

One of the most debilitating illnesses is renal failure. Often, a close living relative of the patient is available to donate one of his/her kidneys. HTC's experienced urology team is in a position to perform such transplants at a moment's notice. HTC can arrange for jet charter medical transportation throughout the Americas for medical emergencies such as renal failure. Again, though cost is usually the last thing on a family's mind in emergency situations, the costs in Costa Rica for living, related kidney donor transplants are significantly below those of the same operation in the United States.

Many other urology problems/conditions can be addressed by the HTC urology team. Diagnosis and treatment are done on a case specific basis and a quick (perhaps even tax deductible) trip to Costa Rica for a consultation can be arranged at your request.

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Dentistry

Many dentists in Costa Rica have received training in other countries. By and large, dentists here are as skilled in the latest dental practices as any to be found. The University of Costa Rica has an excellent, modern School of Dentistry which prepares Costa Rican dentists for competitive practice. As with all other health care in Costa Rica, dental costs are considerably below international averages while the quality is consistantly above those same averages.

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Ophthamology

Along with Colombia and Brazil, Costa Rica offers many years of experience with laser eye surgery. New to the U.S., laser eye surgery has been practiced in Costa Rica with the most modern equipment available for many years. Those eye surgeons applying the lasers (Eximer/Lasik) have trained with international renowned teachers and have themselves trained eye surgeons from many other parts of the world.

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General Specialties

The Health Tourism Corporation of Costa Rica works with over 30 medical specialities, from Acupuncture to Venereal Specialists. We can arrange treatments with any specialist, and travel packages can be individually tailored to meet the budget constraints of any health tourist.

Within the area of general health is the sub-category of homeopathy. There are many homeopathic medical specialists in Costa Rica whose education and training is in alternative medicine such as iridology, reflexology, herbology, etc. HTC feels that these specialists play an important if not integral part in the excellent medical system of the country and we work closely with several, highly trained, homeopathic medical professionals.

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Pain

Chronic pain associated with a variety of medical conditions has fostered its own specialists. There is an excellent pain clinic in Costa Rica as well as several specialists in pain. The clinic has had excellent results in managing and overcoming chronic pain. One specialist in particular, Dr. Pedro Bolaños, Orthopedic Surgeon, PhD in Nutrition, Acupuncturist and Homeopath, has done considerable work in this area and with his varied skills offers many avenues for management and recovery for those suffering with chronic pain.