Dear Rick,

I wanted to wait until my 3 month period had passed to write you and say how thankful I am for Timely Medical Alternatives, now that I have completely recovered.

To abandon the “free” medical plan we have in Nova Scotia and be willing to spend the money we did on a hip replacement was a big step for us.

I want you to know how much I appreciated the call from your vacation time in Hawaii, due to administrative problems in the states.  You took control and handled the situation immediately.

Your choice of facility and specialists made the experience as easy as it could have been.  The hospital administration were proficient and friendly; the nurses – wonderful; Mr Rice, the physiotherapist was exceptional.

Thank you once again,

Susan H.

Hi Rick,

As you can see from the email below that you were cc’d on, the surgery was very much a success.  The surgeon was great.  He spent as much time as I wanted answering my questions, came in to check on me in the hospital and to make sure I was discharged on Saturday morning (his day off), visited me at the house we rented (at his recommendation) a few days later, and was altogether professional and personable.  The hospital staff were similarly professional and helpful, and the hospital itself very comfortable.  The physio, Scott, was particularly helpful and I give him a lot of credit for getting me up on my feet quickly. I have nothing but positive things  to say about the experience.

I would also like to thank you very much for your role in facilitating this.  I think it is a shame that people in my situation need to go the States to do this, but given that they do you provide a very important service.  That service was prompt and professional service throughout, and I thank you very much for your help.  Needless to say I will recommend you unreservedly.

Thanks again Rick.

Ken

Christian:

Further to our numerous emails, I had the surgery and all seems to be going well.  Recovery is slow, but that is to be expected. The surgeon was quite surprised at the extent of the Shoulder damage when he went it – from a tear the size of a dime to one the size of a silver dollar was his description.  He noted that had I waited a year to get the surgery, he would not have done it because the damage would have been too far gone! It was a great experience from a customer service point of view.

All appointments were scheduled at my convenience.  During my stay in Phoenix for 2 ½ weeks, I met with the surgeon 3 times aside from the surgery itself.  My wife met with him once while I was in post surgery.  They kept me overnight because my stomach didn’t take well to the pain medication.  Really nice private hospital – great service – smiling faces on the staff!!  It was amazing when compared to the public system here.  – I would highly recommend!!!

Sincerely,

Vern E.

Hello Rick,
I would like to send to you this letter of appreciation for the great service you and your associates have provided for me. You were able to schedule the Robotic surgery required to remove my cancerous prostate months earlier than I could get it done in Canada. While writing this letter I would still be waiting for a consult with a Canadian doctor. Because of your service my prostate was removed on the 23rd of May. My cancer was aggressive, by having it removed early has saved my life. Waiting would have given the cancer time to spread, now it is gone. I am a cancer survivor because of you. The more people know of your service, the more lives can be saved. Early detection and removal is paramount.
Thank you, Rick Baker and your associates for giving me the opportunity to live longer with peace of mind.

James V.

Hello Rick,

How are you?  Thank you so much for arranging my surgery last June.  The surgery was a complete success; as soon as I awoke after the procedure the agonizing pain I had been suffering with for three years was gone.  The level of care and compassion at the surgery centre was fantastic.  I am happy to say that nine months later, I am walking without a limp, my gate is completely normal, I have lost thirty pounds, and I am returning to Paramedicine in the next few weeks.  Thank you again.

-Ann G.

Hi Christian,

Just wanted to drop a note and let you know that I survived the hip surgery, am home, and on the way to recovery.

I also wanted to tell you how pleased I am with Dr. Creasman.  As I think I had told you, I managed a cardiovascular lab for 25 years and dealt with many different physicians, their behaviors, their attitudes, and proclivities.  Dr. Creasman is, without a doubt, one of the nicest I have ever run in to.  He is professional, caring, and never makes you feel that he is rushed.  I was also pleased with the surgical facility…not at all like a “regular” hospital. It was quiet, the employees were responsive, the food was not bad, and they do whatever they can to make the patient and their family member comfortable.  I would recommend Dr. Creasman and his facility to anyone who might be as terrified as I was…it’s the little things that make the situation bearable.

Again, thank you so much for all your help and I hope I will not need your services again.

Sincerely,

O.C.

Dear Mr. Baker,

This letter is to give testimonial to your organization and to the hospital in Kansas, with respect to my recent double heart bypass surgery as arranged through your good services at this hospital.

First – from entering the hospital on Thursday until I was wheeled into the surgery operating room on Friday at noon (28 hours later), I was given a feeling that people genuinely care, and that they all did their utmost to make me feel at ease and in safe hands.

Second – from the second of waking up after surgery and finding myself helpless and in pain in the ICU, I quickly found out that I was in the caring hands of the hospital’s real front-liners: the Registered Nurses, who almost instantly become your personal full-time assistant to help you in every possible way through these first two days as and when everything aches: body, mind, soul, & spirit.  My front-liner RN was named Harold. I am, and always will be, thankful to this gentle giant and his every effort to meet my discomforts and pains with all he could do.  There were others as an Amy, a Jim, a Dwayne who prepped me, a Ceton – all RN’s so important in helping me find comfort and answers to the initial mind-set of will I make it?

Third – and most importantly – the operation has worked wonders for me, and I feel indeed a new man, restored to my levels of breathing and energy I had not known for many years.  I am doing well, and if I feel some remaining sensation in my sternum, it is a pain of joy and thanks, a reminder of the precious gift I received through the good and caring minds and hands of the doctors & nurses.

May all be blessed by life.

Respectfully,

J.G.

Quality of life should not be compromised no matter what your age. I am 47 years old, and have been suffering for years from a deteriorating hip joint.

Up until recently I was unaware of what the real problem was. Once I was properly diagnosed, I was first told that I was too young for a hip replacement. Then I was made aware of the two to three year wait period for a hip replacement in Alberta. This was not acceptable to me, so I began to search, mostly via the net, for alternatives. Searching the net lead me to the Timely Medical Alternatives contact number. I spoke to Richard Baker, at Timely, and found that I could literally have a replacement within weeks, which was amazing considering Christmas (2009) was fast approaching.

Once I made up my mind to go ahead with the replacement, the whole process was seamless. We (my husband Ken accompanied me on the trip) decided to have the procedure done at one of five possible locations in the United States that Timely offers. We made our flight arrangements once a surgical date was confirmed with the Hospital’s surgical staff. We got on the plane and were picked up from the airport by limo service. We were shuttled everywhere we needed to go prior to surgery. I had the operation (January 13, 2010) and recovered very well.

After roughly seven days post op recovery (initially in a hospital and finally close by the hospital in a hotel which is actually attached to the hospital) we were shuttled back to the airport to fly home, and today I am five weeks past surgery and in good post operative condition recovering nicely.

The manner in which all arrangements were handled by Timely Medical Alternatives was very informative, compassionate and professional. The care I received by the surgeon and his staff and while in hospital was compassionate and professional, nothing short of excellent. If you are in need of surgery to restore your quality of life, I recommend you wait no longer. It worked for me – in fact I wouldn’t have done it any differently. It can work for you too.

Sincerely,
DLK

Hi Christian,

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of dealing with your father Rick regarding a potential spinal surgery. It is a very difficult high tech procedure that is only being performed experimentally at this time in Toronto Ont. but is widely available in the US. Due to the high cost of the equipment and training required as well as BMP2, an exciting new drug that increases bone graft potential by an astonishing 15% ( and approx. $12,000 per patient ); this procedure will probably never be used on a wide scale in Canada (for obvious reasons). With the help of your father I was sent to see a surgeon in Buffalo NY who saw me within a few days of contact. For $175 US, this surgeon, who by the way was an ex Canadian, spent an amazing hour and a half of his busy schedule with me going over my various MRI’s, x-rays etc. and then went on to explain what he felt was causing my pain and the surgical options that I had along with their potential risks. I have never came away from a doctors visit feeling more informed. It seemed as if this man would have spent the rest of the day with me if I had kept asking him questions. What a loss for Canada! At this time I have decided against the surgery but am very grateful for the persistence and assistance of Rick Baker and Timely Medical.

Many thanks,
Randy G

Dear Christian,

Thank you so much for facilitating this repair job for me. I must say that I was apprehensive about having to travel and all, but it turned out just great. The people at the surgical centre were just great, and the surgeon was very professional, and advised me well. I will certainly recommend your service to anyone who needs it.

The cost was very surprising! I think that we get a lot of propaganda on the cost of private health care. I expected it to cost quite a bit more, and on top of it had a very nice Saturday evening and Sunday in Vancouver. The hotel was great and they even upgraded us to the 12th floor into a suite with a beautiful view.

I am recovering well, and will see a gynaecologist on the 11th of Feb., and she will write a report to the surgeon, which he requested. I also needed a little consult along the way, and he returned my call promptly and was very reassuring.

Again, thanks so very much!

Sincerely,
Joyce R