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2013
Awards
Keith Blewitt, who
lives in
Philadelphia, Pa.,
flew to Oklahoma
City in August to
have a torn meniscus repaired. With
no insurance after
being laid off, he
says he called one
of the most reputable orthopedic centers in Philly, only to be told "they weren't really
interested in seeing me without insurance." Another Philadelphia hospital said it would do the surgery — but it would cost him about
$14,000.
Desperate to get his life and mobility back, he spoke to a doctor
friend from Venezuela, who told him she could arrange for him to go
to Venezuela and get it done "for 6 or 7 grand."
Then, says Mr. Blewitt, he punched in "cash payment" and "surgery" on
his computer, and quickly found the Surgery Center of Oklahoma. "It was
like the heavens were answering my call," he says. His surgeon would be
Steven Coupens, MD, the surgeon for the U.S. Olympic cycling team. The
all-inclusive price would be $3,740. Even with airfare, car rental and hotel,
the savings were significant.
So far, the center has been able to handle its ever-increasing volume
of business without resulting delays (patients making first contact are
usually told they can schedule procedures the next day), but as word
spreads, and the number of out-of-state patients grows, demand may
surpass what the center can supply.
"That's a problem I hope we face," says Dr. Smith. "If we're overFIRING BACK
The decision to post
prices online was 'a
shot across the bow,'
says Dr. Smith, aimed
at a corrupt and
inefficient system.
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | S E P T E M B E R 2013