Key Takeaways
- By strategically scheduling their surgery, flights, and accommodations, Canadians can significantly enhance comfort and reduce stress during their medical trip to Arizona.
- Canadians can facilitate border crossings and medical consultations by having their passport, medical records, and prescriptions organized and readily available.
- Canadians should also pack essential personal care items and comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that is weather-appropriate to guarantee a smooth recovery.
- Although Arizona medical facilities can offer invaluable support to out-of-country patients, it can still be beneficial to bring a trusted family member or friend to assist with transportation, meals, and communication.
Why Travel Preparation Matters for Medical Tourism
As wait times for orthopedic surgeries in Canada continue to rise, an increasing number of Canadians are turning to medical tourism to access the timely and specialized care they need. Arizona, particularly Scottsdale, has become a popular destination for Canadians seeking joint surgery due to the city’s renowned orthopedic centers and ideal climate for recovery.
For Canadian patients planning to travel to a destination like Scottsdale, Arizona, it is essential to properly prepare for your trip to increase your chances of having a successful medical experience. For instance, you need to book flights far enough apart to allow your body sufficient time to heal during the early stages of recovery. You also need to know what to pack, including medical records and appropriate clothing.
This guide can equip prospective medical tourists with some of the most valuable tips that can enhance their travel experience. Read through the considerations below to learn about scheduling considerations, post-operative care requirements, packing essentials, and more.
Top 9 Travel Tips for Canadians Traveling to Arizona for Surgery
Traveling from Canada to Arizona for orthopedic surgery can be a smart move for many Canadians who face long waits and administrative hurdles that prevent them from getting a timely knee or hip replacement surgery. However, meticulous preparation is crucial to ensure a smooth and stress-free trip. Consider the following nine tips when planning your travel.
1. Book Flights With Recovery in Mind
It is a good idea to opt for direct flights to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to minimize travel time and joint strain. You should also schedule an early arrival to give yourself a few days for pre-operative appointments and adequate rest.
Consider purchasing flexible or refundable tickets to account for potential changes to your surgery schedule. You may also want to upgrade your return flight to get additional legroom and make deplaning easier. Doing so can enhance post-surgery comfort.
2. Time Your Trip Carefully
Again, it is a good idea to arrive 2–3 days before surgery to acclimate to the area, attend medical consultations, and adjust to the warm climate of Arizona. Similarly, you should allocate sufficient time for post-surgery recovery, ideally around 2 weeks, to allow for initial healing milestones and follow-up visits before returning home. In general, avoiding scheduling travel too close to your procedure can help prevent unnecessary stress and make the trip easier on your body.
Luckily, this extra time may give you a chace to try out leisure activities before and after your surgery, whether you want to check out the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art or catch a show at the Scottsdale Center For The Performing Arts To facilitate outdoor activities, be sure to research seasonal weather conditions and pack appropriately. For example, Scottsdale can get very warm in the summer, making it essential to bring short-sleeved shirts and shorts.
3. Choose the Right Accommodations
As you are selecting your hotel, resort, or Airbnb, be sure to choose lodging near your surgical facility with amenities like elevators and walk-in showers to make it easier and safer for you to move around. Some parts of Arizona can be very lively due to its vibrant nightlife scene, but it’s best to opt for quiet, comfortable environments that support rest and recovery. After finding places that fit your needs, you may also want to inquire about medical rates or extended-stay options through your care team, since some clinics partner with local hotels to make things easier on their patients.
4. Know What to Pack
When selecting clothes to bring, consider dressing for the season by researching Arizona’s weather during your stay. Regardless of the temperature, pack comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that is easy to put on post-surgery.
Aside from appropriate clothing, some of the most important items you should pack include:
- Supportive footwear
- Necessary medications
- Medical records
- Travel insurance documents (if applicable)
- Your Canadian passport and another form of identification
- Items for recovery, like refreezable ice packs and compression devices
In addition to the items listed above, don’t forget to bring other essential items, such as chargers and personal hygiene products.
5. Prepare for the Border
As mentioned in the tip above, it’s vital to carry a valid Canadian passport, as it’s the only universally accepted travel document for re-entry into Canada. Be prepared to discuss the nature of your trip with border or customs officials if they ask you questions. To simplify this process, we recommend bringing documentation that confirms the purpose of your visit, such as appointment letters or provider information. Additionally, you should be prepared to declare what your medications are and follow travel guidelines for medical supplies.
6. Coordinate Medical Paperwork in Advance
To expedite the process and minimize the amount of pre-operative work required, you may be able to share your existing imaging results, medical history, and necessary forms with your Arizona care team before your arrival. Your Arizona medical provider may require you to secure a summary of care or surgical clearance from your Canadian doctor.
Dependable care teams, such as the one at the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale, will work with you to clarify any pre-travel lab work or diagnostics needed to ensure a seamless surgical process upon your arrival.
7. Understand Your Post-Surgery Needs
Before you embark on your trip, consult your provider to discuss the types of mobility aids you’ll require. They may be able to share potential options for bringing or renting them in Arizona. With the care team’s help, it will be easier to assess the level of assistance needed immediately after surgery. Depending on the invasiveness of your joint surgery, you may need help with meals, hygiene, and mobility.
The Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale performs robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery, which minimizes post-surgery complications. Nevertheless, you should still plan your accommodations and coordinate with your support system to align travel logistics with your recovery timeline.
8. Bring a Support Person
Although places like the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale offer sufficient guidance and support to make medical tourism possible independently, traveling with a trusted companion can significantly enhance your comfort and recovery experience. Having a trusted friend or family member by your side can assist with transportation, meals, and communication with your care team. If you go this route, you should consider accommodations with suites or kitchenettes to facilitate caregiving.
9. Know the Follow-Up Plan
Discuss post-operative check-ins with your surgeon. They can explain whether they’ll be in-person, virtual, or coordinated with a provider back home. The Joint Replacement of Scottsdale offers easy accessibility through virtual chats, enabling us to assist our Canadian patients from anywhere.
Nevertheless, it is essential to understand which symptoms or side effects require immediate contact with your Arizona care team. If needed, you can request a comprehensive summary of your surgical procedure and recovery plan to share with your Canadian healthcare providers.
The Travel and Preparation Are Worth It
Although orthopedic practices in the United States, such as the Joint Replacement of Scottsdale, work hard to make their Canadian patients’ experiences as smooth as possible, embarking on a medical journey from Canada to Arizona still requires thoughtful preparation. Nevertheless, the rewards are well worth it.
Some examples of benefits Canadians may experience from getting hip or knee replacement surgery at the Joint Replacement of Scottsdale are:
- Access to advanced surgical technology – Our team utilizes state-of-the-art robotic tools, like Mako SmartRobotics and a CORI surgical system, to enhance precision and improve recovery outcomes.
- Shorter wait times – Our surgeons specialize specifically in hip and knee surgery, providing our team with more availability than Canadian public health centers, which must evenly distribute their resources.
- Comprehensive post-operative care – Our care team provides thorough follow-up services, including virtual consultations, that ensure continuity of care even after our patients return to Canada.
- Transparent costs – We provide clear and predictable pricing. Our team breaks down the medical costs that our patients will incur well before they make a final commitment.
- Favorable recovery environment – Arizona’s warm climate and availability of comfortable accommodations contribute to a conducive setting for post-surgical recovery.
In addition to the benefits above, the Joint Replacement of Scottsdale offers a personalized patient experience. Our patients receive individualized attention, from pre-surgery consultations to post-operative support, which further sets us apart from Canadian public health centers with unmanageable caseloads.
Set Yourself Up for a Smooth Surgical Journey
To facilitate their medical trip to Arizona, Canadians should book direct, flexible flights that are spaced out and choose accommodations near their surgical facility. Medical tourists should also pack comfortable clothing and essential documents to ensure a smooth trip.
Medical tourism may sound overwhelming at first, but the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale is dedicated to supporting its Canadian patients every step of the way. Our knowledgeable team can offer you valuable suggestions for flights, scheduling, and accommodations. Plus, we can help tailor your expectations for post-operative care by developing a clear follow-up plan and addressing any questions you may have.
We take pride in knowing that we can help many Canadians get faster, more attentive care than what is offered by their public healthcare system. Suppose you have already received testing and a diagnosis. In that case, our experienced joint specialists can provide second opinions on your existing treatment plan and perform any necessary hip or knee replacement surgery.
Canadians should schedule an initial consultation to discover how our joint specialists team can help them enhance their quality of life.
