Satori World Medical Market Watch

In This Issue

I am excited to launch our newsletter and hope it will become a regular part of your reading. My column will be devoted to topics in the area of health care, international medical travel and Satori-specific news.

As we head into the fall election cycle I would like to offer my perspective on the health care reform legislation (The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - PPACA) that was signed into law by President Obama in March 2010 and how the reform measure affects Satori World Medical.

The changes in legislation will offer both positive and negative impacts to U.S. businesses. One of the benefits of the legislation is that we now know how the future of health care is going to be shaped. There are a specific set of deliverables and timetables that have been set.

With the completion of PPACA, businesses are focused again at looking for measures to save on rising health care costs. Because of this, businesses are starting to see a place in their employee benefit plans for medical travel.

With the addition of 40 million Americans, having access to health insurance there will be increased demand for health care services. You couple that with an existing shortage of nurses and doctors, queuing for medical care will be a natural by-product.

As the time to see a specialist increases, more individuals will seek to get immediate help through medical travel. Employers and employees will come to understand the high-quality health care that is available to them internationally as they look to end pain and ill health.

The PPACA utilizes similar features as the state-wide Massachusetts plan, which was implemented several years ago. In the Massachusetts plan, queuing for primary and specialty care has more than tripled the wait time for appointments and treatment.

As the low cost option, medical travel will be an attractive network option for employer-based medical plans. Satori will continue to support and work with current brokers and consultants, third-party administrators, and health plan distribution channels. Satori management will also proactively positioning itself to be a part of the exchange marketplaces as they come on line in 2013. We are confident that our program and services will be a valuable option for all Americans.

I welcome your feedback and questions. Please contact me at marketing@satoriworldmedical.com.

Thank you for reading,
Steven Lash, President & CEO, Satori World Medical

President's Perspective

News in Brief

Around the Globe

Satori World Medical's Network

Company

Below is a recap of recent press releases and news articles from Satori World Medical.

Satori World Medical’s chief medical officer Ron Johnson, M.D., did an interview with the Society for Human Resources Management’s (SHRM) HR News on the threat of the India superbug in medical travel. Click here to see the full article.
Kristen Montez joins Satori World Medical as director of legal and regulatory services. Click here to see the full article.
James Buncher joins board of directors for Satori World Medical. Click here for full story.

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Foreign-trained docs as good as U.S. physicians (MSNBC article)

A recent article that ran on MSNBC.com stated that physicians trained in other countries provide care just as good as U.S. doctors, according to new report published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs.

Highlights of the article include:

Patients of foreign-born international medical graduates had the lowest death rates.
Patients of U.S. citizens who attended medical school in other countries had the highest death rates.
U.S.-born and trained doctors fell in the middle.
25 percent of all doctors practicing in the United States are educated abroad.

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Hospital Update

Satori World Medical is pleased to announce an expansion of our Global Network to include the following International Centers of Excellence:

Fortis Mulund
Fortis Bangalore
Fortis Hospital Mohali
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute New Delhi
Apollo Bangalore
Apollo Chennai
Apollo Hyderabad
Apollo/Gleneagles Kolkata
Satgum Partap Singh Apollo Punjab

For a full list of our hospital network click here.

Satori World Medical
Global Headquarters

591 Camino de la Reina
Suite 407
San Diego, CA 92108

Free: (866) 613-9686
Local: (619) 704-2000

Satori World Medical puts quality first. We align ourselves with only the best doctors, hospitals, board members and employees across the globe.

Featured Patient Testimonial

A dear friend underwent surgery at Bangkok Hospital Medical Center in Thailand through Satori World Medical. My friend chose to go through Satori World Medical not only because of the costs savings, but also because their services included hotel and travel accommodations for a companion. I accompanied my friend throughout her entire procedure and would like to share some information regarding my experience as her companion.

When we checked in to the Bangkok Hospital, we were promptly escorted to her personal hospital room. She was given a beautiful, private room which even included a large sofa sleeper so I could stay the night and keep her company after her surgery. Once my friend was taken into surgery, I was given breakfast and waited in her room until she was brought back from her operation a few hours later. The doctors and medical staff, who all spoke English, were incredibly accommodating and attentive whenever my friend needed assistance. The remainder of our stay was a pleasant experience and my friend’s recovery proceeded as expected.

I fully realized through my friend’s procedure the importance of requiring a companion program. Having a familiar face accompany the patient adds immediate comfort and peace of mind. I would highly recommend Satori World Medical and Bangkok Hospital Medical Center to anyone considering traveling outside the US for a procedure.

Deanne Yocum // San Diego, CA

World Renowned Gender Reassignment and Plastic Surgeon Joins Satori World Medical's Network of Providers

Satori World Medical, the leader in medical travel, adds world-renowned gender reassignment and plastic surgeon Pierre Brassard, M.D. to its prestigious network. Click here for full story.

Kevin Poling is the director of travel and customer service at Satori World, bringing more than 20 years experience in the global travel industry. Every other week, Kevin shares travel tips with our customers. To read all of Kevin’s tips, click here.

Airport security screenings can be time consuming and stressful, below are a few tips on how travelers can get through the process easily and save time.

Have appropriate documents such as your boarding pass and a form of government issued identification ready to present to a checking officer.
If you are bringing a laptop, be prepared to remove it from its carrying case for x-ray screening.
Make sure you are dressed properly for airport security check-ins.

Wear comfortable, loose clothing that can be layered.
Wear sandals or slip-on shoes that can be easily removed at security.
Avoid wearing large belts that contain metal and excessive amounts of heavy jewelry that may set off the metal detector.

Keep all medicines in their original, labeled containers.
Comply with TSA’s 3-1-1 rule for liquid carry-ons, or pack them in your checked baggage to get through security faster. Also, do not pack any prohibited items.

Remember to leave for the airport with plenty of time to spare. For international flights, 2+ hours is a good rule of thumb. I recommend leaving even earlier if you are traveling during the holidays, bringing a lot of luggage, or need special assistance

Satori World Medical’s chief medical officer Ron Johnson, M.D., shares every-day health advice with our readers. To read all of Dr. Johnson’s tips, visit our blog.

An estimated 46 million people in the United States have arthritis of some form. By the year 2020, this number is expected to reach 60 million. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Here are a few tips to maintain healthy joints and protect against injury and disease.

Maintain a healthy weight

Carrying less weight will help reduce pressure on your knees, hips, and back and can help prevent joint injury.
Be active

Sitting or standing for extended periods can cause joint stiffness. Engage in low impact exercises that raise your heart rate and reduce joint swelling – try yoga, swimming, walking, or bicycling
Eat right

A diet that is high in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D and Vitamin C can promote healthy joints and reduce pain and swelling. A good source of Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in foods such as salmon, flaxseed oil and walnuts. Many experts recommend taking supplemental Omega-3 for joint health. Vitamin C is necessary for the formation of collagen that supports joint tissue and can slow the progression of osteoarthritis. Excellent sources of Vitamin C are papayas, oranges, and brussel sprouts. Vitamin D helps build strong bones, which reduces stress on joints. Vitamin D-rich foods include pure cod liver oil, salmon and milk.

When working with employers, brokers, or insurance organizations, director of sales Keith Mendoza says he is often asked to describe the main benefits of Satori’s service. Here are Keith's top five:

Satori reduces employer’s medical plan expenses.

Explanation: Satori total cost for surgical procedure also includes travel and accommodations for the patient and their companion is 40 percent to 80 percent less than just the surgical cost for the same procedure in the U.S. Satori does not charge a monthly per-employee-per-month or a monthly access fee.
There are no upfront cost or monthly access fees to offer Satori to your employees.

Explanation: Satori is only paid when a patient utilizes our medical travel services. Satori will provide a single bill that includes all medical, and travel cost associated with the procedure including Satori’s administrative and overhead cost.
Satori provides access to high quality care that meets or exceeds U.S. standards.

Explanation: Satori network of hospitals have been selected because they are Joint Commission International accredited and have outcomes that meet or exceed U.S. standards. Furthermore the physicians available to patients are U.S./U.K. or equivalently trained and board certified and speak English.
Satori services are 100 percent employee choice.

Explanation: Satori does not replace employee’s choice of U.S. based providers, but rather Satori enhances an employee’s choice of providers when they need a non-emergent surgical procedure.
Benefit: Employees share in the Satori cost savings by having a 100 percent benefit with no out-of-pocket expenses when they Satori for their procedure.

Explanation: Satori procedure cost savings per procedure range from $15,000 to $90,000, so typically an employer waives the employees normal out of pocket expenses when the employee choose Satori provider for their procedure. Additionally an employer can share additional portion of the savings through an health reimbursement account.

If you would like more information on adding Satori World Medical to your employee benefits program, please contact Keith at k.mendoza@satoriworldmedical.com.

We are in the process of setting our 2011 travel schedule. Check back for updates.

Satori World Medical provides access to its global network of board-certified doctors and worldwide centers of excellence through a high-quality integrated program, which is easily added to any health plan, reducing the costs of surgical procedures by an average of 40-80 percent when compared to the same procedures performed in a U.S. hospital. Its business model is specifically designed to deliver high-quality health care services, share the tremendous cost savings with plan sponsors and their employees and to coordinate all medical and travel services for individuals who need care. For more information about Satori World Medical, visit our website at http://www.satoriworldmedical.com.

Contact us:

Satori World Medical
Global Headquarters
591 Camino de la Reina, suite 407
San Diego, CA 92108

(866) 613-9686
(619) 704-2000

marketing@satoriworldmedical.com
www.satoriworldmedical.com