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There are several places you can get vaccines and medicine before you travel.

Call your doctor or local health department to see if they can provide pre-travel advice, vaccines, and medicines.

List of health departments

If you want to see a travel medicine specialist, the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) can help you find a clinic.

Directory of travel clinics

If you need yellow fever vaccine you must get vaccinated at an authorized yellow fever vaccine clinic. Many of these clinics also give other shots and medicines.

Yellow fever vaccine clinic search

Find where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine in your area.

Need to get tested? Find a COVID-19 testing clinic .

• Find out what vaccines you need for your destination
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Traveler Advice
• Clinician Tools and Resources

CDC provides these links as a convenience to international travelers. CDC does not endorse, recommend, or favor any clinics on these lists, nor does the appearance of a clinic on these lists imply a guarantee of service quality.

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Travel Medicine Clinics Overview

A visit to a Mayo Clinic travel medicine clinic before you depart on an international trip can help ensure a safer, smoother experience.

If you're planning a trip overseas, make one of your first stops a consultation with specialists in the travel medicine clinics at Mayo's campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Availability of services may vary among locations. Please confirm when you request an appointment.

You meet with a travel medicine specialist who is knowledgeable about current health risks worldwide and who will promote safe and healthy travels by offering counseling, recommendations, vaccinations, prescriptions and, if needed, a referral to another expert for complex medical conditions.

Virtual visits

You might be eligible for virtual pretravel consultations. If you're interested in this option, talk with the patient appointment specialist when you contact us to schedule an appointment.

COVID-19 and international travel

International travel has become more complex due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and some countries have exit and entry requirements. Your travel medicine specialist will be able to help you prepare for these requirements so that you have a smoother travel experience.

Before your trip

Schedule an appointment for a pretravel consultation with a Mayo Clinic travel medicine clinic well before you depart so the travel medicine specialist can help you prepare. Ideally, this appointment would occur as soon as travel plans are established and at least two weeks — and preferably 4-8 weeks — before departure. When requesting an appointment for pretravel consultation, be prepared to inform the patient appointment specialist of the following:

• All countries being visited
• Dates and duration of travel
• Any unusual circumstances

At or preferably before the appointment, you will want to provide copies of all available immunization records (including the International Certificate of Vaccination, commonly referred to as the yellow card). Doing so will expedite your clinic visit and may decrease the number of vaccines you are advised to receive.

Your in-depth pre-travel consultation may include:

• A country-by-country assessment of all health risks specific for your travel itinerary, such as exotic infectious agents, altitude sickness and heat exhaustion
• A review of your medical and immunization history profile with advice for health promotion and illness prevention
• Advice for the high-risk traveler
• Immunization recommendations, counseling and administration of vaccines to prevent illnesses
• Vector precautions counseling
• Malaria prevention counseling, with prescriptions if needed
• Traveler's diarrhea counseling for prevention and self-treatment, with antibiotic prescription if needed
• Identification of health resources in the countries you'll be visiting
• Counseling on travel-related risks such as altitude sickness, with preventive prescriptions if needed
• An opportunity to ask questions about the unique health and safety concerns for your travel itinerary

You will leave your travel medicine clinic appointment with much helpful and up-to-date information.

After your trip

• Depending on where you're going and for how long, the travel clinic may recommend a routine follow-up evaluation after your return.
• If you return sick, the travel clinic staff members are Mayo Clinic infectious diseases experts who provide comprehensive post-travel consultations for evaluation and treatment of travel-related illness, including parasitic and other diseases common to tropical regions but uncommon in the United States.
• Mayo Clinic Travel Medicine Clinic
• 5881 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85054
• Phone: 480-342-0115
• 4500 San Pablo Road Jacksonville, FL 32224
• Phone: 904-953-0774
• Mayo Clinic Travel and Geographic Medicine Clinic
• 200 First St. SW East 6A, Mayo Building Rochester, MN 55905
• Phone: 507-255-7763 (toll-fee)
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Division of Infectious Diseases Travel Clinic

The Division of Infectious Diseases Travel Clinic is here to help you have a safer, healthier trip abroad. Our team offers pre-travel immunizations, vaccines and medications to prevent disease. We also consult on:

• Precautions to take when visiting certain countries
• Healthcare access abroad, medication schedule and other common travel-related issues
• The concerns of travelers who are pregnant, immunocompromised or have an underlying medical condition
• Managing environmental risks, including high-altitude travel
• COVID-related concerns

Information for Travelers

The following immunizations and vaccines are available at our clinic:

• COVID-19, primary and booster doses
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Japanese encephalitis
• Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
• Pneumococcus 
• Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap)
• Tick-borne encephalitis
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Yellow Fever

We prescribe any medications needed for travel, including for the prevention of:

• Traveler's diarrhea
• Altitude sickness

Appointment charges include professional fees (for physician consultation) and may include immunization charges. Insurance typically covers 100% of the cost of immunizations, with some exceptions. 

Since these are preventive services, some health insurance plans do not cover the costs. We provide receipts to support claim reimbursement from a third party such as your insurance company. However, we strongly recommend checking with your insurance company prior to your appointment to confirm your plan covers travel medicine.

Please see the links below for information about international travel. Note: The Brigham does not maintain these websites and is not responsible for their content.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travelers' Health : This is a comprehensive guide on infectious diseases you may encounter while traveling, including COVID-19.
• Travel.State.gov : Hosted by the U.S. Department of State, this website includes travel advisories, details on getting a U.S. passport or visa and much more.
• International Society of Travel Medicine : Search for travel clinics in countries around the world.
• What Can I Bring? : Find out what items you can and cannot pack in your carry-on and checked baggage, according to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.
• CDC Yellow Book : Learn about or purchase this book, which compiles the U.S. government's latest travel health guidelines.

Our staff includes doctors and nurse practitioners with expertise in infectious disease and travel medicine.

Jacob Johnson, MD

Travel Clinic Physician, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital

Catherine Franklin, NP

Travel Clinic Nurse Practitioner, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Mary W. Montgomery, MD

Travel Clinic Physician, Brigham and Women's Hospital

We offer all our services at our three locations:

Brigham and Women's Hospital 45 Francis St., 2nd Floor – Lung Center C Boston, MA 02115 (Monday afternoons)

Brigham and Women’s Health Care Center, Chestnut Hill 850 Boylston St, Suite 130 Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 (Wednesday afternoons)

Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital 1153 Centre St., Suite 4F Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (Thursday afternoons)

Appointments

To schedule an appointment at either location, please call 617-732-8881. We prefer to see travelers four to six weeks before departure when possible.

Learn more about Brigham and Women's Hospital

For over a century, a leader in patient care, medical education and research, with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery.

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Weill Cornell Travel Medicine (WCTM)

The Weill Cornell Travel Medicine (WCTM ) practice, now in operation for more than 30 years on the Upper East side of Manhattan, was the first health unit devoted exclusively to travelers in New York City. WCTM, a comprehensive clinical service provided by the prestigious Weill Cornell Medical College, is also affiliated with the New York Presbyterian Hospital, and offers pre- and post-travel consultations and care in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases. WCTM is staffed by Weill Cornell-New York Presbyterian Hospital physicians board-certified in Infectious Diseases and by Family Nurse Practitioners. Together, we provide travel advice and immunizations for adults, children and families, and we see over 2,500 travelers annually. We have recently moved. Please find us in our beautiful new location in the Weill Greenberg Center, 1305 York Avenue, 4th floor.

Travel Information: Travel Assessment 2019 | PDF

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Emory TravelWell Center

Health services for international travelers.

If you are traveling internationally or returning from a long trip, it’s important that you are up to date on vaccinations and knowledgeable about travel-related health concerns. Access travel medicine services at Emory’s TravelWell Center.

We collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide the most up-to-date travel-related health care. We offer pre-travel consultations and expert evaluation and treatment for illnesses acquired abroad.

Important travel alerts:

• Travel and COVID-19
• Travel and Zika Virus

TravelWell Center Mission

The Emory TravelWell Center’s mission is to:

• Assist international travelers and institutions of all types in preparing for safe, enjoyable, and productive trips outside the U.S. with preventive vaccinations, medications, and advice for infectious, physical, and environmental hazards.
• Serve as an internationally recognized center for diagnosing and treating tropical and travel-related infections.
• Promote the science of travelers’ health, tropical medicine, and public health with training and research programs.

Travel Medicine Services for Individuals

We offer several travel medicine services for individuals. These include:

Pre-Travel Vaccinations and Consultations

Whether traveling abroad for business, service or pleasure, taking the proper precautions will help you have a safe, trouble-free, and successful journey. Our providers are recognized leaders in travel medicine. They can provide the appropriate travel vaccinations and prescriptions for your journey. They can also address any health-related questions or concerns about your trip.

Post-Travel Care and Tropical Diseases

Infections acquired overseas can be unusual and unfamiliar to physicians in the U.S. It’s critical—and often life-saving—to be evaluated by an expert in tropical diseases. Our infectious disease and tropical medicine-trained physicians have years of experience providing state-of-the-art care for those not feeling well after travel. Our affiliation with Emory University and collaborations with the CDC give us access to the country's most advanced diagnostic testing available.

Pre- and Post-Travel Physical Exams

Many international programs require physical exams and testing before travel. We provide these services and test for various infections among travelers returning from a long international trip or immigrants traveling from other countries.

Travel Medicine Services for Companies and Organizations

We work with many companies and other organizations that have international operations. If your institution has staff members who travel frequently, we can help keep your organization running smoothly.

Make an Appointment with Emory TravelWell Center

To make an appointment, please call 404-686-5885 .

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Travel medicine

When you’re traveling abroad, you want every aspect of your trip to go well. Unfortunately, each year as many as 25 percent of Americans who travel abroad experience some type of illness during their trip. On a typical two-week trip, travelers can lose an average of three days because of illness.

The Edward-Elmhurst Health travel medicine specialists can help you take proactive steps to stay healthy and make most of your experience. Contact our travel medicine specialists at least six weeks before your departure , and we’ll customize a plan that prepares you for every place on your itinerary.

What to expect at the travel medicine clinic

When you visit our travel medicine clinic, you’ll consult with one of our specialists about your trip. The discussion will cover:

• All the places you’re visiting, the purpose and timing of your travels, and how long you plan to stay
• Activities you’re planning on your trip, such as mountain climbing or mission work
• Your vaccination and medical history, including allergies
• Your current medications

Travel medicine tailored to your needs

Based on your consultation, we will recommend the appropriate vaccines and prescriptions for your trip. Recommendations will be customized to your unique needs. For example, you may need medication to limit altitude sickness during a climbing expedition. You’ll also learn how to plan for water and food safety, protect yourself from disease-carrying mosquitoes, and deal with traveler’s diarrhea and other common ailments.

We carefully consider the risks and benefits of vaccines and medicines and, in some cases, provide an explanatory waiver rather than a vaccination. This document explains the decision not to give a vaccine, typically due to a person's age, medical condition or current medications.

Vaccines and immunizations

The Edward-Elmhurst travel medicine clinic offers the following vaccines:

• Hepatitis A and B
• Japanese encephalitis
• Yellow Fever*

*CDC Certified Yellow Fever Immunization site.

Certain vaccinations may require more than one dose and/or a follow-up consultation.

Make an appointment six weeks in advance

Travel medicine consultations must be scheduled in advance. A 4-6 week lead time is strongly recommended for most vaccinations, as there may be a waiting period before the vaccine becomes effective. Payment is due at the time of service. Most insurance companies do not reimburse for this service.

Services offered at:

Edward Hospital Campus 100 Spalding, Suite 212 Naperville, IL 60540

To schedule an appointment, call 630-527-7299 .

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Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Travel Medicine - Country Club

4614 Country Club Road

Winston-Salem, NC 27104

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For those traveling abroad for leisure, work or study, the International Travel Clinic, an outpatient clinic of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, provides health information, medications and vaccinations to ensure safe and healthy travel overseas.

We also offer preventive and curative medicine in the fields of tropical medicine and infectious diseases, high altitude medicine, travel-related obstetrics, occupational health, military and migration medicine.

Preventive Health Services for the International Traveler

• Up-to-date country-specific information on health and safety risks
• Prevention and therapy of travelers' diarrhea
• Medication for malaria prevention
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Tetanus, diphtheria and polio
• Measles, mumps and rubella
• Meningococcal meningitis
• Typhoid fever
• Yellow fever (WHO certificate)
• Japanese encephalitis
• Lists of English-speaking physicians practicing overseas

Prescription Refills

Please call 336-716-4395 for prescription refills. Requests are taken during office hours Monday – Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, or by fax from the pharmacist at 336-716-3825 .

Please contact your pharmacist to verify that your prescription has been called into the pharmacy and is ready for you to pick up. Please note the following restrictions regarding prescription refills:

• We do not refill prescriptions prescribed by other physicians
• We cannot refill pain medications after office hours or during the weekend
• If you haven’t been seen by our physician within the last 6 months, you must schedule a follow-up visit prior to prescription refill. We want to make sure that the medication is properly dosed and that your health hasn’t changed.

Care and Treatment

Denque Fever

Yellow Fever

Traveler's Diarrhea

Typhoid Fever

International Travel Resources

The websites and resources listed here contain reliable, up-to-date information about issues related to international travel health and safety.

World Health Organization

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. Department of State

International Society of Travel Medicine

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Central Intelligence Agency World Fact Book

Insurance Accepted

This chart is a list of the most common health insurance plans we accept. This list is subject to change. Please check your individual plan to confirm their participation and the coverage allowed. Due to the different physician groups and hospitals within the Wake Forest Baptist system, physician services and hospital services are billed separately. Please remember that health insurance coverage varies, so some services may not be covered. If you don’t see your plan or you have questions, please call our Customer Service Center at 877-938-7497 . We will do our best to work with you and your plan.

WFUHS - Wake Forest University Health Sciences (professional services) NCBH - North Carolina Baptist Hospital LMC - Lexington Medical Center CHC - Cornerstone Healthcare Wilkes - Wilkes Regional Medical Center HPR - High Point Regional N/A - Not applicable to services provided at facility and/or CHC NC - Not Contracted, very low to no volume for facility and/or CHC

Wake Forest Baptist Health Managed Care/MA Contracts - January2022

AETNA CONNECTED ACA/Exchange:  Accepted at all locations

AETNA (PPO & HMO): Accepted at all locations

AETNA MEDICARE:  Accepted at all locations

AETNA WHOLE HEALTH:  Accepted at all locations

ALIGNMENT HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE:  Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, Davie, LMC, CHC and Wilkes (not applicable to services provided at High Point)

AMBETTER OF NC:   Accepted at all locations

AMERIHEALTH CARITAS NEXT ACA/Exchange:   Accepted at all locations

APEX MEDICARE ADVANTAGE:   Accepted at all locations

BCBSNC (PPO & HMO):  Accepted at all locations

BCBS HIGH PERFORMANCE (NATIONAL NETWORK):  Accepted at all locations

BLUE LOCAL WITH ATRIUM HEALTH:  Accepted at all locations

BLUE MEDICARE:  Accepted at all locations

BLUE VALUE:  Accepted at all locations

CAROLINA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and CHC (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, Wilkes and High Point)

CIGNA: Accepted at all locations

CIGNA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Accepted at NCBH and High Point (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, CHC and Wilkes)

CIGNA HEALTHSPRING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, Davie, LMC, CHC and High Point (not applicable to services provided at Wilkes)

CIGNA LIFESOURCE (TRANSPLANTS): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

COVENTRY/WELLPATH:  Accepted at all locations

CRESCENT PPO (ASHEVILLE): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

DEVOTED HEALTH:  Accepted at all locations DIRECT NET: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, Davie, LMC, Wilkes and High Point (not contracted, very low to no volume for CHC)

FIRST HEALTH (COVENTRY):  Accepted at all locations

FIRSTCAROLINACARE (PINEHURST, NC): Accepted at NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for WFUHS, Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

GATEWAY HEALTH ALLIANCE (VIRGINIA):  Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

GOLDEN RULE INS (UNITED):  Accepted at all locations

HEALTHGRAM (formerly PRIMARY PHYSICIAN CARE): Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and LMC (not contracted, very low to no volume for Davie, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

HEALTHTEAM ADVANTAGE:  Accepted at all locations

HUMANA CHOICECARE:  Accepted at all locations

HUMANA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE:  Accepted at all locations

LIBERTY ADVANTAGE (MEDICARE ADVANTAGE): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

MAGELLAN (BEHAVIORAL HEALTH): Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and CHC (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, Wilkes and High Point)

MEDCOST:  Accepted at all locations

MEDCOST ULTRA: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, Davie, LMC, Wilkes and High Point (not applicable at CHC)

OPTUMHEALTH (TRANSPLANTS - APPLICABLE TO NCBH/WFUHS ONLY): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

PREFERRED CARE OF VA INC:  Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

SOUTHERN HEALTH SVCS (COVENTRY-PPO ONLY): Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, Davie and CHC (not contracted, very low to no volume for LMC, Wilkes and High Point)

TWIN COUNTY (VIRGINIA):  Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

UNITED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, CHC and High Point (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC and Wilkes)

UNITED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM (WFUHS ONLY): Accepted at WFUHS (not applicable for services provided at NCBH, Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

UNITED HEALTHCARE:  Accepted at all locations

UNITED HEALTHCARE ESSENTIALS ACA/EXCHANGE:  Accepted at all locations

UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE:  Accepted at all locations

VA CCN:  Accepted at all locations

WELLCARE:  Accepted at all locations

WELLPATH (COVENTRY):  Accepted at all locations 

WFUHS - Wake Forest University Health Sciences (professional services) NCBH - North Carolina Baptist Hospital LMC - Lexington Medical Center CHC - Cornerstone Healthcare Wilkes - Wilkes Regional Medical Center HPR - High Point Regional N/A  - Not applicable to services provided at facility and/or CHC NC  - Not Contracted, very low to no volume for facility and/or CHC

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Smile Hair Clinic Is a Rising Star in Hair Transplant Procedures

Excellent Facilities: Modern facilities equipped with the newest technologies are found in many hair transplant clinics in Turkey. The worldwide accreditation and certifications held by certain clinics guarantee a high caliber of service.

Experienced Surgeons: Turkey is home to a number of exceptionally skilled hair transplant surgeons who have earned praise for their work. After obtaining training in Western countries, many of these medical professionals return to Turkey to provide exceptional care to their patients.

Turkey’s well-developed tourism infrastructure makes it convenient for patients from outside the country to receive care. Istanbul, in particular, is popular due to its convenient location, plethora of reputable medical facilities, and cultural attractions.

Success Stories: Positive reviews from those who have had successful hair transplant surgeries performed in Turkey serve to strengthen the country’s reputation in this field. For up-to-date information, be sure to verify Turkey’s current hair transplantation work to determine its rankings in the industry.

Is it safe to get hair transplant surgery in Turkey?

Turkey hair transplant surgeries are growing in popularity year over year. If you follow basic measures, traveling for any type of medical procedure—including hair transplantation—can be safe. The following are some points to consider:

Clinic Reputation: Choose a reputable, established hospital with a strong track record in hair transplantation. Look for previous patient endorsements and choose clinics that have received international accreditation or certifications.

Surgeon’s Credentials: Check the training, background, and standing of the surgeon who will perform your procedure. Only select Turkish surgeons have had training abroad and are members of international professional organizations.

Standards for Facilities: Check to see if the clinic meets all international standards for patient care, safety, and hygiene. Accredited hospitals usually adhere to strict guidelines to safeguard the health and safety of their patients.

Communication: Before your travel, thoroughly discuss any concerns or questions you may have with the clinic. A reputable clinic will provide comprehensive information on the procedure, the recovery time, and any potential risks.

Follow-up Care: Consider the standard of care and accessibility after surgery. If you are traveling from another country, be sure to have a reputable doctor available in your home country for any follow-up care needed.

Travel Considerations: Check for regulations and restrictions pertaining to COVID-19, as well as travel warnings and visa requirements. Ensure you understand every aspect of the travel arrangements to and from Turkey.

Personal Health: Verify that you are healthy enough for the procedure and inform the medical staff of any conditions you may be experiencing or drugs you are currently taking. With this information, they can assess your eligibility and modify the surgical technique.

Before making any decisions, it’s critical to complete your research and gather accurate information about the clinic and surgeon of your choosing. Additionally, talk to medical professionals in your own country about your goals and get their advice.

Hair transplantation is becoming a bigger part of Turkey’s medical tourism industry. Patients from all around the world travel to Istanbul to undergo cosmetic surgery, including hair transplants.

Turkey has become the global leader in hair transplantation, doing more than 100,000 operations a year. Turkey has a thriving industry for hair transplants.

The city is home to over 100 clinics with a wide range of hair transplant services. Turkey is well known for being one of the best places to get hair transplants because the doctors there have years of experience and have perfected the technique to produce top-notch results at reasonable costs.

Smile Hair Clinic is a popular medical facility for this kind of treatment because of its excellent standards for both equipment and knowledge, as well as the fact that it is reasonably priced in comparison to other clinics around the world, such as those in New York City or London, which offer comparable high-quality services at far higher prices than what you’ll find here!

Is getting a hair transplant in Turkey worth it?

Turkey is often considered a pioneer in hair loss treatments and hair transplant surgery. Its highly esteemed standing stems mostly from the nation’s strict control of the healthcare industry.

In Turkey, medical professionals, including doctors, are required to meet stringent requirements and uphold the highest standards in order to practice medicine.

Cosmetic surgeons must obtain the required licenses and permits, join all pertinent associations (such as the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery), and exhibit the highest degree of expertise in their fields before opening their own private clinics.

The Turkish government also spends a lot of money to encourage medical travel. These include many opportunities for medical education and skill enhancement, frequent facility inspections, and all-inclusive visa assistance for international medical tourists.

It is not surprising, given all of this, that Turkey is one of the most popular travel destinations for medical tourism.

Members of the editorial and news staff of Us Weekly were not involved in the creation of this content.

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This rendering by Hobbs and Black Architects shows what the proposed Corewell Health medical clinic would look like from the perspective of the main entry from the southeast corner.

Rendering provided by Hobbs and Black Architects

Planning Commission urges Corewell Health to work with residents on building plan

By: Taylor Christensen | Royal Oak Review | Published April 17, 2024

ROYAL OAK — A public hearing was held at the April 9 Royal Oak Planning Commission meeting regarding a proposal from Corewell Health for an outpatient medical clinic and medical office.

Tom Dillenbeck, from Hobbs and Black Architects, and Jim Butler, the civil engineer for the project, stepped forward to explain what is being planned to be constructed at 3828 W. 13 Mile Road.

The petitioners sought approval of their site plan, which was ultimately not approved in a 6-1 vote.

The Planning Commission then unanimously approved postponing action on the site plan to the commission’s May meeting to give Corewell time to work out concerns with residents who live near the proposed development.

The property is currently vacant, and Corewell Health is proposing to construct a two-story, 88,000-square-foot building with 317 parking spaces.

The first floor would consist of traditional medical offices, and the second floor would be dedicated to outpatient medical procedures, or a surgical center.

Residents had an opportunity to speak at the meeting.

Case Hensler said a berm on the site is an important factor to keep in the plan, and Hensler asked for some sort of wall to be put up near his home to shield it from the clinic parking lot.

“We have had two concerns, which are safety and privacy. There are two things we have consistently floated toward, which is to have a berm between the houses, which is already on the north end, so it shouldn’t be removed,” he said. “Or where I am on the west side, we have a very thin wood fence. (...) I have been asking to get that replaced with a nice brick wall.”

According to Royal Oak resident Daniel Lin, a physician in the community, the berm was installed years prior to the Corewell Health clinic proposal for the very reason of shielding the residents from future construction.

“When we moved in 12 years ago, there was concern. I saw the property and I was concerned about what kind of security issues or privacy problems it would be, but I was reassured by the Realtors that the developers had a contract that the berm would be there,” Lin said.

Following public comment, the Planning Commission was able to speak.

Commissioner Anne Bueche believed that the site plan was proposing too many parking spaces and voiced some issues regarding accessibility for bicyclists and bus riders.

“The green space and the walkable connections between the institutions that make up your whole campus is very important, as is the transit and bike accessibility, and it is less than it should be in general for a city like ours that really emphasizes people having multiple options for how they move,” she said.

Director of Planning Joseph Murphy said the fate of the berm is entirely up to the Planning Commission.

“It is appropriate for the Planning Commission to determine whether the landscape plan that is in front of you tonight is sufficient to provide screening to adjacent land uses specifically in the single-family properties,” Murphy said.

“We did find in 2007 that Beaumont had provided the city with a letter that indicated that they were modifying the land contract between Beaumont and the developer. (...) That they were adding a provision in the land contract that said they would reserve that space for a landscape buffer,” he said.

Murphy said that “whether that is legally binding from there on out, I don’t believe that is up to us to make that determination at this table.”

Mayor Mike Fournier asked Corewell Health representatives to elaborate more on why they do not want to keep the berm.

“The berm that is there today is twice as wide as the one that was on the original drawings, so it was originally 25 feet in plan view; now it is actually 50 feet,” Dillenbeck said. “So if that grew over time or it was installed differently we are not sure, but it would mean a reduction of 10,000 square feet to the building if it was to remain in place.”

“To take away the berm will really take away the last piece of open land that we have access to, to create what will be a fantastic project for the community,” President of Corwell Health Beaumont Hospital Dr. Daniel Carey said.

“It’s your property, and we can’t force you to do this,” Commissioner Jim Ellison said. “All I am saying is that the Beaumont Health system — for as long as I have been in Royal Oak — they’ve always been a good neighbor.”

Carey said that he is willing to work with the neighbors and said he is going to sit down with his planning team to work out a way to figure out the berm problem, as well as how people can access the hospital through city transit and bike racks.

Planning Commissioner Clyde Esbri made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sharlan Douglas, to put up masonry walls on the west and north of the residential properties and eliminate 33 parking spots on the north end of the property line. After more discussion, Esbri and Douglas were no longer in favor of their motion, which the commission then voted against 6-1. Chairman Gary Quesada voted for the motion, saying he liked it.

Mayor Michael Fournier then moved to postpone the proposal until next month. Corewell Health’s team will now go to work on revising the plan to work with the neighbors and come back before the Planning Commission next month. Corewell could ask to postpone the site plan further if it is not ready in May. The Planning Commission meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. The next meeting will be May 14.

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How to save thousands and get your hip replacement done abroad

F or years, medical tourism has consisted of patients jetting abroad for voluntary cosmetic procedures such as tummy tucks, dental work and face lifts. 

But ballooning NHS waiting times and the sky-high cost of going private in Britain are fuelling a boom in demand for more foreign surgical procedures.

Clinics across Europe, from Belgium to the Baltics, are reporting a surge in interest for elective procedures.

Among the most popular are knee and hip operations, which is no surprise given the current backlogs. More than 60,000 NHS patients were waiting more than a year for elective trauma and orthopaedic surgery in February 2022, compared to 436 in January 2020, according to the British Orthopaedic Association.

Keith Pollard, editor-in-chief at the International Medical Travel Journal, said: “At the Nordorthopaedics Clinic in Lithuania, for instance, 80pc of their patients for hip and knee surgery are Britons. Other clinics around Europe would say the same – in Spain, France, and elsewhere.”

The potential savings from hopping on a flight abroad for treatment can be substantial. Hip operations in some European countries cost half as much as in the UK, even when factoring in the price of travel, accommodation and insurance. 

Here, Telegraph Money talks you through how to get the best deal on hip surgery abroad. 

How much does it cost to go private in the UK?

For NHS patients with debilitating joint problems facing year-long queues, looking into private surgery options in the UK might be the natural first step to getting the operation you need.  

But it doesn’t come cheap. While the average cost of a private hip replacement without health insurance is £13,402, prices vary from £9,400 to £15,800 depending on location, according to consumer information website myTribe Insurance.

The cheapest deals are in Yorkshire & Humberside and north-east England, while the priciest surgeries are in south-west England and East Anglia. 

Where can I find the best price abroad?

According to the medical travel website Treatment Abroad, Georgia comes in as the cheapest European(ish) country to have a hip replacement, at just £2,475 on average. The price includes travel, accommodation and insurance. 

Next cheapest destinations are Hungary (£4,254), Poland (£5,085), and Lithuania (£5,407).

Lithuania, whose total population is a third of the size of London’s, has become a popular destination for elective surgery thanks to its low prices, relative proximity to the UK, and reputation for high-quality treatment. 

Maja Swinder, patient co-ordinator at EuroTreatMed, a medical travel agency with close partnerships with five clinics in Poland, said: “A patient from the UK shared that she was quoted £14,900 just for the private hip replacement surgery itself, which covered only a two-day hospital stay without physiotherapy or follow-up appointments. 

“Managing at home the day after such a major operation would be very challenging.”

At the clinics in Ms Swinder’s network, for example, a total hip replacement operation with a 14-day stay in a private hospital room and daily physiotherapy would cost between £7,430 and £7,990.

Can I get the NHS to pay for foreign healthcare?

A reciprocal post-Brexit healthcare agreement, known as “The S2 funding route”, allows patients to undergo planned treatment, such as hip operations, in an EU country or Switzerland through its state healthcare system.

A patient’s home state foots the bill, but you must meet strict criteria to be approved under the scheme – including a doctor confirming that your wait for treatment on the NHS would count as an “undue delay”.

The history of the scheme dates back to a 2006 European Court of Justice ruling. The case was brought by Yvonne Watts, 75, who paid £4,000 for a hip operation in France after facing a delay to her treatment in the UK. 

The court ruled the NHS must reimburse patients who travel to another EU country for treatment when they face an “undue delay” for the treatment at home.

Securing S2 funding for treatment abroad can be a lifeline for those who desperately need treatment quickly, but can’t afford to go private. 

However, patients have reported a gruelling S2 application process , and have told the Telegraph the process involved jumping through “hoops of fire”, only to be rejected. 

In EU countries where healthcare is free at the point of use, as in the UK, an approved S2 will cover 100pc of the costs of your healthcare, although NHS England says it will not reimburse travel or accommodation costs.

In some cases, you may still have to pay for a portion of your treatment. The NHS website states: “If your application under the S2 route is approved, your treatment will be provided under the same conditions of care and payment that would apply to residents of the country you’ll be treated in.

“This could mean you have to pay a percentage of the costs personally (a co-payment charge).

“In some countries, for example, patients cover 25pc of the costs of their state-provided treatment. The state covers the other 75pc.”

It’s important therefore to factor in how healthcare is funded in whichever country you seek to get treatment, as you may still have to foot some or all of the bill.

An NHS spokesman said: “Eligible patients can use S2 funding to access care abroad, with information for English patients on eligibility and how to apply available on the NHS website, including details on how to complain about or appeal a decision.”

How to choose the right clinic

Entering into a health system you don’t understand can make travelling abroad for treatment a daunting prospect. 

Fortunately, international clinics tend to have good reputations. Mr Pollard said: “Hospitals and consultants that handle international patients, both abroad and in the UK, are usually the best hospitals and the best consultants.

“I wouldn’t say any one country is better than another. What I would say is that the rehabilitation stage of care abroad is much better than in the UK. In Europe they have a much bigger focus on rehab from the surgery and getting you back to normal as quickly as possible.”

That being said, records and data on surgeries may not be as thorough as what you can find in Britain, so it can be tricky to get the full picture about how some clinics perform.

“The issue is whether there’s any hard data on numbers of surgeries performed and complication rates. In the UK all that data is recorded and published,” said Mr Pollard.

“You should always go for a specialist in hip operations. Ask the clinic: how many operations are they doing each year? How many revisions are they doing? The clinic should send you the data if you ask. If they don’t, don’t go there.”

One way to narrow down your options is to stick to countries in the European Union, as they should all stick to certain standards of healthcare, Ms Swinder advised.

“Hospitals and surgeons hold mandatory liability insurance,” she said. 

“Additionally, assessing aftercare options and communication is essential. Is the clinic responsive and willing to address inquiries and questions? 

“Check reviews, maybe ask to be put in touch with former patients who could share their experience with you. Ask for a comprehensive cost breakdown, encompassing surgery, implants, medications, and potential hidden fees. 

“Most importantly, trust your instincts while making this significant decision and choose a provider or hospital you have faith in,” she added.

While there’s no central database of reviews for surgery abroad, Treatment Abroad has compiled a list of foreign clinics. Not all are reviewed, but treat it as a directory, and it will be a good starting point. 

Mr Pollard says that as online reviews are hard to come by, it’s best to speak to the clinic directly to get a feel for whether it’s suitable. 

“Many people decide based on a personal reference from someone they know who has been there before. Or they make an assessment based on the relationship they build up with a clinic.”

Not all clinics are reputable, so asking more in-depth questions should help you root out those that may not be reliable. 

For instance, you should be wary of booking any treatment abroad if the clinic tries a hard sell, does not provide information you request, pressures you to make a quick decision, does not discuss possible complications or makes no mention of aftercare, according to the NHS website.

What insurance do I need?

When travelling abroad for a medical procedure, it is crucial you have the correct insurance – and it won’t be the same as a policy you might use when you go on holiday. 

Mr Pollard said: “One thing people do is buy regular travel insurance to go overseas for treatment, but there’s an exclusion within every regular travel insurance policy for having medical treatment abroad.”

If your usual travel insurer will not cover you, you might need to find a specialist medical travel insurance provider – an insurance broker may be able to help you.

Alternatively, specialist insurers such as Medicaltravelshield.com, offer insurance specifically for medical travellers.

It’s best to check the details of what these policies cover and don’t cover; for example, complications once you have returned home may not be included, but costs of return travel to the clinic for corrective surgery might be.

Another option is to ask your prospective clinic whether it has a form of insurance that you could buy.

According to Felicity Hannah, finances expert at Compare the Market, you should examine specialist medical travel insurance policies very carefully as the level of protection can vary substantially.

“Never assume everything you want is included in any insurance policy,” she said. “You must read the small print and understand what you’re buying. 

“There may well be exclusions in terms of covering lengthy aftercare overseas, or the cost of repatriation. 

“There may be terms that invalidate your cover if, say, you drink alcohol following your surgery – something you might be tempted to do if you’ve planned a holiday abroad around your treatment. 

“And some medical tourism insurance policies may only provide the usual travel insurance protections such as lost luggage or stolen items, and not actually provide any protection if things go wrong with the procedure.”

It’s also important to keep on top of any wider issues that may invalidate your insurance.

“Remember, as with any standard travel insurance policy, this kind of cover is very unlikely to include travel to any country which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have advised against visiting” Ms Hannah added. 

“This kind of policy may also exclude any pre-existing medical conditions, so make sure you fully understand exactly what protection you’re buying if you have additional needs.”

It’s worth remembering that travel insurance can already be trickier and more expensive for older travellers , particularly if you have any existing medical conditions. 

And if, because of age or a pre-existing medical condition, you’re struggling to find an insurance policy that will cover you, choosing to have surgery in a location closer to home might improve your chances. 

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Can you be refused treatment in the UK after getting surgery abroad?

One of the bigger risks of travelling abroad for a hip operation is not being covered if things go wrong later on. 

Regular private medical insurers are highly unlikely to cover the cost of future complications. A spokesman for Aviva said that a claim on its medical insurance policy for complications that arose because of surgery abroad would be rejected. 

The NHS is also tightening up on providing care for medical tourists, in theory at least.

This month, NHS doctors were sent an advice note reminding them that the service should not be providing any pre or post-operative care for people seeking private surgery abroad.

Mr Pollard said: “The reality is that if you turn up in A&E with a complication, they’re going to treat you.”

However, the possibility of being refused treatment down the line means it’s essential to triple-check what is included in the price your clinic offers before you take the plunge. 

The operation itself is only one part of the treatment process, and you’ll need routine care before and after the surgery. 

Mr Pollard said: “Get an absolutely firm quote that it’s an all-inclusive package – that the clinic isn’t going to add stuff on – so that if you end up staying in hospital for five or six days instead of two or three, that’s covered and the clinic is bearing the risk.” 

Do I need a referral from my GP or specialist?

“Most private hospitals and consultants, in the UK and abroad, will not require a GP referral,” Mr Pollard said.

“Those days have gone. Mainly because if you want a GP referral, you actually have to see your GP. That delays things another three or four weeks.”

It’s not even obligatory to inform your GP if you’re planning to have private surgery abroad, but it’s highly recommended to ask their advice and keep them in the loop.

“It’s always wise to tell your GP what you’re doing. And your GP will have a view on it, positive or negative,” Mr Pollard added.

The medical information foreign clinics require will vary. Typically, patients will first have a remote consultation, you’ll likely also have to fill in a health questionnaire and supply relevant scans and blood test results before you get on a plane. 

You should check early on in the process what information is required, so you can request it from your GP or consultant. 

How much it costs to skip the NHS queue and get your hip done privately

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How schools like Harvard emerged as defenders of religious liberty

Harvard law school’s religious freedom clinic is led by a graduate of byu.

By Mariya Manzhos

BOSTON — New Jersey first responder Alexander Smith stood against a damask-covered wall lined with 17th-century French paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts. Dressed in a tuxedo, he had come here to thank the Harvard Law students and faculty who supported him in his fight to keep a beard for religious reasons.

Smith, a devout Christian, works as an air mask technician for the Atlantic City, New Jersey, fire department, fitting masks and refilling air tanks for the firefighters. He’s also a pastor in his community and a police and fire department chaplain. In these roles, he believes he has a biblical obligation to keep a beard. But the city denied his request for a religious accommodation, citing “ overwhelming safety concerns,” even though Smith said the beard would not interfere with his job.

Smith’s hope began to wane, he said. ”I wasn’t sure which direction to turn, if I should continue to fight or throw in a towel and give up the fight.”

But then he heard from two organizations: the First Liberty Institute, a Texas-based nonprofit defending religious liberty, and Harvard Law School’s Religious Freedom Clinic , a pro bono student program that offers representation and counsel to members of minority faiths on various religious liberty issues. “The hope that was seemingly lost was restored,” Smith told the audience of religious freedom scholars, advocates and students who gathered April 11 in the museum gallery for a gala recognizing the work of Harvard’s Religious Freedom Clinic.

A recent movement

Smith’s case is a fitting example of the ethos of the Harvard clinic, which is committed to bridge-building and helping students learn “what it means to serve and assist the needy and … provide access to justice,” said Josh McDaniel, the clinic’s director and an alum of Brigham Young University and UCLA Law School. “Religious freedom for all is essential to human dignity and flourishing, and it is imperative that we find ways to build bridges of understanding around the idea of religious freedom.”

While legal clinics have been around for some time — Harvard has 38 dedicated to various kinds of law — clinics dedicated to religious liberty are a recent development. The first clinic to specialize in clients in religious freedom cases, pioneered at Stanford in 2013, was followed by others at Notre Dame, Texas, Yale and Pepperdine universities, among others. Harvard’s clinic launched via Zoom in the fall of 2020, with just a handful of students scattered across the country.

Three years later, it’s now a 5-person shop that along with many more students has filed more than 20 amicus, or “friend of the court,” briefs and has four direct-representation cases in litigation or about to be filed, according to McDaniel. The group filed a brief defending the Western Apaches fighting to preserve their sacred land in Arizona, another in support of an Orthodox Jewish community that wants to meet on property that’s been sitting vacant for years, and one supporting a prisoner on death row who asked to pray with his pastor during his execution. In partnership with the ACLU of Nebraska, the clinic argued to protect Lakota religious beliefs of Native American school children regarding hair cutting.

“One can say it’s starting to look like a religious liberty clinic movement around the country,” said McDaniel, who clerked for two federal judges prior to his role at Harvard.

McDaniel’s sense of his life’s calling began to take shape early in his career. As an appellate litigator in California, his first case involved a small African American Baptist church. One day, after the oral argument, McDaniel, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his Jewish colleague joined members of the Baptist church on the courthouse steps in a prayer circle. After that ecumenical experience, “I sought out every religious freedom case I could find,” he told Deseret News. So when the opportunity arose to help start a religious freedom program at Harvard, he pursued it.

Last week, for the first time in person since its founding, Harvard’s religious liberty community celebrated its work with an all-day symposium on religious liberty followed by a gala. Rabbi Eli Goodman, the founder of the Chabad of the Beaches in Long Beach, Long Island, and the clinic’s client, offered an invocation, praising the group’s work to defend “fundamental freedoms that form the bedrock of our society.” Nury Turkel, commissioner of the U.S. Commission of International Religious Freedom and the first U.S.-educated Uyghur American lawyer, spoke about the threats of “digital authoritarianism” on democracy and religious freedom.

Turkel knows what persecution looks like firsthand — since coming to the United States in 1995, due to Chinese sanctions, he said he hasn’t seen his mother since his law school graduation and he couldn’t return home to attend his father’s funeral.

Why Harvard?

But how did a religious liberty program come to flourish at secular institutions like Harvard, or Stanford for that matter? Ruth Okediji, a Harvard law professor and a Christian, posed the question during her conversation with two judges during the gala at the Museum of Fine Arts, noting “This is not Notre Dame, it is not Catholic (University), it’s not even BYU.”

“Religious liberty is actually under a lot of assaults,” said John Bush, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and a Harvard Law alumni. “Maybe that’s the reason it’s perceived as a need.” In an increasingly diverse and pluralistic society, the need has never been greater. “It’s perceived now as more of a need than when you have a more homogenous society, where everyone just went to the same place of worship,” Bush said. “It was taken for granted at that point.”

Thomas Griffith, a retired judge who served on the D.C. Circuit and teaches a class each year at Harvard, noticed that Harvard Law School has become an increasingly welcoming place for conversations about faith. Last year, for instance, Harvard Law School hosted the Faith and Veritas conference, a gathering of Harvard’s Christian alumni, featuring Robert George, Mary Ann Glendon, David French and others. “When I tell my friends about it, they are gobsmacked — they can’t believe you pulled that off,” Griffith said to Okediji, who played a key role in organizing the conference.

It’s incumbent upon believers, Griffith said, to protect religious liberty and show that religion “is an act of reconciliation,” especially amid debates about the purpose of religious liberty and growing secularization. Griffith, a fellow of the Wheatley Institute at BYU, invoked the divine origins of our rights as stated in the Declaration of Independence. “We’ve been endowed by our creator with rights and the rights that recognize human dignity,” he said. “I can’t think of any right that’s more important than the right to worship the creator.”

Representing the whole person

For lawyers, regardless of their beliefs, respecting and recognizing the faith of their clients is key to their work. It can be off-putting and disheartening when a lawyer dismisses his client’s faith or urges them to put it aside, said Okediji. “As lawyers we represent the whole person … and if that whole person comes with faith, we have to have humility to honor and to recognize that’s a part of who they are,” she said.

Griffith cautioned young lawyers against becoming “bulldog” litigators who lose sight of humanity in pursuit of winning. “As I see it, the legal system is one of the highest expressions of our sense of dignity,” he said. It’s those lawyers who respect the dignity of the person who tend to succeed, he said.

A good lawyer builds community even when they’re litigating a case, Griffith said. “I think a lawyer is doing her best possible work when she’s using law to reinforce the community, to bring together those things that were separated into one community,” he said.

Amid today’s unforgiving culture, religion creates room for forgiveness, Bush said, and this allows people to change. But judges need to separate personal forgiveness from judicial decision-making and upholding the consequences of wrongdoing, he added. Griffith echoed the judge’s duty to put aside personal feelings regarding a case. “When you put that robe on, it’s Caesar all the way down — you are an agent of the state, you are administering justice the way American people have told you to administer justice.”

Religious liberty cases often offer students a new lens through which to examine their own religion, McDaniel told the audience. He recalled defending a Muslim prisoner, who asked for accommodation for Ramadan, to allow him to adjust his meal schedule to accommodate the fast. The jail refused to grant the request. The prisoner opted for saving his meals on a piece of paper until he was ready to break his fast.

For two students who worked on that case — one Muslim, another a Christian — the case was a transformative experience, McDaniel said. The Muslim student helped deliver a copy of the Quran to the prisoner, reconnecting with his own faith. The Christian student, who had never planned to represent prisoners before coming to law school, came to see his advocacy for the Muslim prisoner as a Christian mission. “He realized that actually what I’m doing as a lawyer is teaching me what it means to be a Christian,” McDaniel said.

The support of Harvard’s clinic has enabled Alexander Smith to continue to “fight the good fight,” he said. In April, the First Liberty and Harvard Religious Freedom Clinic filed a brief in a federal appeals court arguing that Smith should be allowed to have a religious beard, especially since it doesn’t interfere with his job of fitting masks on his colleagues. His prayer at the conclusion of the night resounded across the marble-accented gallery: He invoked the need for courage, wisdom, empathy and “humility to recognize the inherent dignity and worth of every individual.”