“VIP Health is a genius idea. If you are over forty, it is nuts not to have a backup plan like this and quick access to a sound, second opinion. If you’re going to be Younger Next Year, you sure as hell don’t want to die of the sniffles this year because of a mistake or because it took too long to see a doc.” Chris Crowley Author, Younger Next Year, and Lecturer. Website: www.youngernextyear.com

MEDICAL CONCIERGE SERVICE

One membr’s kidney stones proved so painful it was impossible to work. Instead of a three- to four-week wait for a lithotripsy procedure, our VIP program booked him into a Buffalo hospital for treatment the next day.

“I couldn’t believe how fast the appointments were made.  And the kindness shown by everyone. I did feel like a Royal VIP.”

Pauline L., Nurse

“I was very pleased with the speed in which VIP Health Options made the necessary arrangements for my MRI. It took a lot of worry out of this whole process and it was not as expensive as I thought it would be.”

Sandra

“It’s important to receive early diagnosis and VIP Health Options delivers that by booking your appointment with a specialist right away.” 

Maria Joanovic

CASE STUDY 1

Andrew Thomson, Managing Director of an investment management firm, had a minor ear infection that on its own was not concerning him, but he was worried about complications while flying on business. At issue was whether the pressurization of the cabin could result in serious damage to the ear.

Under normal circumstances when a plane is pressurized, you can yawn or chew gum to “pop” your ears. But Andrew was certain that it would not be that simple if he had an issue with one of his ear canals.

Not wanting to spend half a day at a walk-in clinic for a medical opinion, Andrew called VIP Health Options to express his concern and to ask about alternatives that would be less time consuming. “They assessed my situation, came up with an option and within minutes they had arranged a phone consultation with Dr. Richard Heinzl (Medical Director for VIP Health Options)."

"Dr. Heinzl was able to allay my concerns, giving me peace of mind. The entire process was so efficient it allowed me to get the answers I needed in five minutes on the phone rather than spending half a day or more sitting in a walk-in clinic. To have my concerns resolved without losing time at the office was an enormous benefit,” Andrew said.

While he recognized that his issue was a minor situation, he was nonetheless impressed with the professionalism and promptness of the VIP Health staff. “The customer service was outstanding; very proficient.”

Andrew Thomson, Managing Director, Newport Partners

CASE STUDY 2

Pauline had a bilateral mastectomy two years ago and wanted to be proactive about her health, but when she talked to her oncologist about getting a CAT scan to see if her cancer had returned, she was refused.

 Pauline wanted to catch any new cancer in its early stages or to simply buy herself some peace of mind - the oncologist denied her request. “He said he couldn’t do that for every cancer patient who asked due to cost. He said it would mean nothing. Even if the scan showed there was no cancer, there was no guarantee it wasn’t there or it wouldn’t appear a few months later.” 

He told her it was good to be proactive about her health, but that she was wasting her time and money booking scans and tests since there was no test to confirm if the cancer had returned. He suggested they wait and react when there were symptoms. “That scared me. By the time I show symptoms, it might be too late.” 

Pauline called VIP Health Options and through the firm’s Medical Concierge service, she was immediately booked for a battery of tests and scans, all in Ontario. She had bone scans and density tests and a host of other procedures at medical facilities in Mississauga, ON and Ottawa, ON. 

“I couldn’t believe how fast the appointments were made. And the kindness shown by everyone …  they were all very nice. It was like going to a hotel.” 

Being a nurse herself, Pauline admits she had some reservations about using private clinics to fast track her appointments. “We’re supposed to be protesting private clinics, and on one hand I don’t feel right about jumping the queue, but how can I not if it can buy me another three months.” 

So far, Pauline appears to be clear and just knowing that has brought her peace of mind and a positive outlook.

Pauline L., Nurse

CASE STUDY 3

When Julian Wise injured his knee in 2008, he had an MRI followed by surgery to repair the damage. But when he reinjured the knee a year and a half later, the specialist wouldn’t see him until he had another MRI. The wait, however, was about eight months, he says.

“I contacted VIP Health Options and I was booked for an MRI in Buffalo the next afternoon. In no time I walked out with everything on a DVD for my doctor. It was that easy.”

As well as his knee, Julian recently developed problems with his sight. After visits to an ophthalmologist and a neuro specialist, Julian said he needed expert guidance to help him make critical decisions about his health with confidence. Again, he turned to VIP Health Options and received valuable advice from Canadian Medical Director Dr. Richard Heinzl. “Dr. Heinzl discussed every report with me and outlined all my options. His service and help was magnificent. I was able to make informed decisions and that gave me peace of mind.”

As the owner of Wise Advisory Group, it is critical that Julian maintains his health and be able to focus on his business and his family. With employees and dependents relying on him, VIP Health Options is “worth its weight in gold.”

Julian Wise, President, Wise Advisory Group

EXECUTIVE MEDICAL

“The convenience of having an Executive Medical arranged by Royal VIP Health Options was incredible.  The process was so easy, you couldn’t ask for anything better. I tell everyone about this service.”

Joe Henderson, President, Reliable Life Insurance

“The Executive Medical was an exceptional experience. The level of communication and organization was outstanding. I would strongly recommend it to all executives.”

Andrew Thomson, President, TMF Foods

“I wish more people knew about VIP Health Options. The discounts are good and access to medical facilities is fast. It’s bought me peace of mind.”

Leena Hypponen, CFO

“Through my Executive Medical, the physician detected a shadow on my kidney. I was immediately referred to a highly reputable specialist and underwent surgery shortly after. Due to my Executive Medical, my illness was detected in its early stages and was completely treatable.”

Name undisclosed

“Health is important. There are things you need to look after, but sometimes our health system works against you. Thankfully there is a service like Royal VIP Health that makes it simple for busy people like me.”

Brad Eizenga

CASE STUDY

Paul Field wanted peace of mind. It had been six years since his last complete medical, and while he showed no signs of having any health problems, he wanted to be sure there was nothing lurking in the background.

His main concern was the effect of stress of work. Stress is a silent killer that can lead to stroke or heart attack. “We all have stress in your life and you have no idea what kind of toll it is taking or what damage is being done until it’s too late.”

The reason it had been many years between physicals was the time it took to complete all the tests and visit the various specialists. As CEO of Reliable Life Insurance, waiting in doctors’ offices and scheduling appointments with half a dozen specialists was time he could not afford.

This is where the Executive Medical through VIP Health Options came into play. “I had my complete medical done in just four hours. The facilities were excellent and they have the process down to a fine art. The medical was thorough and I got it all done in one day. That is far easier to schedule than trying to book half a dozen specialists.”

Paul says he got the results he expected. He didn’t have any health issues and the medical confirmed that he was on the right track to remaining healthy and on the job.

Paul Field, CEO, Reliable Life Insurance

SECOND OPINION SERVICE

CASE STUDY 1 - Avoiding an unwanted surgery

Julie Walker’s 7-year-old daughter was experiencing a sore throat far too often for the past three years and was missing a lot of school as a result. Their family doctor referred her to a local specialist to obtain their opinion.

 “I didn’t feel comfortable with her diagnosis and wanted a second opinion. It was possibly an unnecessary surgery. If my daughter didn’t need it, I didn’t want to put her through that.” It took several weeks to get in to see an ear and throat specialist, and when they did, Julie said the scene inside the office was insane. “We waited for 2-1/2 hours to see her and there were probably a good 50 people in her office waiting – in a room that only held maybe 12 chairs. People were lined up in the hall.  She looked in my daughter’s mouth, asked how often she gets sick and does she get fevers and that was it.  Tonsils and adenoids are to come out.  We received the first surgery day four weeks later, which I cancelled to access the Second Opinion service through VIP Health Options.” 

One quick call and Julie had the answer she was more comfortable with from a panel of experts through WorldCare. “We cancelled the surgery altogether and decided to watch her for one year to see if she improves. If there was a chance we didn’t have to go through the trauma of surgery, we wanted to take that route.” 

As for the process through VIP Health Options, Julie said staff walked her through it step-by-step and that “anyone who helped us along the way, especially Miguele were great. There were no delays.”

Julie Walker, Director of Administration, Gamble Walker Insurance Consultants

CASE STUDY 2 - Timely life-saving advice

When Jan Cook was diagnosed with prostate cancer he was bounced from specialist to specialist. The most frustrating aspect, he says, was that he couldn’t find an advocate for his health-care issues.

Besides the cancer, Jan had a host of other health conditions that included kidney, liver and lung problems and an aneurism.

“No one was quarterbacking this thing,” says Jan, President of Credit Bureau Services of Canada. “The time that it took to book specialists was taking far too long, which added to my stress and anxiety.”

Through VIP Health Options, Jan took advantage of the Second Opinion service and got answers to his questions immediately. “In less time that it took to book an appointment with my GP, I had the doctor at Massachusetts General calling me. This was a week before Ted Kennedy was admitted into the same hospital. If the hospital and the doctors there are good enough for the Kennedy’s, then I guess they are good enough for Jan Cook,” he laughs. He received a third opinion from the specialists at Duke University Medical Center, confirming what the other doctors were telling him. “I got the top guns on my cancer case … and that helped me deal with this with confidence.”

The next step was to arrange a trip to the Cleveland Clinic to not only deal with the cancer, but all of Jan’s other health issues. The doctors established priorities and put in place a recovery game plan. “I would be dead before I had all this done otherwise. I’ve purchased a lot of insurance in the past, but the best policy I ever bought was VIP Health Options.”

Today, Jan has arranged for all his senior managers to undergo annual Executive Medicals. “It’s costly, but this is an investment for the company.”

Jan Cook, President, Credit Bureau Services of Canada