The difference between a useful estimate and a vague one is almost always the reports attached to the first message. Here is what is worth sending, and what is not.
Why it matters
A surgeon asked "what does a bypass cost" can only answer with a range wide enough to be useless. The same surgeon, given an angiogram report, an echocardiogram and a list of current medication, can say what they would do and what it would cost. Nothing else about the process changes as much for as little effort.
What is worth sending
- The diagnosis in writing, from whoever made it.
- The imaging report — the radiologist's text, not only the pictures.
- Recent blood work, ideally within the last three months.
- Any discharge summary from a previous admission for the same problem.
- A current medication list, including doses.
- The patient's age, weight and any other conditions being treated.
What does not help
Photographs of a screen. A scan reported as normal two years ago. A summary written by a relative rather than by a clinician. None of these are useless exactly, but none of them will change what a surgeon is willing to say.
Send the report, not just the images
A disc or a set of DICOM files is worth having, but the radiologist's written report is what a consultant reads first. If you can only send one thing, send the report.
If a detail is missing
Say so rather than guessing. An estimate built on a wrong assumption is worse than a delayed one, and the correction usually arrives at the point where it is most expensive.
These articles are general guidance about arranging treatment abroad. They are not medical advice, and nothing here replaces a clinician who has read your reports.
