This week APN continues our expansion into new service lines. We have been visiting, interviewing and evaluating new clinics and facilities for our clients.
Our Women’s Health service line will include:
(Please note that we do not provide surrogacy services)
Hello, everyone! We’ve been busy here at American Physicians Network, and this summer will be no different. In addition to a successful winter client trip this January, we are upgrading our services, and adding to our service lines. This will take several months, but we are excited about the upcoming changes!
Here at American Physicians Network, we rely heavily on word-of-mouth. Particularly now, when the global pandemic has changed the world we live in. People need care, and they want that care from people they trust. For this reason, we have designed a June trip to celebrate and show our appreciation for all of the wonderful people who have supported us during the shutdown. Our friends and family trip is designed to bring together many of our loyal supporters on a trip to our regional office in Bogota.
Quality medical care are remains the heart of our mission, and while we plan for a lot of fun activities on this trip, our main focus is you and your health. As part of our thanks, we are offering a 50% discount on our service fees for any of our friends on this trip. In addition, should you and your loved one both need medical or dental treatment on this trip, we are offering an additional ‘partner’ discount.
If you are interested in one of our group trips, and won’t be able to be join us this June, we will be offering additional trips in the Fall of 2021.
December 2020
What a difference a year makes!
In December 2019, we were in the midst of one of our group medical trips. It was hectic, but fun. All of our clients had a good time – and the trip was a success.
Then, came Covid-19, and all of us were forever changed. Our documentary was put on hold, along with all of our upcoming scheduled group trips – and American Physicians Network, like so many other small businesses, struggled to survive.
We worried about our clients, and future clients – and what they were going thru, as the bottom fell out. We worried about our doctors, scattered across six countries. We didn’t know that our hometown of Memphis, Tennessee would end up being more dangerous than most of our destinations.
As international flight restrictions eased, I took one of the first flights to our regional office here in Colombia. I stepped off the plane to feel safer than I had in months. Covid still exists in Colombia, but it isn’t raging out of control. Masking policies are universally followed, (nary a bare face to be seen) and all restaurants, shops and other businesses have moved to social distancing policies, mandatory temperature checks and sanitation stations.
Life isn’t back to normal, there are no coffee dates or in person meetings – but because Colombians here in the capital city have embraced these health safeguards after one of the longest lockdown in the world, the virus is not raging out of control.
I return to the USA in a few weeks – and honestly, I’m concerned. I stocked up on masks, and a durable faceshield here (because there aren’t any shortages here – supplies are cheap and readily available). Now I have to prepare to jump thru the necessary hoops to come back home. Delta is still enforcing the empty middle seat policy (which is why I chose them), as well as contact tracing for all International flights entering the United States. I’ll quarantine when I arrive, and take another covid test before getting back to work. But I’m not as afraid of bringing home Covid – my risks are so much lower here – but I am worried I’ll contract it once I arrive.
That being said – the vaccine brings hope. With this hope, American Physicians Network (APN) is tentatively planning to offer our next medical trip to Colombia in late May. Given the current discussions among airlines and nations, we anticipate that travelers will need to have proof of vaccination before being allowed entry to Colombia (or any of our international sites.) Since it’s our first trip in a year, spots will be limited. We will continue to offer our 50% discount on our services as we re-ignite our business.
We will continue to monitor Covid-19 activity at our sites in other parts of the world, and will plan to initiate trips to these areas when safe, and feasible.
As always, we will also recommend that all travelers purchase travel insurance.
Of course, as we have all learned, a lot can happen in a few months, so we will check in here again over the upcoming months as the mass vaccination programs are implemented globally.
For the many people out there, who have difficulty accessing health care, who are unable to afford care and for those who who have lost their safety net due to pandemic related issues, we are here for you.
Sincerely,
Kristin Eckland
While Covid-19 temporary ground every day life to a halt – with millions and millions of people worldwide under lockdown orders, working from home, and staying in their homes, illnesses don’t take a holiday. While all of us were trying to stay out of emergency rooms, doctor’s offices and away from the hospital – we can’t put our lives and our health on hold indefinitely.
You still need care.
People still get sick, even in a pandemic. People still need care, even as Covid-19 has changed the world as we know it. As the founder of American Physicians Network, I have felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. But as an actively practicing clinician in the hospital, the impact has been more profound. For every case of Covid, there is another person who had to put off their heart surgery, or delayed seeking treatment for their debilitating knee pain. Surgeries put on hold, means that lives are put on hold.
The economic impact of Covid-19
For some people, this crisis has hit even harder – with historic and unprecedented job losses, even more people in the United States have lost their health insurance at a time when they can least afford it. Cancers go undiagnosed due to a lack of insurance, and upheaval from the pandemic. Expensive but necessary tests aren’t scheduled, biopsies aren’t done and questions go unanswered. Even worse, these cancers and other serious medical conditions are going untreated. Slowly, life is beginning again – even as we adjust to a “new normal.”
What does medical travel look like now? Is it safe? Are doctors operating? What are the hospitals like right now?
For this reason, now that international flights are resuming, APN is going to be traveling to our partner sites this November and December, to check-in, assess the situation and make recommendations for our clients going forward.
Life looks very different today, than it did when we started this company, but our mission remains the same; to help people. That may look different late 2020 (and beyond) than what we are used to – but we are still here to help.
We will post updates from our regional office in South America next month.
Kristin Eckland
Executive Director
American Physicians Network
I’ve been surprised about the number of visitors that have asked about my mom, but very pleased to give everyone an updated report.
Since she had her TAVR in December, she’s recovered quickly and has been doing great.. In fact, we had to remind her not to overdo it the first few weeks (which is not something I usually have to do with patients). But she is back to running, and has been for several months!
In fact, here’s a video I made back at the beginning of April, on her 81st birthday. (Please excuse my poor video skills). She ran for 81 minutes that day – to celebrate her birthday and wanted me to share it with her doctors and everyone who helped take care of her after her procedure.)
And thank you everyone for all your messages of love and support!
Kristin Eckland
Director of APN
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of us, drastically, in ways we could never have imagined. This is more so for many of our clients with serious medical conditions. We recognize that this is causing an enormous burden on clients who depend on our services. We also know that due to dramatic and rapid shifts in financial markets and personal finances, more people than ever will need our services to ensure they are able to get the care they need.
While we can not offer our usual services during this time, and will not do so until the crisis stabilizes and international travel is safe, we are still here for you.
We are still taking consultations for serious medical conditions, elective surgeries and cancer treatment. We are here to answer your questions and concerns.
While our timelines may not be predictable yet, we are here to provide assurance and education to our clients in need.
As travel restrictions are relaxed and local and international governments emerge from lock-down restrictions, we are actively working with our partners around the world to ensure that the proper infrastructure is in place to offer safe, affordable overseas medical care as soon as possible. Post-pandemic travel may be very different from what we are used to – and we will be enacting additional safeguards to protect our clients in the weeks, months and years ahead. But, our commitment to your safety and your health has never wavered.
nurses modeling masks donated by our volunteers
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, APN cares, inc. formed a mask-making brigade to help protect healthcare workers and essential workers. There were many wonderful people who answered our call. We would like to recognize some of our volunteers.
Thank you to our cash donors who helped pay for shipping costs, fabrics and materials:
Derek Veloza of Las Vegas, NV
Beth Sollenberger of Southern Pines, NC
Jauclyn Williams of Memphis, TN
APN cares, inc. would like to recognize some of our extraordinary volunteers who donated materials, and hundreds of hours of labor sewing thousands of masks:
Beverly Green and Brennie Green (this sweet young woman, and future nursing student did just an amazing job!)
Candace Perkins and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (Lambda Iota Sigma graduate chapter)
Marlin Mogy and Cindy Mogy
Sara Fox, of Sara Fox designs – who organized a group of costume designers to sew and ship masks.
Susan Eckland
APN cares, inc. would like to thank many of the other volunteers that assisted in these efforts, large and small. 100% of all donations were used for shipping and materials.
*If you have photos of masks you received and would like to add to our gallery, please send to kristin@americanphysiciansnetwork.org
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of us, drastically, in ways we could never have imagined. This is more so for many of our clients with serious medical conditions. We recognize that this is causing an enormous burden on clients who depend on our services. While we can not offer our usual services during this time, and will not do so until the crisis stabilizes and international travel is safe, we are still here for you.
We are still taking consultations for advance planning for serious medical conditions. While our timelines may not be predictable, we are still here to provide assurance and education to our clients in need.
In addition, our commitment to our local and international communities remain. We have temporarily converted our international charitable foundation, APN Cares, Inc. to provide needed medical supplies such as masks to healthcare provides across North America as part of our “Adopt-a-nurse” program. With this program we have matched donors and home sewing enthusiasts with doctors, nurses, and other health care providers. Some of our donors have sent critical items such as N-95 masks, and other PPE. Our dedicated group of crafters have been diligently working at making large numbers of cloth masks.
Other donors have graciously donated money to our high volume crafters to pay for sewing supplies and postage.
If you are interested in joining our endeavors, please contact us. All of these donations qualify as part of our 503(c) “non-profit pending” charitable donations and are tax-deductible.
Our current recommended mask pattern:
Please use tightly woven materials (light cottons, the blue shop towels etc).
American Physicians Network is pleased to announce a new partnership with CIBTvisas (aka Travisa). CIBTvisas is the leading global provider of travel visas, passports and non-negotiable travel documents.
This partnership with CIBTvisas offers several benefits to our clients:
Preferred discounted pricing, 15% off regular prices for all services, including emergency and expedited services.
Global Reach, Local Expertise: 12 North American offices, 60+ offices worldwide
Wholly-owned and operated, FCPA compliant
Secure, safe and easy transactions
Live Customer Care 12.5 hours, Mon-Fri; e-support Sat-Sun.
Real time order tracking 24/7
Measured customer satisfaction 97%
Let us help you prepare for your trip with passports, visas and other needed travel documents. Ready to find out more? Click here to get preferred pricing!
(American Physicians Network receives no fees or financial compensation for clients who use this service.)