From a spare bedroom in his Calabasas home, Rudy Rupak keeps track of kidney transplants in the Philippines and tummy tucks in Costa Rica, sex changes in Thailand and eyelid surgery in Panama.
Rupak isn't a doctor but a new breed of travel agent. As the president and co-founder of PlanetHospital, he helps Americans get medical treatments that they might be unable to afford at home, and throws in a little tourism on the side. His is a for-profit business, but Rupak sees himself as an advocate of affordable healthcare that is humanely delivered.
"In the U.S., a lot of patients say when they see a doctor, they're ushered in and out of there. Managed care forces that," Rupak says. "In a foreign country, the doctor will see them at all hours of the day. Some of our patients have even had dinner with their doctor."
Rupak witnessed foreign healthcare in 2002 while vacationing in Thailand with his fiancee, Valerie Capeloto, who has lupus. She fell ill and was afraid to go to a hospital in Bangkok. He convinced her to give it a try.
"Within minutes, I was in my own room, and they sent down an Australian-trained doctor," recalls Capeloto. "Soon, I had a private nurse -- and a chef who came in and discussed meal plans."
The total cost of a two-night hospital stay: $411.
Capeloto, who had been working as a teaching assistant, soon found herself escorting medical clients overseas, traveling with three or four patients at a time. Rupak took over the company in June 2005, while Capeloto is starting a foundation to bring PlanetHospital to people who can't afford any medical treatment at all.
Rupak, who was born in London to natives of India, brought a good resume to PlanetHospital: He attended medical school in South Africa, sold title insurance in India for a while and produced two movies in Montreal, where he owned a medical debts call center.
At PlanetHospital he has 30 employees in 13 countries. Rupak, 37, and Capeloto, 45, have visited all the hospitals and hotels where they send patients.
"We look for the little things," he says. "For instance, low beds, which are common in Asia, aren't good for a patient with hip surgery."
Orange resident Rick Thues, 54, turned to PlanetHospital when he decided to have surgery to resurface his hip joint.
He logged on to PlanetHospital's website and ticked a box guaranteeing someone would call him within 30 minutes. Half an hour later, Rupak was on the phone.
