Shawn O'Hara: My guest today is Olga Radutsky, who is the founder and CEO of Estedica Global Wellness, a health and wellness facilitation firm that connects individuals and corporate clients with world-class medical, dental, and aesthetic providers around the globe. With more than 15 years of human resources leadership experience across diverse industries, she specializes in employee value proposition design, total rewards, and talent attraction and engagement. Olga has redefined medical travel as a strategic employee benefit that strengthens recruitment, retention, and workforce wellbeing. She holds a human resources management diploma from Camosun College and a graduate certificate in management consulting from Royal Roads University. Since launching Estedica in 2024, she has been transforming how individuals and organizations integrate global healthcare and wellness into modern life and work. Olga is also accredited as an advanced certified medical travel professional, and we'll get into what that involves. So Olga, welcome.

Olga Radutsky: Hi, Shawn. Thank you for having me.

Shawn O'Hara: What inspired you to launch Estedica Global Wellness?

Olga Radutsky: Well, I think there were a few factors that drove me to start this business in 2023. I had my son, went on parental leave, and took a natural pause from the corporate world. It really drove me to reassess what I want to do with my life and where I want to move professionally. Coincidentally, during the same time, I was talking to my longtime friend, someone who helped me launch Estedica. She spent 10 years working in Turkey as the manager of the international medical tourism department in one of the largest, well-established, reputable hospital chains. The more I learned about the industry, the positive impact it makes, and the amount of care, precision, and quality that goes into it, the more I felt it was a strong alignment with my values and what I want to do in my career.

I also come from a medical family. My grandfather was a doctor, my aunt was a nurse, and the medical field is very dear to my heart. I feel like Estedica really is a convergence of all those elements: healthcare, customer service, quality, and a focus on safety. Another big thing for me was looking at what's lacking on the market right now, especially in healthcare in Canada and the United States. Both countries face issues of healthcare delays or really high costs.

In Canada, we've always had the mentality that our healthcare is covered by the government, so it's free. Why would I pay? That still holds true, but the delays are really pushing people to look outwards for options. In the last few years, there have been a lot of private clinics popping up in response to long wait times for Canadians. In our case, it's all about wait times through the government system or, if you want to seek private healthcare options, those are very expensive. On the United States side, it's primarily the cost. The U.S. has operated as a two-tier system for many years, and now that's just starting to come to Canada. It's a bit of a shock to some Canadians that they have to resort to private options. Estedica is here to bridge that gap between wait times and accessibility, making it seamless, easy, controlled, and high quality.

Shawn O'Hara: Could you please tell us exactly what medical travel is, and what it involves?

Olga Radutsky: Absolutely. It's known by many names: medical travel, medical tourism, medical facilitators, or medical travel agents. I personally do not like those terms because I think there's a stigma, implying it's a quick, book-and-go event for those looking for a bargain and that the quality or support is not high. That's one of the reasons I felt inspired to start my business: to break down the barrier of thinking this is a secondary option. At its core, it's an excellent way for someone to get potentially lower-cost, high-quality, and fast access to care, sometimes even higher quality than in Canada or the United States.

We're talking about anything from medical checkups and diagnostics to specialized consultations, cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, and dental care. Dental is a big one. If you're lucky enough to have coverage, basic things can be covered, but as soon as you move toward something more restorative or purely aesthetic, like veneers, the price can range from $20,000 to $60,000. It's cost-prohibitive for many Canadians and Americans. There's a misconception that if you go to Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, or Turkey, the quality will be subpar or the treatment uncertain.

The truth is, most of the doctors and dentists we work with are not just great and accredited in their country; most are well-versed in international practices. Many have certifications or have graduated from different places around the world. For example, I just came from a trip to Mexico where I am onboarding a new partner hospital. The head dentist there graduated from Boston University, so his frame of reference is aligned with North American standards. There's no risk of a Canadian patient finding outdated techniques or lower standards.

Shawn O'Hara: The perception might be a procedure in the back of a truck with a pair of pliers, but that's not the case at all.

Olga Radutsky: A hundred percent. That's probably the most exciting thing about what I do: educating private and corporate clients about how the process works, where you go, showing photos and videos, sharing testimonials, and credentials of doctors and hospitals. That's really important. Coming from a human resources background, my focus is always on ethics, standards, compliance, privacy, and risk mitigation. That's in my DNA, and that's why it seemed like such a great alignment to go into this industry. I can be the fact checker and a guard dog for my clients.

People come to medical travel agents, or as I prefer, global wellness facilitators, because that's what it is. I don't like the component of travel or tourism; it implies something lightweight or leisure, but you need to take it seriously. Of course, there is a layer of leisure if clients want to spend time on the beach or at an all-inclusive resort, and we set that up. There is an element of luxury to our packages, but the core is quality healthcare, dental, or aesthetics services.

Shawn O'Hara: You mentioned onboarding a hospital in Mexico. My first thought was that someone needs a procedure, goes on Google, finds a place, and books something. But it sounds like that's not what you do at all, that you have a relationship.

Olga Radutsky: Yes, a hundred percent. That's the difference between a client going online and Googling versus working with an accredited medical travel professional like myself. People are overwhelmed with options and unsure who to trust. I've heard terrible stories where a website looks legitimate, reviews check out, but when you arrive, it's just a hole in the wall, and you're not sure your kidney won't be sold on the black market when they're done with you.

That's why people work with facilitators. We vet the professionals. We travel ourselves, walk the facilities, speak to administrators, nurses, practitioners, and even people who don't know who we are. For example, when I went to Mexico last week, I talked to people in hospital scrubs in the courtyard, asking how they like working there and how it compares to other hospitals. It was a neat way to find out what they truly think without knowing I was there to audit. Across the board, the feedback was positive. Some misconceptions about the Mexican medical system can be true, but not at this hospital. It's all about service excellence and patient experience.

I use my HR background to deploy multiple tools to find out what's really going on in the hospital. I look at credentials, certificates, and procedures. When touring, I ask specific questions that someone quickly Googling probably wouldn't think to ask, like, "What's your nurse-to-patient ratio?" That's important because it gives a snapshot of how well my client will be cared for during and after a procedure. Are there nurses available right away, or will they have to wait? How busy is the hospital? What's their standard? We went through every area, including the sterilization room, and discussed procedures and staffing. That's the level of depth I get into, and people who just Google don't get to experience that.

Sometimes I don't personally visit every network hospital, but I have partners who do. For example, the friend who guided me into this line of work worked for a chain of hospitals in Turkey. She knows the doctors, nurses, protocols, and patient inflow. Every hospital we work with has a personal connection, which mitigates the risk of the unknown. It's just one phone call away for me to say, "My client's coming, and this is the expectation. Please keep us posted."

Shawn O'Hara: As an advanced certified medical travel professional, is that part of a network where you can support each other and someone could be familiar with a hospital you're not, but a fellow medical travel professional could offer guidance or knowledge?

Olga Radutsky: Definitely. There is a directory through Global Health Care Accreditation, which accredits certified medical travel professionals. You can look up by location or certification level. Many facilitators affiliate with and represent one or two hospitals, and all their marketing is driven by promoting that specific hospital. Any patients who come to them are assigned to that hospital. I try to be hospital-agnostic. Yes, we have a network and personal connections, but I don't want to be in a position where a client says, "You sent me there because you were affiliated, and the outcomes were subpar." My role is not as a medical professional; I do not provide clinical advice or diagnoses.

There's a clear distinction in what I do and don't do. I don't provide clinical advice or diagnoses. What I do is ensure our clients have everything organized and seamless, and that they can rely on us for quality and process. We provide options. People make mistakes from a place of overwhelm. For example, someone might panic and fly to Turkey or Tijuana for dental work. Even locals avoid certain places. It's about knowing where to go and where not to go.

Shawn O'Hara: So you don't diagnose. I can't go to you and say, "I have a sore knee. Can you tell me what it is and where to go?"

Olga Radutsky: No, not at all.

Shawn O'Hara: I have to go with a diagnosis and say, "This is what I've got. This is what I need. Can you help me?"

Olga Radutsky: There are a couple of ways. Let me tell you about the three programs we have and three distinct ways we service our clients. For private clients, you can either sign up for a membership or purchase Estedica Signature Access, which is a one-time engagement. For a one-time engagement, you come to me with your diagnosis, for example, severe arthritis or needing a knee replacement. The first step is a consult—not a medical consultation, but for you to get a feel for the service and for us to build trust.

During the consult, I give options for locations and explain the process. If you decide to move forward, you'll need to fill out a medical form with information the doctors need to assess your condition and recommend a treatment plan. Some clinics require recent x-rays or other documentation, depending on the condition. For dental work, it could be a panoramic x-ray, even for veneers, because dentists want to avoid complications. We collect medical information, including prior surgeries and conditions relevant to the treatment plan.

After that, I send quotes to a few hospitals. Depending on your comfort level, you might prefer not to fly far or only want to go to certain regions. We customize the experience based on your needs, wants, and timelines. Once quotes are back, you choose the best option, and we start planning. You can also have another call to discuss options further. We can arrange your travel and recommendations, or you can handle it yourself. Then we coordinate everything, making sure doctors, translators, and logistics are all set.

Most clinics and hospitals do pre-op checks, which can range from basic blood work to more in-depth procedures like x-rays and ultrasounds, depending on the surgery. For example, abdominoplasty or breast augmentation involves thorough checks to avoid complications.

Shawn O'Hara: They do x-rays and blood work like here with their current medical professionals?

Olga Radutsky: Not necessarily. That ties into the theme of your podcast, which is compliance. For example, in Mexico, it's illegal not to do all the checks and pre-op routines before surgery. A client wanted to skip checks and go straight to surgery, but that's not allowed. The hospital is liable, and doctors must follow regulations. Diagnostics and pre-op are critical steps, not just to protect the hospital but the patient. I spoke to a plastic surgeon who shared a story about a patient with a prior heart condition. The hospital's checks revealed a hole in her heart, so they refused to operate. She had to go home and deal with that first.

In Canada, getting a comprehensive checkup is difficult unless it's mandatory. I am lucky to have a family doctor, but even then, a full checkup only involved a basic blood panel. If you want something truly comprehensive, focused on longevity and preventative care, you'll be told no MRI or scan unless something is broken.

Your option is to go through private care, but the price ranges from $3,000 to $16,000 for a comprehensive checkup. In Mexico, for example, it's just over $1,000, and you get everything from x-rays to MRIs and a panel of tests adjusted to your age and gender. It's much more comprehensive and affordable.

Shawn O'Hara: That's quite the cost difference. I heard recently that the Canadian medical system is "give us a Tylenol and that's it."

Olga Radutsky: When I talk about healthcare, it's not about individual practitioners or doctors. They're doing the best they can within the system. We've seen a rapid drop in people going to medical school, both doctors and nurses. I read that it will take another 10 years to catch up to a healthy ratio of patients to doctors and nurses.

But that's not accounting for continuous immigration and an aging population, which will stretch that further. We also have a membership option for ongoing service. With Signature Access, we deal with a specific case. With membership, we identify long-term plans, whether you want something pressing, purely aesthetic, or annual checkups abroad. We fit it around your personal and professional commitments. This works well for professionals who need fast access to medical services or want to combine leisure trips with dental work or medical spa treatments.

Shawn O'Hara: So someone could plan their twice-a-year trips and have their full checkup?

Olga Radutsky: Absolutely. I'm not sure it's needed to do it twice a year unless you have a condition to monitor. Even once a year is adequate, but I wouldn't dissuade anyone from doing it twice if they want to.

It could be a combination of dental work or seeing a specialist in a narrow field like dermatology or cardiology. Another option is coordinating a virtual second opinion, which is valuable if you don't want to travel but want expert advice. It's a fraction of the cost of traveling, and we can connect you with leading hospitals in Europe or Latin America. We can also arrange for plastic surgeons or dental consultations.

Shawn O'Hara: That's good to know about the second opinion. In Canada or BC, there's often only one treatment available, but we know other treatments and research exist elsewhere.

Olga Radutsky: A hundred percent. The reason medical travel exists isn't just for cost or speed. The third element is access to treatments or technology not available in Canada. For example, stem cell treatment is not legal in Canada except for a few narrow cases, like leukemia, and even then, it's hard to get approved and the methodology is outdated. I'm not a medical professional, but I'm fascinated by stem cell therapy. It's a promising field for cancer, autism, and orthopedics. I have excellent vendors in Mexico and Vietnam who produce their own stem cells, adhering to strict regulations.

People can contact us at any time. Wait times for orthopedic work are through the roof, sometimes a year or more. We start with a consult, then gather what doctors need for diagnosis.

Shawn O'Hara: Should people do all their research first, or just contact you with their condition and interests?

Olga Radutsky: It depends on the client's comfort level. The more informed you are, the better, but most clients already know the fundamentals of their condition and treatment options in Canada. That's why they start looking elsewhere, either to avoid long waits or high costs.

Shawn O'Hara: You mentioned earlier about translators. My thought was someone shows up with Google Translate and a sign for knee replacement in a foreign country, but it wouldn't be like that.

Olga Radutsky: Just pointing at the knee, right? That's one of the reasons people use Estedica. We anticipate client needs, from when you step off the plane to having a driver pick you up, take you to the hotel, then to the hospital, and back. On departure day, you're taken from the hotel to the airport. That's all covered, so clients don't have to stress about shuttles or cabs. We focus on making sure you arrive calm, with all logistics handled.

Shawn O'Hara: That's better coverage than we often get here, where we're told to bring someone to advocate for us, and people are left after surgery with a cab driver dropping them off and that's it.

Olga Radutsky: It's an interesting point. One of the biggest questions I get is how do I know I won't be mistreated or have medical errors? Being treated in Canada doesn't guarantee you won't have unfortunate incidents. There are heartbreaking stories of people not being treated properly or misdiagnosed. These things happen in Canada and the U.S., but because of stereotypes about medical travel, people are more alert to things that go wrong, even though it happens here just as much.

Shawn O'Hara: Yes.

Olga Radutsky: It all links back to where you go. Horror stories often involve people going to unaccredited facilities without checking credentials. You can't know what you don't know, and horror stories happen, but it's usually due to not going to high-caliber institutions.

Shawn O'Hara: That's a fascinating parallel with travel in general. Travel agents say that when there's a snowstorm, people who used a travel agent are comfortable in hotel rooms, while others are stuck in airports. I guess this is similar: people think they can book a procedure with a Google search and have no idea what they're getting into compared to using your services.

Olga Radutsky: Definitely. Another aspect is the trend of technology fatigue. People are tired of apps and online booking. Clients crave human connection and boutique services tailored to their needs. They want one-on-one attention, someone who knows them by name, and personal follow-up. That personal connection cannot be underestimated.

Shawn O'Hara: Earlier you mentioned corporate programs. Could you elaborate on that?

Olga Radutsky: Sure. Leaning on my HR experience, I saw a gap between what employers offer—shiny perks and cool benefits—and what truly makes a difference in quality of life. That's why I built out corporate services. It has the same structure: membership-based, per month per employee, covered by the employer or employee, and it's very affordable. It comes with proactive planning and mapping out needs and priorities.

A huge help is when companies have Health Spending Accounts (HSA) or Wellness Spending Accounts (WSA). HSA can be used for treatments in Canada or abroad at registered hospitals, as long as there's documentation. The caveat is it has to be a medical procedure, not aesthetic dentistry. WSA or Flexible/Lifestyle Spending Accounts can be used for almost anything, including gym memberships or neuromodulators. Employees can draw from both to design their coverage. For example, $2,000 per year over three years is $6,000, and we help map out how to use it for best value.

Shawn O'Hara: Could this be used for a company where someone is injured and goes on compensation, and they could be out of the workforce for months or a year waiting for treatment? Could this get them treated faster and back on the job?

Olga Radutsky: Definitely. I'm not sure exactly how it works with workers' compensation claims, but if employees seek care outside the WCB network, I don't see why not. The biggest value for employers is preventing short-term and long-term disability. Employers save money by using this program as part of employee benefits, preventing long-term illness and customizing coverage for any scenario or budget. For example, a consultancy firm with professionals 35+ may want to design a plan with funds for IVF treatment. Construction companies might allocate funds for orthopedics. We educate employers on direct and indirect savings. HSA funds are not taxable for employees and can be written off as a business expense. More claims mean higher premiums, so there are many reasons this works in an employer's favor.

Shawn O'Hara: Is it helpful for you to connect with people involved in implementing benefit programs for employers?

Olga Radutsky: Most definitely. I have active partnerships with group benefits advisors who distribute our services as a product.

Shawn O'Hara: That's great. Your contact details will be in the show notes. If anyone listening deals with benefits or knows someone who does, I'm sure you would welcome an introduction.

Olga Radutsky: Absolutely. Thank you.

Shawn O'Hara: You're certified as an advanced certified medical travel professional. That's voluntary compliance, because people can do what you do without being certified. Are there any government bodies that regulate the industry?

Olga Radutsky: That's a good question. Since we're not part of the medical care system, we are not accredited or governed by bodies in any way. But there are standards of professional conduct, ethics, and privacy. My HR background is all about compliance and checking certifications and credentials. One of the most critical elements is handling personal health information appropriately. I use a Canadian company called Jane App for managing bookings and health information. It's international and used by many practitioners.

When it comes to working with clinics, hospitals, and surgeons, compliance is key. Each country and hospital may have their own certifications, but some are overarching, like Joint Commission International (JCI). If a hospital is JCI-accredited, it means they've passed a high standard of quality. I also look at ISO certification and other associations, like the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or local equivalents. It's always about checking certifications, validity, merit, and how long they've been certified.

Shawn O'Hara: Wow, that's very thorough. Thank you, Olga. This has been absolutely fascinating. My guest today has been Olga Radutsky from Estedica Global Wellness. Olga, how can people contact you?

Olga Radutsky: You can contact us directly at www.estedica.com, call +1 250-884-1835, or find me on LinkedIn as Olga Radutsky.

Shawn O'Hara: Thank you. We'll put that into the show notes.

Olga Radutsky: Perfect. Thank you so much.

Shawn O'Hara: And that's a wrap.

Links

Estedica Global Wellness: www.Estedica.com

Phone: 1 250-884-1835

Olga Radutsky on LinkedIn