“If something has been proven to be right, why change it?”

Jimmy Kuka, a 58-year-old English teacher from New Zealand, made a special decision: this year, he traveled 650 kilometers from Xiamen to Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital (Foshan Chancheng) to undergo corrective surgery for a deviated nasal septum.

This is the third time he has chosen this place - a period of trust spanning six years and a real-life experience of an expatriate patient seeking medical treatment in China.

40 Years of Breathing Pain

Jimmy's breathing problems began 40 years ago with a broken nose in a freak sporting accident. The medical treatment he received in New Zealand at that time was relatively simple, and the doctor only told him that his nose was “broken” without any subsequent correction. Although he was aware that the septum had shifted as a result of the fracture, he did not pay much attention to it in the early days as it had little effect on his health.

Until the last six years, and especially in the last three years, the symptoms have progressively worsened. At night, he is barely able to breathe through one side of his nose and has extremely limited ventilation on the other side. During the day, he often feels hypoxic, which seriously affects his teaching status and daily life.

650 kilometers of adverse selection

Despite teaching in Xiamen and having his surgery postponed twice due to work, Jimmy insisted on taking the four-hour high-speed train back to Foshan Chancheng Medical Center. This seemingly “distant” choice stems from his deep trust and high recognition of Chancheng's professional services.

Jimmy had previously undergone successful knee surgery and hip replacement at Chancheng Hospital, and had built up a solid confidence in the team here. “Rather than re-establishing a relationship of trust, I preferred to return to a team that knows my medical history and understands my needs,” he explains, "From accurate diagnosis to delicate surgery to attentive post-operative care, I felt grounded and respected every step of the way. Doctors, nurses, interpreters, insurance authorization and claims are linked together in a clear and efficient manner."

International Patients' Tips and Tricks

As a language teacher with more than 20 years of experience, Jimmy attaches great importance to the service experience. Foshan Chancheng Hospital's international healthcare service is a perfect match for his needs: a professional international healthcare coordinator is available to support him in every key step of the process, from booking appointments via WeChat and pre-diagnostic communication, to reception and hospitalization arrangements, to discharge and insurance claims. “This is essential to accurately understand complex medical advice,” Jimmy emphasizes. He also appreciated the “responsive and efficient” experience throughout the process: “They organized everything in advance, and all I had to do was ‘show up on time’.” This seamless experience has helped to ease concerns about traveling across borders.

Medicine Without Borders

Jimmy once sought treatment for a knee problem in New Zealand and “waited nearly two years for an appointment at a specialist clinic, only to be refused surgery.” At Chancheng Hospital, however, it took less than a month from diagnosis of the nasal problem to scheduling the surgery. "Everything from the visit, to the evaluation, to the insurance reimbursement was quicker than I expected. During his hospitalization, the warm and comfortable room even made his friends mistake him for staying at a star hotel."

Jimmy is recovering well from his surgery and his breathing has improved significantly. He said with emotion, "After 40 years, I can finally breathe freely! This is the right decision!" His 650-kilometer “return” without hesitation is the most moving and powerful echo of this trust and professionalism.