Specializing In Integrative Medicine Since 1989
Company Message
About Us
Co-founded in 1989 by Jeffrey Freeman, MD and his wife Sonia Rodriguez, MD to pioneer Medical Hyperthermia for the treatment of BPH, Prostate Cancer, and other Cancers WITHOUT Chemo or Radiation, combining it with multifaceted Integrative Modalities to improve outcomes. Since then, we've expanded to encompass many other conditions besides cancer.
Sonia Rodriguez, M.D. is Owner/ Co-Founder and Medical Director. she graduated from the University of Guadalajara School of Medicine in 1984. Some of her specialties include: Internal Medicine, Trauma Medicine, General Surgery, Gynecology, Medical Hyperthermia, Oxidative Medicine, Pain Management, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, General Medicine, Dark field / Live Blood Cell Microscopy (she was a Trainer for Dr.Bradford and the Bradford scope systems for many years), and many other modalities.
Dr.Sonia is Board Certified in General / Family Medicine and is currently serving on the Medical Board for Baja California. She is a member of the International Hyperthermia Association, the Int'l. Ozone Federation (IMEOF), AMOZON (Mexican Association of Ozone Therapy), amongst many others.. She continues with ongoing education weekly and specialty conferences as they come up. She and her family live in S.Calif.
H. Jeffrey Freeman, M.D. (in memorium)
Dr.Freeman passed away in Nov.2010. He was the original cp-founder and director. He came from a family of physicians, growing up in Alabama. He graduated from University of Guadalajara School of Medicine in 1972 and did fellowship at Baylor School of Medicine in Cardiology as well as taught Biology at Univ. of Wyoming. His vision was to offer a full range of choices in healthcare and to educate patients as to all their known options. He always said we would "Practice according to the dictates of conscience, not some cookbook standardized consensus method". He was a brilliant medical pioneer, teacher, and passionate human being and we miss him dearly !
OUT-PATIENT & IN-PATIENT SERVICES
Europa clinic offers both Out-Patient Services at our facility as well as In-Patient Hospital Services through one of the several hospitals we have full practice rights at. For specific therapies and modalities and what kinds of conditions we treat, please check our Therapies & Programs page.
Outpatient Clinic Location:
Europa Institute of Integrated Medicine
Ave.Via de la Juventud 8800
# 22-104
Col.Federal, Tijuana, BC Mexico 22010-22001
US Mailing: PO Box 926, Bonita, CA 91908
(NOTE: This is a new temporary facility until we find something better. We had to suddenly move in Dec. after being given a few weeks notice that our building was bought by Scripps Hospital to bulldoze and build a parking structure for their new hospital ! We landed across the street above a pharmacy for now... )
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to extensive on-going construction in the area we request that you call us to pick you up and bring you to the clinic. Parking is a real issue at the moment.
Clinic Hours:
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Mon - Sun: 9AM - 6 PM PST
CALL FIRST TO INSURE WE'RE IN. Sometimes Dr.Sonia gets called to the hospital or other clinics to do surgery, etc.
US Director / Patient Coordinator's Office:
Carolyn Bormann/Arrowhead Healthworks
Cedarpines Park, CA 92322 (909) 338-3533
M-F 9-6 PST; Sat. 10-1 PST ; Sunday Closed
DIRECTIONS: From the US, take I-5 or I-805 South to the last US Parking exit. Call us before coming so we can make arrangements to meet you there and guide you to our new temporary location.
IMPORTANT NOTE: DUE TO RECENT CHANGES AT THE BORDER WITH CONSTRUCTION & PARKING ISSUES, WE RECOMMEND HAVING US DRIVE YOU OVER SINCE IT'S VERY VERY EASY TO GET LOST. CALL US BEFORE COMING OVER SO WE CAN GET YOU OR GUIDE YOU IN. PARKING IS A REAL PROBLEM.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES:If driving into Mexico is not feasible, we have a few options available for excellent licensed and insured driver services (vans or SUVs) to help bring patient across into Mexico. Dr.Sonia will sometimes also pick up patients and bring them over and back to the US herself if she's available. This is discussed during the New Patient consultation. See our link at Travel Tips / Lodging.
OUT-PATIENT SERVICES
NOTICE: We are currently in a temporary facility due to sudden changes in location due to displacement by Scripps Hospital's purchase of our building and 3 week notice to vacate along with 20 other businesses in our building. As a result, we're currently using facilities over a pharmacy across the street and have had to condense into 1000 sq. ft.! This is where we provide Consultations, Exams, IV Therapies, Minor Surgical Procedures, Hyperthermia, Colonic Services, Physiotherapy, Microscopy & Diagnostics, etc. Food can be brought in also from any of the local restaurants or other clinic kitchens or the patient can bring their own. If the patient is not able, we can have one of our staff assist but there is a fee. We offer free WiFi also. Treatment fees DO NOT include cost of meals or lodging.
IN-PATIENT SERVICES
(For those who require 24 hr. nursing and acute medical care)
Because of Dr.Sonia's outstanding background and reputation, we have full practice rights at several different hospitals, where we are able to offer In-Patient Services to those who will be best served by 24 hr. care. We will discuss the various options during New Patient Consultations if it is appropriate to the case.
Hospital Angeles is the newest state of the art hospital facility in N.Mexico. It is fully licensed and registered, has it's own Pharmacy, etc. Part of the largest chain of privately owned hospitals in Mexico. It offers fantastic diagnostics and imaging departments including the latest in 3 & 4D ultrasound, PET Scans, MRI, CT, etc. It has a full service pharmacy. Located 10 minutes from our office.
Hospital Sagrado Corazón (Sacred Heart Hospital) Part of the Serving Hands Int'l. Network Catholic Ministries. Hospital Sagrado Corazon is affiliated and overseen by the Sacred Heart Sisters of Jesus. Clean facilities. 2 Locations in TJ. This is for poorer patients.
NOTE: WE HAVE ACCESS TO INPATIENT SERVICES AT SEVERAL OTHER HOSPITALS NOT LISTED HERE. ASK ABOUT IT DURING YOUR CONSULTATION WITH OUR PHYSICIAN IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
Financial Note: Once a patient is admitted to a hospital, we lose control of many of the financial costs and they are subject to the parameters and policies of the individual hospital. We only can bill for our direct services and therapies.
INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT
Because we're a foreign clinic, US insurers can't legally pay medical services directly, therefore we can't accept insurance for payment of our services, just like any foreign hospital or medical facility. All medical services must be paid by the patient directly and reimbursement attempted afterward.
With the burgeoning cost of healthcare and dentistry, Americans are going abroad for medical care (termed "Medical Tourism") and the Insurance Billing Administration / Coordinator business is expanding as a result as Americans hire them to fight with insurers for reimbursement.
Many US insurers will reimburse the patient for at least a portion many times of health services rendered in other countries if the paperwork is done properly but it is a nightmare navigating the insurance world, so specialists are needed.. Thankfully, we have access to an excellent Health Administrative company which specializes in helping Americans recover some of the healthcare expenses for foreign medical services rendered. They generally take a % of the recovery as payment or can be paid directly for their services if preferred.
The company we've referred to is AMHA (American Medical Health Allicance) is located in Houston, TX. You can click on their logo to go to their website and download the information below also. If you call, tell him you're referred by Europa Institute in TJ and ask to speak to Alex.
Dr.Rodriguez can work with them to provide a detailed Master Bill which can be used to submit for reimbursement. There is a small English Translation & Billing Prep Fee for this service. Insurers will not look at a bill in Spanish from Mexico or which is not prepared to US standards.
HOW LONG DOES REIMBURSEMENT TAKE ?
There is no way to know exactly, however past experience by our patients inform us that it can take 6-12 months to get reimbursed, depending on the insurer, particular case and the policy parameters, reasons for denial, negotiations, etc. However, know that this was before the institution of Obamacare, so we have no idea about time tables now. AMHA will know better than us about this.