Others are less concerned about
cost, and are drawn by higher-
quality care than they can get at
home, or like Bodzin, they come
for procedures that are not avail-
able at home. The cost for his
stem-cell treatment was $36,000,
payment in advance, not including
travel or other costs. None of it
was covered by insurance.

Gearing Up
Israel's biggest centers for medi-
cal tourism are its largest hospi-
tals: Sheba Medical Center, Tel
Hashomer; Ichilov Hospital, Tel
Aviv; Rambam Medical Center,
Haifa; the Rabin Medical Center,
Petah Tikva, as well as Hadassah
University Hospital Ein Kerem,
Jerusalem.
Two private hospitals also attract
medical tourists: Assouta Medical
Center in Tel Aviv and the Herzliya
Medical Center.
All are stepping up their
game. Hadassah has even built a
96-room hotel connected to its Ein
Kerem hospital by a mall with res-
taurants, a pharmacy, a bank and
other shopping so patients and
their families can be comfortable
and remain close by.
It also has established IMER
(International Medical Evaluation
and Referral), a department
staffed by 40 employees who
provide translation, transporta-
tion and coordination to visitors.
Not only can they send doctors
abroad to conduct a medical
evaluation or a medical team to
bring patients to Israel, but, if the
country and facilities allow, they
will even conduct medical proce-
dures there.
In 2009, the U.S.-based Medical
Tourism Association (MTA), a
membership-based international
nonprofit trade association for
the medical tourism and global
healthcare industry, opened an
office in Israel; one of its 13 offices
outside of the United States.
Recently, the MTA held a
conference in Israel on joint
marketing for private and public
institutions that brought together
the major medical centers, the
Ministry of Tourism and other
government officials to plan for
growth.
So, in the not-too-distant future,
those ads with pictures of people
frolicking on the beach, visiting
holy sites and floating in the Dead
Sea may also include people hap-
pily recovering in the sun from a
knee replacement.

❑

The Dish On
The Delis

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he Epicurean Group last week
announced the closing of one
longtime deli and the grand re-
opening of another.
Deli Unique in West Bloomfield will
close at 8 p.m Sunday, June 23.
"Thank you for allowing us to b e
part of your lives. We truly appreci-
ate the time and shared memories we
have made with the people of West
Bloomfield and surrounding communi-
ties," the Epicurean Group wrote in an
email blast to customers.
Another Epicurean Group restaurant,
Plaza Deli, on Northwestern Highway at
12 Mile Road in Southfield, is planning
a grand re-opening party from noon
to 6 p.m. Friday, July 12, to show off its
newly renovated restaurant.
General Manager Jeremy Weiss wants
to show off Plaza Deli's new interior,
electronic menu boards, patio furniture
and show the community how the deli
is "going green"
mum
The event will feature a family- 'M
friendly dunk tank as well as lots of
good food, including exquisite desserts
from Gastronomy, another restaurant in
the Epicurean Group's portfolio.
A Southfield fire truck will be in
the parking lot for kids and adults to
explore during the celebration.
Michigan-based Gordon Food Service
is providing a truck to collect non-
perishable food items for Forgotten
Harvest. In addition to any contribu-
tions the Southfield Firefighters Charity
Fund and Forgotten Harvest receive
from guests that day, Plaza Deli will
contribute 10 percent of all sales from
the party to these organizations. Plaza
Deli features blintzes, chicken soup and
corned beef the traditional deli way as
well as its famous sour cream coffee
cake.
Sarah German from Deli Unique
will continue to make catering trays for
all occasions at Plaza Deli starting on
Monday, June 24.
"We are taking similar care with the
rest of our staff, trying to place them
where they can continue to serve our
loyal customers," said Eric Djordjevic,
Epicurean Group president.
Deli Unique in West Bloomfield will
remain open from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m.
daily through Sunday, June 23. German
says she and the rest of the staff would
love to see many of their longtime
friends stop in to say goodbye.
For more information, visit
theepicureangroup.com .

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June 20 • 2013 11

