People are sometimes surprised to learn how far patients travel to have pilonidal surgery at our clinic in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. We have patients who live just a few miles away, but many travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to have a cleft lift procedure.
We recently reviewed our patient records and the results of a travel survey. Some of the findings surprised even us!
Patients From 49 States
Our patient database includes people from 49 of the 50 United States, as well as Washington, DC. The only state not represented is Oregon, which happens to be where Dr. John Bascom and his son, Dr. Tom Bascom, the pioneers of the cleft lift procedure, practiced for many years.
Not surprisingly, Wisconsin accounts for the largest number of patients. But our next three states are Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan. We have also treated substantial numbers of patients from Texas, Florida, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana.
And distance certainly hasn’t stopped patients from coming. We’ve treated patients from Alaska and Hawaii, as well as both coasts.
How Far Do Patients Travel?
We asked 1,050 patients how they traveled to our clinic. The results were interesting:
- 32% traveled by airplane, usually flying into Minneapolis or Eau Claire.
- 31% drove more than five hours.
- 23% drove between two and five hours.
- 14% lived within a two-hour drive.
In other words, nearly two-thirds of our patients either flew or drove more than five hours to come to our clinic.
For many patients, having surgery involves considerably more than just scheduling an appointment. It means arranging transportation, taking time away from work or school, and sometimes staying in a hotel.
Patients From Around the World
Our patients haven’t all come from the United States. We’ve also treated people from Canada, the United Kingdom, China, South Korea, India, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and the Dominican Republic.
It is remarkable to think that someone might travel halfway around the world to have surgery in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Why Do Patients Travel So Far?
Pilonidal disease can be a frustrating problem, particularly for patients who have undergone previous unsuccessful operations or have been dealing with wounds that won’t heal.
Many patients find our clinic while researching treatment options online. Others are referred by physicians or hear about us from former patients.
Our practice focuses on the cleft lift procedure, including treatment of complex and recurrent pilonidal disease. Patients who have had difficulty finding an experienced cleft lift surgeon closer to home sometimes decide that traveling is worthwhile.
Of course, we don’t believe everyone with pilonidal disease needs to travel to Wisconsin. There are other excellent surgeons performing cleft lift procedures around the country.
Explore Our Patient Map
The interactive map below shows the home locations of patients who have traveled to our clinic over the years.
Each marker represents a patient location. You can zoom in or out to explore the geographic distribution.
A Final Thought
When we began concentrating on pilonidal disease, we never anticipated that our practice would attract patients from nearly every state and from countries around the world.
We’re grateful for the confidence these patients place in us, particularly those who make a substantial journey to receive their care.
If you’re considering traveling to our clinic for surgery, we hope this information provides some reassurance. Although traveling a long distance for an operation may initially seem like an unusual idea, it’s something many of our patients have done. We have considerable experience helping patients arrange their surgery and postoperative care when they live far from Eau Claire.
