Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls is marketing itself to wealthy Canadians willing to pay out-of-pocket for a pricey operation, like a knee replacement, rather than wait years for the procedure under Canada’s national health system, Boise State Public Radio/Northwest News Network reports. And they’re pitching to these Canadian medical tourists with a package that includes a luxury stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, where the patient’s spouse can get in some spa time. “The resort picks them up at the airport, them and their spouse, takes them to the hotel, puts them in a nice room overlooking the lake,” Rick Rasmussen, hospital CEO, told reporter Jessica Robinson; her full report is online here.

Trent Jeffries of Calgary, who traveled to Post Falls for a knee replacement last year, told Robinson, “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He said, “I’ve said since I’ve come back, if I have any problems from here on, I won’t fool around here, I’ll get in my vehicle and drive south.”