How to Be a Medical TouristIs traveling abroad for treatment a good idea? Peter Greenberg explains how this strategy can save you a bundle, as long as you take appropriate precautions. A few years ago, the travel industry threw around phrases like “surgical safari” or “breast implants and tango” to promote the idea that folks could combine travel experiences with affordable — and usually elective — medical procedures. After all, if you were going to spend three weeks recuperating from a face lift, why not do it in an exotic locale? (Especially if no one there knew you!) More recently, the concept of medical tourism has evolved into something much more serious. Whether it’s crossing the border into Los Algodones, Mexico, where more than 350 dentists practice high-quality, low-cost care, or flying to Costa Rica for a hip replacement or India for bypass surgery, a growing number of American citizens are traveling outside of the U.S. for essential medical services — usually for a fraction of what they would cost at home. How widespread is this trend? While there aren’t any official statistics and the estimated numbers vary wildly, one study from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions calculates that as many as 750,000 Americans traveled abroad for medical care last year, and expects that number to increase to 6 million by 2010. That’s because the cost of health care keeps skyrocketing in the U.S., and more people who are faced with necessary operations either have no medical insurance or are underinsured. The good news is that medical tourism has become a big business, which means there are an increasing number of companies that help facilitate the entire process, as well as tighter restrictions and standards. Even the American Medical Association recently released its own guidelines on medical tourism. However, there are still some important questions that you should ask before making a decision to become a medical tourist. How much can you save? Here’s a breakdown of prices for sample surgeries in various countries, provided by the Medical Tourism Association:
The appeal is obvious: Even when you factor in airfare and hotel costs, traveling outside of the U.S. for medical care can result in significant savings. And although you may not want to travel 20 hours if you’re in need of a quadruple bypass, for safety reasons, it’s often the more invasive procedures that yield the greatest savings. But it’s not just consumers who see the benefits of medical travel: Even insurance companies are starting to send patients out of the country for certain treatments. In 2007, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina launched a subsidiary, Companion Global Healthcare, which works with a network of accredited hospitals and facilities in 10 countries. Shortly after that, health-benefit provider WellPoint launched a program called the Global Health Care Partnership, which, for example, allows employees of a Wisconsin printing company to get certain elective procedures in select facilities in India. Where do you research the options? I’m happy to report that good information that will help you become a smart medical-comparison shopper has become easily accessible. You just have to know where to look. The Web is a good place to start. For example, you’ll quickly find out that the Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok is a world-class facility that surpasses most U.S. hospitals in its quality of care and state-of-the-art equipment; a stay there can be nicer than the Four Seasons! But obviously, you can’t take any hospital’s Web site or promotional claims at face value, especially as competition increases for business in the medical tourism industry. One resource that you might not immediately think of is travel-insurance and medical-evacuation providers. These companies often put their own personnel on the ground to examine facilities in other countries to make sure they’re up to standards — so, for example, if a client breaks his leg on a remote island in the Philippines, he can be evacuated to a quality hospital. Travel medical-insurance provider MedEx even issues reports on specific countries that include top-tier local health facilities and rank the overall quality of care, risks and culture shock. Another service to be aware of is facilitators, companies that arrange medical tourism from beginning to end, from booking the flights and hotels to coordinating the surgical procedure and post-operative care. The more credible companies will also have their own personnel on the ground, doing due diligence on hospitals where they’re sending patients. They should also be able to answer specific questions about the facility, its doctors, the procedure and follow-up care — and in many cases, they’ll also inform you if travel abroad is not the best choice for you. Another helpful resource is “Patients Beyond Borders,” considered to be the definitive reference guide to medical tourism. Author Josef Woodman spent more than three years touring 100 medical facilities in 14 countries. Woodman points out that it’s the patient’s right — and obligation — to ask the right questions, such as: How long is your recovery period? How much pain will you experience? What kinds of physical therapy will you require? How will you know when you’re ready to take a long flight home? How do you know it’s safe? There are now multiple international accreditation programs for hospitals and clinics, so there isn’t just one set of standards that you can use as a benchmark. Probably the most common accreditation program is the Joint Commission International, which requires hospitals and clinics to go through a multilayered process every three years. More and more facilities are eager to achieve JCI accreditation in order to position themselves as a medical-tourism destination. But there are other similar, just as legitimate, accreditation programs, including the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation, the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards and the U.K.’s Trent Accreditation Scheme. In addition, an increasing number of foreign hospitals are now affiliated with leading U.S. hospitals. For example, Tawam Hospital in Dubai, along with facilities in Singapore, China and Panama, are affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International; St. Luke’s Medical Center, Philippines, is affiliated with the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; and CIMA Hospitals in Costa Rica is affiliated with the Baylor University Medical Center in Texas. Finally, if you’re considering being a medical tourist, don’t just rely on accreditation or affiliation; be sure to get referrals from other patients who have used the same doctors in the same facilities. Find out their overall satisfaction with the pre- and post-op care, how accessible the doctors and nurses were, and what they would have changed about the overall experience. General rules on medical tourism Here are a few additional tips to keep in mind as you consider becoming a medical tourist: - Prepare for recovery: This is perhaps the most important factor in determining where and how you get your medical care. You need to know what the possible post-operative risks are, and how long you’ll have to remain in the country after the treatment. In general, hopping on a long flight — where the body is dealing with altitude, pressure and oxygen changes — is never a good idea after a medical procedure. Aftercare means spending the proper amount of time to recover after the surgery; make sure to build this into your travel arrangements. - Don’t travel alone: When you’re undergoing surgery is not the time you should be a solo traveler. Chances are that you’re going to be staying in a country for some time after the procedure, so it’s crucial to have someone with you to deal with potential emergencies and general recuperation. - Weigh the costs: Patrick Marsek, co-founder of the medical tourism agency MedRetreat and author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Medical Tourism," follows the "$6,000 Rule." Unless a medical procedure costs more than $6,000 in the U.S., he says, traveling abroad makes little financial sense when you factor in travel and accommodations for you and your companion. - Find out who’s on the ground: Whether you’re talking to a medical tourism facilitator or a travel insurance provider, it’s important that they have on-location staff inspecting the facilities. Their job is to ask the questions that you wouldn’t even think of. For example, does the facility have 24-hour care? Are there cultural differences in terms of pain management or post-operative treatment? Where is the crash cart located? Is everyone required to wear booties when entering the operating room? (Those are real questions from real inspectors.) - Learn what resources are available: Even if you’re going abroad for a localized procedure like a tummy tuck or knee surgery, it’s a good idea to be in a well-equipped facility, so that if something does go wrong, the staff will be ready to handle it. Some medical tourism facilitators prefer to work only with hospitals, not clinics, for that reason. - Make sure the facility can meet the needs of travelers: Will the hospital send staff to meet you at the airport, or will you have to rely on public transportation? Will there be Continental or Western food available? How much of the staff is English-speaking? Are interpreters available if you need one? These questions may seem nit-picky at first, but once you’re in a foreign country facing or recovering from surgery, they become increasingly important. View in Context »
Heath Tourism - The New Ways to Save Money on Health CareMany people in the United States are finding themselves out of a job and also without valuable health insurance. When costly medical procedures are needed, they cannot afford to have them done in the US. Therefore, many people are traveling to foreign countries to have the procedures done. This is called “health tourism“. In the past, people usually traveled outside the US for non life-threatening procedures such as cosmetic surgery or dental surgery. However, the growing trend is for people to seek foreign treatment for more life-threatening conditions such as heart bypass surgery, heart valve replacements and spinal surgeries. In some cases the cost can be as much as 90% less than it would be in the United States. Popular destinations are Thailand, Costa Rica and India. As many as 85,000 Americans travel to foreign countries for medical procedures every year. Companies are springing up to meet the needs of this new foreign traveler. In South Carolina, Blue Cross and Blue Shield has started the “Companion Global Healthcare” department to assist clients seeking foreign healthcare. They help with travel arrangements, transportation between airport in hospital and coordination of care. A worldwide trend People from many parts of the world, not just America are traveling to other countries to receive healthcare for various reasons. People from Europe travel due to long waiting lists at home, some come from the middle east because they believe the medical personnel are more highly trained and some people travel from Africa because they do not have access to these services in their own country. What to consider While traveling abroad for healthcare procedures can be beneficial, there are a few things to consider first. For example, traveling a great distance to and from the other country can be hazardous, depending upon your condition. Anyone considering a foreign medical care should consult with their physician first. Some conditions such as cancer are best treated by a doctor in your own country with whom you have an ongoing relationship. Investigate ahead of time Thoroughly investigate the hospital or facility you are considering travel to. Check to make sure that they are accredited with the Joint Commission International, to ensure that they meet US standards. Also talk with the physician to find out how many procedures they have done and where they received their training. Meet with your physician before you go and make sure they will provide your medical records to the overseas doctors and to make sure both sides have the other's contact information. Also arrange aftercare before you leave. Make sure you have everything in place for your care when you get home. If you require a costly surgery and do not have adequate health insurance, traveling to a foreign country for your treatment may be an option. Contact a reputable company to assist you and meet with your own physician to discuss the possibility of a foreign procedure. Thoroughly investigate the foreign facility and doctors your self. Make sure that they are an accredited facility and meet basic guidelines before you go. View in Context »
National Report Card on Quality of CareThe Community Quality Index Study, the largest and most comprehensive examination ever conducted of health care quality in the United States, found that adults fail to receive recommended health care nearly half the time. And everyone is at risk for receiving poor care . . .
The gap between the care patients should be getting and what they actually get probably contributes to thousands of preventable deaths each year. Performance-tracking systems and health information technology could help the health system get a better grade. To assess quality of care in this study, the research team developed the RAND Quality Assessment Tools, a set of measures and methods for “scoring” quality on a consistent and clinically sound basis. Figure 1 |
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Medical Tourism Patients Rise by 41.3%
(Korean Times) A total of 1,061 foreigners visited Korean hospitals inMay, up 41.3 percent from the same month last year, the Ministry forHealth, Welfare and Family Affairs said Sunday.
The government expects medical tourism to boom after the Medical Lawwas revised on May 1 allowing hospitals to aggressively attractoverseas patients.
According to the Council for Korea Medicine Overseas Promotion, a groupof hospitals seeking foreign patients, 1,061 overseas patients visitedsix of its members, including Seoul National University Hospital andAjou University Medical Center in May. The figure is a huge jump from751 in May 2008.
``The government and hospitals have been trying to induce foreignerswho would like to get high-quality, low-priced medical treatment andenjoy traveling in Korea. The effort is finally paying off,'' said ParkGeum-ryeol, a ministry official.
But the government has yet to check whether the surge is thanks to aKorean tour craze based on the weaker won or the lure of medicaltourism.
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South Korea witnesses 40% increase in medical tourists.
Upon the revision of the new regulation in South Korea to allow hospitals to directly seek foreign patients in May 2009, the country witnessed the number of foreigners who visited South Korea for medical treatment increase by around 40% to 1,061, compared to the previous year.
South Korea plans to tap on its potential as a medical tourism destination by marketing its accessibility and low cost and expects the number of foreign patients to increase by fourfold to 200,000 by 2013.
However, the nation is anticipated to face competition from established medical tourism destinations such as Thailand and Singapore, as well as players such as India, Malaysia and the Philippines.
www.hvs.com
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Patients Run For Border For Health Care
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- People seeking healthcare services and surgeries are making a run for the border as thetrend of medical tourism becomes increasingly popular.Thousandsof people cross the border to Mexico every year in search of healthcare services. In 2006, 150,000 Californians traveled internationallyfor medical tourism.Elsa Lopez said,"When I do get a chance to go to Mexico, I will get my physical exams there because it's cheaper."
Raul Duarte said ,"People go to Mexico because they have no medicalinsurance here , and even if they do, it's still cheaper to go acrossthe border."Those we spoke to say numerous recent Medi-Cal cuts and the need for affordability have pushed them across the border.Duartesaid ,"In the case of my sister-in-law, she had cataract surgery inMexico and paid less for the whole surgery, hospitalization andmedicine than what she would've paid for a doctor's visit here in thestates."Those we spoke to say patients get more for their money in Mexico and the care is more thorough.Lopezsaid ,"My husband goes to Mexico for his physical exams because they dofull body X -rays , whereas here they just check the outside of yourbody."But doctors here say there are risks to seeking medicalcare in a foreign country, such as contracting infections or havingmedical complications."It's important to verify what kind ofcare is being provided and what kind of materials are being used andwhat kind of methods are used to not spread infection," said Dr.Claudia Jonah.Here are some tips: research information on yourdoctor and the hospital you will be using ,comma such as credentials,reputation, areas of specialization, and equipment used. Also ask aboutthe medications that will be administered or prescribed and ask aboutsanitation procedures. Also check to find out if your medical insurancecovers any complications and what your legal rights are as an foreignpatient.
SOURCE: Turnto23
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Visa card encourages medical tourism growth
Bahamians can get discounts at South Florida hospitals.
In the latest example of how South Florida is becoming an international destination for healthcare, the Bank of the Bahamas announced Monday a new Visa card that allows Bahamians 30 to 60 percent discounts at seven South Florida hospitals.
The card, which was in development for two years, is ``designed to provide as many persons as possible with access to affordable healthcare,'' said bank executive Vaughn Delaney in a telephone interview.
South Florida facilities accepting the card are Mercy Hospital, Baptist Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Jackson Memorial, Broward General, Miami Children's and UM Health Systems.
Two Bahamian healthcare providers in Nassau, Centreville Medical Pavilion and Doctors Hospital, also accept the card.
MORE BUSINESS
Many South Florida healthcare facilities have been pushing medical tourism as a way of increasing business, particularly during the recession.
``We're going to be the world's No. 1 international gateway for healthcare,'' Rolando D. Rodriguez told The Miami Herald last month about his efforts spearheading the medical tourism program for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
Many hospitals offer international patients discounts off the gross charges, but foreigners generally still pay more than Americans with private insurance, which generally negotiates rates of discounts of 50 to 70 percent off gross rates.
Four Miami-Dade hospitals have enlisted in a joint-marketing program through the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau to market the region, but all facilities are competing fiercely for patients.
In some cases, the issue is whether providers are getting paid for international patients. Southern Health Network, a Doral company, has accused the Turks and Caicos Islands of owing $20 million to South Florida providers.
Delaney, the banker, said the bank's goal was not to lure Bahamian residents to healthcare in Florida but to help persons afford treatment. The card not only provides discounts, but automatically allows a patient to pay off care over a period of time.
The card carries an annual fee of $150 and a 3.5-percent surcharge on transactions from participating facilities. If customers secure the card with the possibility of converting the debt to a home mortgage, they can get a lower rate of interest.
WOULD HAVE SAVED
Diane Phillips, a Nassau publicist who helped promote the new bank card, said she herself could have saved a lot if the card had been available when she had a $10,000 elective surgery in Florida.
``If I had it done at Jackson with the card, the $10,000 procedure might have cost only $4,000,'' Phillips said. ``So it will definitely get used.''
BY JOHN DORSCHNER
jdorschner@MiamiHerald.com
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South Korea witnesses 40% increase in medical tourists.
Upon the revision of the new regulation in South Korea to allow hospitals to directly seek foreign patients in May 2009, the country witnessed the number of foreigners who visited South Korea for medical treatment increase by around 40% to 1,061, compared to the previous year.
South Korea plans to tap on its potential as a medical tourism destination by marketing its accessibility and low cost and expects the number of foreign patients to increase by fourfold to 200,000 by 2013.
However, the nation is anticipated to face competition from established medical tourism destinations such as Thailand and Singapore, as well as players such as India, Malaysia and the Philippines.
www.hvs.com
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New Medical Tourism Guide Featuring Malaysia Well Received at Official Launch
Patients Beyond Borders Malaysia Edition released as the country gains ground on the global healthcare front.
Chapel Hill, NC (PRWEB) August 12, 2009 -- Patients Beyond Borders: Malaysia Edition was formally launched at the APHM Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur on 23 July, 2009, to a gratifying display of unity from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism, and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), as well as specially invited guests from the US, the UK, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and Thailand. The ISQua President-elect, former President, and current President were present, along with executives from all of the top international Malaysian hospitals.
Malaysia's Minister of Health, YB Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai, delivered the opening address at the APHM/ASQua/ISQua International Healthcare Conference. Dr. Junaida Lee Abdullah, the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism and representative of the Minister of Tourism, Dato' Sri Ng Yen Yen, officially announced the book's launch. Dato' Dr. Jacob Thomas, President of the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM), along with Dr. Abdullah and the leaders of ISQua, presented copies of Patients Beyond Borders: Malaysia Edition to the top executives of the book's featured hospitals at the launch ceremony.
"I was pleased and honored to see such a show of unity amongst disparate public and private interests," said Josef Woodman, author of the Patients Beyond Borders series and CEO of Healthy Travel Media. "In today's competitive environment, common goals and collaborative planning are essential to achieving visibility and patient awareness."
The Malaysia Edition launch activities highlighted the nation's emergence as one of Asia's leading medical tourism destinations. Malaysia is quickly gaining ground on the global healthcare front, with increasing numbers of medical tourists taking advantage of its high-quality healthcare, low costs, and hospitality toward international visitors. Last year, Malaysia welcomed 370,000 travelers from 60 countries who visited its international medical facilities for a wide range of procedures and services, including hip and knee replacement, coronary angiography, dentistry, health screenings, and more.
"Health tourism is one of the brightest points in the growth of the healthcare sector in Malaysia," according to Dr. Paul Suwinski, Frost & Sullivan's Senior Consultant of Healthcare for Asia Pacific.
With a growing number of hospitals accredited by international organizations and by the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH), Malaysia's medical tourism sector is expected to see continued robust annual growth exceeding 25.3%, allowing the country to showcase its quality healthcare services and specialties offered at competitive prices.
Patients Beyond Borders: Malaysia Edition will be available at bookstores and online retail channels throughout the world. The eBook edition is available through lulu.com. Booksellers wishing to carry the Malaysia Edition should contact Publisher's Group West.
About APHM:
Established in 1972, APHM currently represents more than 100 private hospitals and medical clinics approved and licensed by Malaysia's Ministry of Health; of those, more than 30 are directly involved in medical tourism. Among APHM's objectives is the delivery of a high standard of healthcare to the public by coordinating activities of private hospitals and promoting healthcare services within Malaysia.
Current APHM members participating in Patients Beyond Borders: Malaysia Edition include: Gleneagles Intan Medical Center, Gleneagles Medical Center Penang, Institut Jantung Negara (National Heart Institute), KPJ Healthcare Group, NCI Cancer Hospital and Specialist Clinics, Pantai Hospital Group, Penang Adventist Hospital, Prince Court Medical Center, Sime Darby Medical Center Subang Jaya, and Sunway Medical Center.
About Healthy Travel Media:
Healthy Travel Media, an independent imprint based in Chapel Hill, NC, publishes books, eBooks, and Web-based consumer reference information on medical tourism and wellness travel. Patients Beyond Borders is available at Amazon and bookstores everywhere. Patients Beyond Borders: Malaysia Edition is one of a series of country-specific editions. For more information, visit www.patientsbeyondborders.com.
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Could Miami Become a Major Medical Tourism Destination?
Ben Cole, for HealthLeaders Media, August 11, 2009
Come for the gorgeous beaches, sunshine, and nightlife—and stay for world class healthcare.
That could be the slogan as Miami tries to establish itself as an international destination for foreign patients. The city is attempting to do so via a collaborative effort that includes the work of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and six (to date) large healthcare providers serving the city.
The collaborative features a Web site called MiamiHealthCare.org that touts the city's "renowned medical services in a tropical, cosmopolitan paradise." The site features links to each of the participating providers' Web sites—which tout how they cater to international patients using attractions, such as concierge services—to help consumers find the best fit as well.
Its slogan is "Miami—A place of complete physical, mental, and social well-being." Participating providers include Baptist Health, Florida International University College of Medicine, Jackson Health, Mercy Hospital, Miami Children's Hospital, and the University of Miami Health System.
"We're going to be the world's number one international getaway for healthcare," Rolando D. Rodriguez of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce told the Miami Herald when announcing the initiative.
Although the initiative has several providers working to market the region's healthcare services, they will remain in fierce competition for patients. The effort is different from an effort in the 1990s called Salud Miami, which was designed to lure Latin American medical travelers. Under that program, eight hospitals contributed an annual fee and the program's directors worked to filter potential patients to the participating hospitals. However, the program failed because the hospitals struggled to share patients with nearby facilities that they competed with for business for so long.
Because of the way it is structured, proponents of MiamiHealthCare.org say it has the potential to improve quality of care for both domestic and international patients:
The hospitals involved remain in competition for patients, but the Web site and initiative is another way for them to market their facilities
Marketing in this fashion may force the facilities to improve care, and possibly even price competitively, to keep up with the other providers that have joined the effort.
Attracting medical tourists to the city has the potential to help other businesses as well. Southern Florida hotels have seen a huge dip in business due to the recession, and medical tourists could help this industry, as well as other businesses that draw customers from tourism.
And the MiamiHealthCare.org collaborative is only one way the city is expanding its marketing to potential international patients: Last month, the Bank of Bahamas announced a new Visa card that allows Bahamians discounts of between 30%-60% at seven South Florida hospitals.
Perhaps the unique collaboration between the Miami area providers can serve as an example that competitors can work together to increase business, but at the same time maintain their independence. During the recent economic downturn, there have been several instances of healthcare providers collaborating via joint ventures and business strategies to increase patient base and revenue. It's always beneficial, especially during the current economic climate, for providers to do whatever they can to increase its patient base.
With this project, Miami-area healthcare providers are doing so by putting their names alongside their competitors. It will be interesting to see if it will inspire the organizations to improve their quality and marketing efforts so they can stand out even more while competing for business.
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