| Copyright (c) 2008 Some 4.3 million people in | | | | and procedures and review them prior to |
| the U.S. do not have insurance, due to the | | | | making a final decision. |
| high cost of insurance premiums. Uninsured | | | | |
| and the under insured are tired of the rising | | | | When trying to decide which are the best |
| medical costs and the astronomical costs of | | | | facilities, be sure to look beyond the nice |
| insurance coverage in developed countries and | | | | building and paintings. You need to find out |
| are looking for alternatives. Medical tourism | | | | what equipment the facility has and how old |
| offers a viable alternative to the high cost | | | | it is. Because state of the art diagnostic |
| procedures that would be impossible to pay | | | | equipment can be as costly as erecting a |
| otherwise. | | | | building, some are opting to purchase |
| | | | outdated and second hand equipment. Still |
| Countries and corporations are realizing that | | | | others have equipment that looks good in the |
| in order to draw the medical tourist to their | | | | pictures, but is malfunctioning. |
| area, rather than another, it is essential to | | | | |
| provide a state of the art facility. Many of | | | | It should be pointed out that this is not the |
| the marketed medical tourism destinations are | | | | norm. Most new facilities are also equipped |
| state of the art facilities that more | | | | with the latest equipment such as heart |
| resemble a five star resort than a hospital. | | | | mapping equipment, CT Scanners, Open MRI |
| | | | machines, heart catheterization labs, digital |
| It is not enough to offer resort type | | | | ultrasound and mammogram machines and more. |
| accommodations in brand new buildings. | | | | Contact with the facility to inquire about |
| Administrators recognize that in order to | | | | their equipment, reference checks and using a |
| attract medical tourists, it is necessary to | | | | medical tourism travel agent are some ways to |
| meet the strictest of standards and provide | | | | safeguard against problems. |
| top quality service. The majority of marketed | | | | |
| facilities that offer medical tourism are | | | | Most of the doctors who work in these medical |
| accredited by the IOS (International | | | | tourism facilities have studied in the |
| Organization of Standardization) and the JCI | | | | developed countries and then have returned to |
| (Joint Commission International). | | | | work in their home countries. If you are |
| | | | having a medical procedure done, rest assured |
| The IOS is an organization made up of members | | | | that you will be cared for by highly |
| from countries all over the world, as is the | | | | qualified staff. |
| JCI. Both organizations offer standards that | | | | |
| have been drafted with the intent of | | | | Anyone who has had a medical procedure done |
| providing a framework for operation and | | | | knows that the post-operative stage is as |
| measurable outcomes. The JCI website is and | | | | important, and sometimes more so, than the |
| gives a complete listing of all international | | | | actual procedure. Checking the policies for |
| facilities that are accredited. Each listing | | | | recovery is important. Decisions should be |
| gives the date of accreditation and the date | | | | made, in part, based on the type of care that |
| of re-accreditation, if applicable. You can | | | | is provided post-recovery. In developed |
| also review what some of the standards are, | | | | countries, there are plenty of documented |
| what the accreditation process is, and | | | | cases of being discharged from a hospital too |
| pending standards. Both organizations have | | | | soon after a procedure, and having |
| developed the standards with the input of | | | | complications develop. Medical tourists |
| members that represent all world regions. | | | | report the opposite, to a large degree. Most |
| (North America, Central and Latin America, | | | | tourists report that they were allowed to |
| Asia and the Pacific Rim, Central and Eastern | | | | stay for a full recovery period, and that |
| Europe, Western Europe, the Middle East, and | | | | staff were very attentive. Many facilities |
| Africa). A wise person would consult the | | | | have translators standing by who are fluent |
| accredited facilities listing, prior to | | | | in every language. Again, taking the time to |
| determining which to have a procedure done | | | | check the specific practices and staffing of |
| at. | | | | the facility you are considering will save |
| | | | potential problems later on. |
| It is unfortunate that there are some | | | | |
| facilities that are brand new and fully | | | | It is true that all countries have good |
| staffed, but are not adhering to sanitation | | | | facilities and bad, all countries have highly |
| guidelines. Phone and email conversations | | | | skilled doctors as well as those who are |
| with former patrons of the facility will give | | | | poorly trained and running less than |
| you critical information concerning the | | | | desirable operations. Purchase a well |
| cleanliness of the building and is well worth | | | | researched medical tourism guide and/or |
| your time and effort. Bear in mind that each | | | | contact a medical travel agent to assist you |
| facility has its own set of policies and | | | | with your decision. The information is |
| procedures and adhere to those, in addition | | | | already researched for you, and you would be |
| to any put forth by the IOS and JCI. A wise | | | | wise to access those resources. |
| consumer will ask for a copy of the policies | | | | |