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| cost procedures that would be impossible to pay | | | | some are opting to purchase outdated and second |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