Google any of the most-searched terms for medical tourism industry – medical tourism, medical travel, and overseas health care – and you’re going to find a lot of links to medical travel facilitators. With all of these medical tourism companies out there, how can you differentiate between the reputable companies that have done their due diligence about their network partners and who have a proven track record of putting their patients’ first, and the fly-by-the-night companies looking to make a quick buck off of you? Here are a few key points to look at when considering which medical travel company to use:Transparent pricing – Before you sign any commitment, you should receive a detailed account of the price you can expect to pay. Some companies break down the price, so you know how much each aspect of your medical journey will cost. Others lump it all into a package price. However they price it, you should be aware of exactly what costs will be covered. Most reputable companies will at the minimum cover the following in the price they charge you: -Transmittal of your medical records to the surgeon for review -Assistance in arranging any passports or visas you may need (although the fee to acquire these documents will generally be extra) -Procedure price (inclusive of doctors’ fees, hospital fees, and medications associated with surgery) -Hospital Room and three meals a day for you and a companion for a specified number of days after surgery -Flight arrangements -Hotel costs -Transportation to and from the airport -Transportation to and from the hospital for pre- and post-operative care You may also pay extra for additional amenities such as a cell phone, but this should be clearly stated in your contract.Communication with your surgeon – A good medical travel company should offer you a free conference call with a surgeon before you have made any financial obligation to go. This benefits you by letting you discuss the different treatment plans available based on your condition. You will be able to determine whether you feel comfortable with the surgeon and with the surgeon’s medical philosophy. Some medical tourism companies will require a certain degree of commitment before scheduling the conference call. MedTrava, for example, prefers to have patients submit any medical records they have and fill out a medical evaluation form. This allows the surgeon to review your records and to direct his comments specifically tailored to your case, making the call much more valuable for you. Having a conference call with a prospective surgeon does not indicate any obligation on your end. With a reputable medical travel company, if you do not feel comfortable with the surgeon you should be able to ask for a conference call with a different surgeon, or if you choose to seek care elsewhere you can request the return or destruction of your medical records. Complimentary conference calls are a service provided by good medical tourism companies to help you-the patient-feel comfortable about your decision to go abroad for medical care.References: In addition to setting up a call with a surgeon, your medical tourism facilitator should offer to put you in touch with one of their former patients. Not only will it reassure you that the company has successfully arranged medical tourism packages before, but it will give you a first-hand account of what to expect from your overseas surgery.Money-back guarantee – If at any point during your medical travel journey – prior to actually having the surgery – you decide not to go through your planned surgery, a good medical travel facilitator will refund you all of the money you have paid, except for the expenses you have already incurred (airfare, hotel, etc.) Your medical tourism company should have enough faith in the doctors and hospitals in their network that they should be willing to offer you this guarantee. It’s in our best interest to make sure our patients return home satisfied – even if that means allowing you the option of bowing out of surgery if you don’t feel comfortable.In-country patient care manager – One of the benefits of using a medical travel company for your overseas surgery is the reassurance that you will have someone to rely on for any issues or questions you have. All medical travel facilitators will have a patient care manager to answer your questions and help you out before you set off on your journey. But you should choose a company that can offer you a patient care manager in the country you’re traveling to. That way, you’ll have a point-of-contact, someone you already know in your destination country. If you ever have any communication issues, you can give them a call and ask them to translate and advocate for you, and they should also visit you in the hospital to check up on you.Post-operative care – Some medical tourism companies consider their job done once you’ve returned to your home country after surgery abroad. The distinguishing factor of a really good medical travel company is one that promises to follow up with you after you’ve returned and who will assist you as much as possible with any questions or issues you have afterwards._____________________________________________ So go back to the Internet and get a few phone numbers of medical travel facilitators. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and give them a call (a few even have someone available to answer the phones 24/7) and ask them the questions in the list below. Remember, you as the patient are in the driver’s seat, so make sure you use a medical tourism company that gives you the care you deserve. -What charges are included in your price quote? -When will I be able to speak with the surgeons you recommend? -Will you set up a call for me with one of your former patients? -What is your refund policy if I decide not to go through with my planned surgery? -Do you have a company representative based in the country I’ll be traveling to; if so, what support can I expect to receive from them? -What happens after I return home? Will you still be available to me for any questions I have regarding my recovery?
Posts Tagged ‘Tourism’
Medical Tourism – How to Pick a Medical Travel Company
Saturday, June 26th, 2010Hospitality and Tourism Management Education – A Path to Your Car
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010If you are thinking to manage a casino, club, restaurant, hotel, or resort seems like an appealing job, a superior hospitality management education would be a worthwhile option and an excellent career move. Hospitality and tourism management is important to those wishing to pursue an occupation in the hospitality field. As a chief necessity, students should be customer-oriented individuals who can work under pressure and stay confident and friendly. Students enrolled in hospitality and tourism management schools or institutes can obtain professional diplomas, associated degrees, certificates, or more advanced degrees, depending on the individual institute. Common courses that are offered in hospitality and tourism management includes hotel and motel management, food and beverage management, resort management, customer service, bartending, marketing and sales, office administration, hotel security management, travel and tourism, event planning, lodging management, human resource, and additional related studies. An education in hospitality and tourism management provides students with vital management skills and knowledge that will qualify them to become general managers, hotel and motel managers, assistant managers, front office managers, F & B managers, convention managers, house keeping manager, and event managers – to name just few related careers. Salaries vary depending on particular occupation and responsibilities, but those with a thorough hospitality and tourism management education and training can expect to earn more salaries approximately between $22,000 and $72,000, depending upon the field of jobs and responsibilities and individual level of education and experience. In India, there are plenty of hospitality management institutes offering hospitality and tourism management course both in 3 years and 4 years degree programme. There are some hotel management institutes in Delhi that offers hospitality management course with international degree of wide renowned universities. These institutes can be easily accessible on the Internet with complete information of courses and fees. IIMT is one such hotel management institute in Delhi, offering hospitality and tourism management course with international degree to give a path to your career.
Medical Tourism: Quality Affordable Medical Care For The Uninsured
Monday, February 15th, 2010Most businesses acknowledge that there is nothing better than a personal testimonial from a satisfied client to boost their business. At the rate, those businesses specializing in medical tourism are receiving those rave reviews today; it is enough to inspire envy with a capital ‘E’ among other industry leaders.
Without health insurance, the average household is one major medical bill away from bankruptcy, a possibility facing nearly 45 million adults in the United States today. Medical tourism representatives say they hear stories every day about the impact their business is making on the quality of people’s lives both medically and financially, short and long term.
One company, Med Journeys, shared the letter below from the *son of a client for this article. The patient, rejected by the healthcare system in the U.S. decided that that the option to use medical tourism was his only alternative:
“My dad was one of the millions that lost his insurance last year and was facing a life in a wheelchair because he could not afford double knee replacement surgery. When a friend pointed him in the direction of your company, he was tired, in considerable pain, and more than a bit anxious over the thought of traveling to another country for surgery.
Understandably cautious, Dad went to great lengths to research the procedures as well as your company. He was pleased to find out that each journey is arranged through a respected, knowledgeable and trustworthy agent. He was even more pleased to find that each agent had established relationships with the most respected medical facilities in the world.
In the end, what made the entire trip possible was the amount of care and thought that went into the entire process, as well as the cost. Passport assistance, round trip airfares, all medical expenses including x-rays, anesthesia, surgery, pre & post op treatment, physical therapy, doctors, medications, hospital stay with one companion, and recovery at a beautiful guest house complete with meals was completely covered in one inclusive price!
From the moment my parent’s plane touched down, they were taken care of in a manner that allowed them to focus on my Dad’s health and well-being. Mom and Dad were met at the airport and taken to the hospital without any fuss or confusion. On the day of my Dad’s surgery, my mother was able to relax on a beautiful hospital balcony in New Delhi. One of the world’s finest orthopedic surgeons performed the surgery itself. This doctor has performed over 3500 joint replacement surgeries in his long career.
My parents returned home completely satisfied with their experience. Dad has repeatedly stated that because of your company he had complete confidence in, and indeed, experienced care in India far superior to any care he received recently in the states. He was also happy the way my Mom was treated and even encouraged to relax and sightsee while he was receiving therapy.
I am of course as delighted as my parents are. Dad still cannot get over the price of the surgery. His double knee replacement surgeries cost my Dad only 17% of the cost he would have incurred in the United States!
I would like to convey our thanks on behalf of our entire family. You have given us back our Dad.” – R. L. (2009 – Reprinted with permission – Med Journeys)
Medical tourism is fast becoming a viable, alternative solution to the rising health care crisis facing the United States. Medical tourism advocates work continually to improve knowledge of the process and remove the myths surrounding the practice of medicine in foreign countries. In 2008 alone, an estimated 1.5 million people underwent surgery in exotic locations such as Thailand, Brazil, India, Costa Rica, Malaysia, and Singapore. Moreover, all the surgery performed is done at world-class hospitals by teams of surgeons and doctors educated at Princeton, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins.
Today’s economic climate requires every individual to begin to think outside the box when it comes to getting quality affordable medical care. With the help of medical tourism, even those in desperate straits, may now think outside of the country when it comes to having their medical needs met and solutions to their healthcare problems resolved.
