One of the benefits of utilizing a medical tourism facilitator is that many carry out a rigorous process of screening the medical tourist in order to assist them in choosing the appropriate services. If you are a consumer considering your options, a good first question to ask the facilitator is their experience with the countries, hospitals and doctors that you are considering.

A qualified medical tourism facilitator will need to determine the extent of your prior experience in traveling abroad. This will be helpful in determining which country would be a better fit. Fluency in languages other than English is also another factor. The locals in certain countries and cities, may be more provincial in their tolerance to communicate in a foreign language and the terrain may be more adventurous than others.

Outside factors such as time of year you are considering and if you are traveling with a companion may also impact the decision-making process. Climate and altitude issues may also change the length of stay.

To ensure a good outcome, a qualified medical tourism facilitator should also be assisting you in gathering a full profile of your medical background, including any pre-existing conditions, age, BMI evaluation and determining what type of laboratory work-up and diagnostic studies will need to be carried out. It is important that this information is
prepared and provided to your chosen doctor for evaluation prior to departure.

Understanding what your experience is with surgery prior to traveling abroad is another factor to consider. Your experience with being in a hospital environment as well as any surgical procedures at a clinic should also factor into your decision-making process.

While the decision and choice remains with you, the medical tourist, medical tourism facilitators screening process is a very important aspect of the process. It may or may not provide additional details that may have been left out during your research process, but either way, it will help you in making the experience a positive one.

While the quality of care received and the physician selected are of utmost importance, the dynamics of being a medical tourist doesn’t stop there. A main component of the psyche involves feeling comfortable in the environment of the chosen destination.

When the plane first touches down, many questions may pass through one’s mind: “Will I be safe?”; “Will they understand me?”; “How will I get around the country?”; “Will they accept my money, and if not, how do I exchange currency?”; “Will my cell phone work?”; “Should I be concerned about eating the local food or drinking the water?”; “How will I feel when I step off of this airplane?”.The gammut of emotions, from excitement to anxiety, regarding the impending surgery can cloud one’s ability to be prepared for many aspects of the medical journey.

The role of the local concierge can be invaluable to address these issues and add a level of personalized service to help put the traveler at ease.

While many doctors and lodging options offer transportation, this may not be sufficient. Carlos Salas, owner of a concierge service in San Jose, Costa Rica, explains that there are many differences in services. “Many doctors offer no more than a taxi service. In this case, the traveler may have five or six different people that they are dealing with. Some may not be as fluent in English or are too busy to understand why they are visiting. When I first meet a Medical Tourist at the airport, my goal is to make them feel comfortable and assure them that I am familiar with what they are doing. I want them to know that I will be there for them throughout their entire trip.

Salas adds that he has learned through his experience, that there can be big challenges faced by the Medical Tourist, but they are not insurmountable. “It s as simple as seeing the relief in their eyes when I am waiting with a sign with their name on it when they pass through customs. Also, they appreciate the help I provide them when checking in and getting settled at their hotel.”

He believes one of the most critical parts of his service involves getting the Medical Tourist in and out of the clinic or hospital. “The hospital can be a very overwhelming experience for many reasons. When they see that I am there through the check-in, helping translate if needed, and waiting for them when they have completed their surgery, it eliminates some of their nervousness.”

Whether it is recommending a restaurant or a tour, assisting with translation or transportation, a concierge who is familiar with the Medical Tourist’s specific needs can make a difference. “I recently assisted a bariatric patient who wanted to go on a canopy tour. The first thing I asked her was if her doctor had any restrictions?.It s important for me to understand their diet and physical restrictions before and after surgery.”

Many factors can determine the level of concierge services needed by the Medical Tourist. If you are traveling with a companion, if you are fluent in the primary language of the destination, or if you have already been to the country,  will influence your decision.

As with all other aspects, the best advice is to do your homework and research to determine what’s best for you, the Medical Tourist, to make your experience a very positive one.

By Lourdes Gasparoni

Director, International Operations
Premier MedEscape LLC

www.premiermedescape.com

1-866-776-8414

Issues such as required immunizations, hospitals and medical facilities, climate and altitude are all factors that should be evaluated and taken into consideration when preparing to travel abroad.

Unexpected medical and hospital care abroad can be expensive. Medical evacuation to the United States can cost more than $50,000. Today, US medical insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid) is generally not accepted outside of the US. A Medical Tourist should include, as part of the planning process, a call to his/her medical insurance provider to determine what, if any, aspect of their trip may be covered. If your insurance policy does not provide coverage abroad, exploring short-term policies to cover your trip may be an option.

A complete physical examination with your local physician should also be considered in preparation of your trip. If you have pre-existing conditions, they should be discussed with your physician as part of evaluating fitness for travel. If the Medical Tourist is having a cosmetic procedure, lab tests need to be carried out and pre-existing conditions should reviewed by the physician abroad to ensure that you are a viable candidate for the procedure.

Although there are limitations on medical insurance, there are many private insurance plans to assist the Medical Tourist regarding travel. “Travel insurance can provide you coverage for certain emergency medical expenses, trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage damage or loss, and much more. Plus, most plans include travel assistance services to help with anything from tracing lost luggage to coordinating medical evacuations from  remote locations.” Adam Wertheimer, Representative for MetLife, promotes AIG Travel Guard services. “A major difference for example, is that AIG Travel Guard insurance plans come with AIG Travel Assist’s 24-hour travel assistance hotline to help their travelers anytime, anywhere.” The cost for a Travel Insurance policy is usually under $100 per person, per trip. Many credit card companies, such as American Express, also carry travel protection as part of their card services.

An additional source of reference for health insurance information is the US Government Travelers’ Health page of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The website is at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. It is also very helpful to obtain the contact information of the US consular officer in the country that you are traveling, prior to your departure.

As a Medical Tourist, the best advice is to check into what Insurance is available to your prior to your departure. While sometimes it can be confusing and challenging, it is always better to have the information and coverages in place prior to departing to your destination.

Lourdes Gasparoni is a proprietor of Premier MedEscape in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and may be reached at info@premiermedescape.com.

Obviously, the answer to the question related to your health and well being rests with the very important decision concerning the credentials and experience of the physician selected. Once you’ve decided on the physician, it is important to obtain as much information about the facility and equipment that will be used for your surgery.

One of the questions that needs to be asked of the surgeon is where their surgery is being done. Will it be carried out in a hospital or a clinic environment? There are significant factors which should be considered when making a final decision.

Many physicians have long-standing reputations in the community that they practice and have developed their own clinics to carry out much of their surgeries. The benefits include, a lower total cost for the medical services as well as smaller facilities that allow for more personalized attention and that are geared up to meet their needs. The challenges that they need to overcome is having adequate life-saving equipment on-site as well as access to hospitals if the need arises.

The benefits that are realized in a clinic environment are the biggest challenges that a hospital faces. Wait time for admissions as well as higher prices and additional fees that may not be included in the initial cost can occur.

Recently, hospitals in Latin America have become more aware of the increase in medical tourism. Not only do they offer their own traditional care services, but they are offering all-inclusive packages. In an effort in making it more user-friendly for medical tourists, they are adding staff to support the ever growing need for assistance in air travel, transportation, rooms for their recovery as well as tours of their country.

When asked what the difference is between a hospital and clinic, “The issue is safety and security,” says Carol Veloso, CEO at CIMA Hospital in San Jose, Costa Rica. “We believe that it is important that there are specialists available in every facet of medicine to address the specific needs of a patient that undergoes any type of medical procedure.”

The CIMA Hospital (Center for International Medicine Advanced) opened in 2000. It is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center of Dallas, Texas and is fully integrated as one of the Center’s teaching hospitals. The hospital is operated by the International Hospital Corporation, also headquartered in Dallas. Other CIMA medical facilities are located in Mexico at Chihuahua, Hermosillo, Santa Engracia and Pueblo. They also have facilities in Brazil at Curitiba, Florianopolis, and Volta Redondo.

“Hospitals are held to a higher standard of care when it comes to meeting the requirements of a surgical procedure. The hospitals require fully equipped operating rooms, maximum technological back-up, such as intensive care units as well as a fully trained staff in order to meet the diverse needs of a patient. All of these factors assist in providing a patient with the peace of mind that they should expect when undergoing a medical procedure.”

Many physicians believe that the type of procedure is a very important factor when deciding where to have it carried out. Most agree that an abdominoplasty (tummy-tuck) should be carried out in a hospital environment, while some believe a rhinoplasty (nose surgery) can be done in a clinic setting.

Regardless of your choice, it is important to visit the facility prior to surgery. The doctor and their staff at a hospital or clinic should welcome you to take a tour as part of your consultation process. Be sure to ask and see the quality and sanitization of the equipment used in surgery, the operating room, the recovery room,  the location of the life-saving equipment, the steps taken for proper sanitation at the facility and the staff that will be attending to you during your recovery.  If you choose a clinic, be sure to find out how far away the nearest hospital is and the steps taken to bring you to a hospital if needed.

Both the clinic and a traditional hospital have their advantages. Doing your homework and research to determine what is best for you, the medical tourist, will help make your experience a very positive one.

The needs of the “Medical Tourist” are much different from someone traveling on business or vacation. Historically, for a medical tourist, staying at a traditional hotel comes with much apprehension. While a hotel may be very appropriate for someone having dental work done, it may not be very suitable for someone having a cosmetic or bariatric procedure for example. Challenges include; the lack of privacy after the procedure, rooms often times not properly equipped to handle post-surgical issues, medical needs, such as nurse care and massage therapy, are not readily available. This may cause frequent trips to a medical facility for post-operative care and follow up.

Many hotels are trying to make the adjustments. Jim Follett of International Hotel Group, based in Dallas, TX says “as the hotel company with more guest rooms then any other company in the world, we are focusing on the individual traveling internationally for various medical treatment.”

Jim is the Director of Global Sales in Latin America and has spent much time in Central and South America. “Our research found these individuals have special requirements at the facilities they select for their recovery period. Our brands InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Staybridge Suites are committed to satisfying the unique needs of these guests.”

“The initial markets where we are developing programs for these guests include San Jose Costa Rica, Monterrey Mexico and Sao Paulo Brazil. Each city has multiple IHG brands which will satisfy the different budgets of the travelers. The Real InterContinental San Jose for example offers 24 hour room service, health club and business center which is very important to many of these guests. The newly renovated Holiday Inn San
Jose-Aurola located in the city center offers walking access to the guest to the city a plus for individuals interested in exploring the city as they recover.”

“The hotels will have specifically designed programs for the medical tourist. Their recovery needs will vary based on the various medical procedures. Staying with internationally recognized brands will reduce some of the anxiety these patients experience. Additional services such as daily transfer to the facility, special dietary offers and free local phone calls to their doctors will include some of the services these
guests will experience with IHG brands. A web site has been established for the industry specifically for the medical tourism providers in the USA and Canada. We anticipate working in concert with these professionals to insure a quality experience for
the guests.”

Outside of hotels, many countries in Latin America catering to medical tourists, have left it to the physicians and hospitals to come up with solutions to this need. A plastic surgeon or hospital, for example, may offer an apartment that is nearby to the medical facility with 24 hour nurse care.

Some countries such as Costa Rica, however, have been quick to identify a medical tourists needs and have made adjustments accordingly.

“There are over 15 recovery-type retreats  in San Jose alone.” said Raul Cossio, Owner of the Paradise Cosmetic Inn.”Hotels are not medically equipped to handle surgical patients, in fact, many of the local hotels will tell people to contact us instead.” He believes the biggest difference is the 24 hour nurse attention and “the fact that you are among people that you have a lot in common with and can share your experience is a big factor.” ” It’s like a big pajama party, everyone is comfortable, it’s the perfect atmosphere for relaxing and recharging which facilitates the healing process” ” By the time the people leave everyone feels like one big happy family planning a reunion at Paradise”

Like hotels, there are some challenges to the Recovery Retreat for a Medical Tourist. The issues that they run up against involve the limitations on what is available at the facility. This is particularly an issue for those Medical Tourists that bring a spouse or companion. Meal selection and entertainment can be limited and the costs for extra services that may be included in the price at a hotel, needs to be evaluated by the Medical Tourist. Also, after the required period of recovery in which the Medical Tourist needs daily medical attention for Post-operative care, they may “outgrow” the facility. Consideration to changing venues for the remainder of the stay may be a good option.

Consulting the doctor that is carrying out the procedure is very helpful in deciding how and where to stay. Based on their experience, they will be able to provide you with what your expected recovery time should be and how long a recovery retreat would be beneficial.

Both the recovery retreat and a traditional hotel have their advantages. Doing your homework and research to determine what is best for you, the medical tourist, will help make your experience a very positive one.