by Denise

Many developing countries have come to realize the enormous advantage when it comes to medical tourism accreditation. Accreditation by various global organizations ensures that healthcare providers in a multitude of scenarios are providing high quality, educated, and experienced care that utilizes modern technology as well as techniques and methods to provide services for natives as well as medical travelers who come to seek such services.

International accreditation standards are focused on patient care, as well as continuity of care, referrals, discharge protocols and procedures, follow-ups, and transfer of patients to other facilities or specialists. The accreditation process ensures that medical providers as well as hospital and medical facilities are able to identify and determine medical needs of patients before they are admitted.

Since more medical tourists are heading to international destinations for cost-effective medical care, accredited hospitals and medical tourism businesses and centers will benefit when such facilities are able to display and prove such accreditation.

Five-star hospitals as well as those accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or the Joint Commission International (JCI) receive higher ratings, income, and interest from medical travelers. Accreditation standards are developed by international task force and form the basic building blocks for regional as well as country models as a benchmark for quality of patient care and safety in that region.

Either the Joint Commission International (JCI) or the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) should accredit reputable medical institutions, no matter where they are located.

Tags: accredited hospitals, accreidtation standards, addreditation, international accreditation standards, International Organization for Standardization, ISO, JCAHO, JCI, Joint Commission International, joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations, Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Accreditations
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by Denise

JCI stands for Joint Commission International, an accrediting organization. Accreditation (in the healthcare field) is a process of assessing a medical facility to make sure it meets basic standards and requirements for providing quality of care.

Undergoing the accreditation process is voluntary and provides a means of gauging the commitment of any healthcare facility or a provider to ensure a safe environment as well as reduce risks to both patients and staff members. The most commonly used evaluation and management method around the world, JCI credentials are an important measure of the credibility and quality of a multitude of medical facilities.

What is JCI’s Function and Mission?

The Joint Commission International supports quality care among healthcare organizations around the globe and works with the World Health Organization, and with national accreditation programs and agencies. JCI standards and evaluation methods are created by health professionals in global health sectors, and can be tested in all world regions. The standards of the Joint Commission International apply to health care organizations and systems and are designed to support and sustain improvement in patient care and safety.

The goals of the Joint Commission International are to reduce risks, adverse effects, and consistently improve healthcare methods and procedures. The JCI works with hospitals, health providers, medical consultants, government agencies, and patients to provide standards, rules, and processes for medical facilities.

In order to be competitive and to reassure medical travelers that medical standards are up to date and training and expertise are followed through, foreign medical facilities in medical tourism destinations like India, Singapore, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil and Croatia, Hungary, Jordan and Ukraine are accredited by recognized accreditation organizations from the U.S. and abroad.

Tags: accreditation, accreditation process, accrediting organization, Brazil, croatia, health care organizations, hungary, India, JCI, JCI credentials, Joint Commission International, jordan, Medical Tourism Accreditations, medical travelers, Mexico, quality of care, Singapore, thailand, U.S., Ukraine, World Health Organization
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by Denise

One of the most well-known accreditation agencies in the world are the Joint Commission, the Joint Commission International and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, (JC and JCAHO), the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC), and the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA).

Global healthcare in destinations such as Thailand, Singapore, India, South America, Egypt, Jordan, Hungary, Turkey and Croatia also see the need to show high standards and quality of medical care, and have taken steps to be accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI) as well as the Society for International Healthcare Accreditation (SOFIHA) based out of Britain.

The Joint Commission and others designed like it evaluate medical facilities based on a standard of requirements that must be met in order to ‘pass’ inspection.

Accreditation guidelines ensure an external review and evaluation of quality as well as management practices in a wide range of medical fields and scenarios. The focus is on patient care, from the moment they access care to when they are discharged from a hospital or medical facility.

Individuals wishing to find information about a specific facility may find resources at the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), which is considered the “umbrella” organization for international healthcare accreditation issues. Representing about 70 countries to date, ISQua is dedicated to improving safety and quality of care in facilities throughout the world.

Other International Accreditation facilities include:

· The United Kingdom Accreditation Forum (UKAF)

· Australian Council for Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI)

· Canadian Council on Health Services Regulation (CCHSA)

· Joint Commission International (JCI)

· Trent Accreditation Scheme – aka Trent (U.K., Europe, Hong Kong, Malta, Philippines)

Tags: accreditation, accreditation organizations, croatia, global healthcare, hungary, India, International Society for Quality in Health Care, ISQua, JCI, Joint Commission, Joint Commission International, jordan, Medical Tourism, medical tourism accreditation, Singapore, Society for International Healthcare Accreditation, SOFIHA, south america, thailand, turkey
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by Denise

Accreditation: Why is it Important to You?

Accreditation is considered a standard through which a healthcare facility or service is shown to offer quality and healthcare that meet minimum standards and guidelines offered by various domestic and international quality boards.

For example, individuals want, and deserve, quality in healthcare, whether for dental, cosmetic, bariatric or other treatments and surgical procedures. Anyone entering a healthcare facility deserves to know that staff is trained, facilities are clean and that procedures follow standards that reduce chances of error, infection or negligence.

Healthcare and hospital accreditation in the U.S. is standard practice, but such is not the case for many international healthcare providers. Due to the growing popularity of healthcare tourism, however, international facilities are increasingly desirous of being rated (or graded) by U.S. and International accreditation organizations in order to offer competitive procedures in the fields of bariatric surgery and care, dental and cosmetic and plastic surgeries, as well as fertility treatment treatments and procedures.

Medical Traveler Basics

Individual medical travelers must take the time to assess standards of care in foreign destinations. Medical care environments in foreign destinations are certainly different than what most Americans find in their own hospital settings. However, it might help to assess care by taking into consideration the following factors:

· Quality, education and certification of facility medical staff

· Evidence of continuing educational opportunities for medical staff

· Track record of the clinic or hospital

· Infection control record of clinic or hospital

· Potential geographical risks of tropical disease/infections

Always take the time to research your destination – at home and abroad.

Tags: accreditation, bariatric, cosmetic, dental, foreign destinations, healthcare, hospital accreditation, international healthcare, international quality, medical care abroad, medical centers abroad, Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Accreditations, medical travel, standards, surgery abroad
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by Denise

Cancer can strike any gender or age group. Depending on the type of cancer, various treatments may be initiated in an effort to eradicate or kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery are the most common types of treatments that battle multiple forms of cancer.

Drugs for treatment of cancer – any type of cancer such as breast cancer, colon cancer, kidney or stomach cancer, as well as lung cancer treatment or fast-acting cancers like stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer and brain cancer are so expensive that many people choose to die rather than eradicate life savings and retirement plans. Most health insurance plans have a $1 million lifetime maximum on payouts, and yet cancer treatments may cost an individual in the U.S. more than $300,000 a year!

Look at the cost of many common drugs prescribed to help treatment for cancer:

3 drugs – Herceptin, Avastin and Zometa, for one month can run over $20,000 - that breaks down to roughly $6,254.95 for ONE dose of Herceptin and $9,496.47 for ONE dose of Avastin. That doesn’t even include the treatments to inject the drugs.

According to an article run in USA Today, the average monthly cost of Herceptin is about $3,000 a month. Avastin costs an average of $4,400 a month. Of course, it depends on what type of cancer being treated. Larger doses will cost more, or less.

Cancer treatment centers in foreign destinations like Mexico, India, Thailand, Singapore, India, Jordan and Turkey are looking better and better for Americans faced with such outrageous cancer treatment costs.

Tags: brain cancer, breast cancer, cancer treatment, Cancer Treatment Abroad, cancer treatment centers, cheap Chemotherapy, chemotherapy, Chemotherapy abroad, colon cancer, India, jordan, kidney cancer, lung cancer treatment stomach cancer, Mexico, pancreatic cancer, radiotherapy abroad, radiotherapy cheap, Singapore, stomach cancer, thailand, treatment for cancer, treatment of cancer, turkey
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by Denise

When looking for a doctor to help treat cancer, patients should look for cancer treatment specialists. These specialists are trained in the field of oncology. Patients should look for experience, training, and that the specialist of their choice has been board-certified in specific areas of medicine. The physician who is board-certified in medical oncology or surgery will ensure their qualifications in their field.

In most cases, primary care physicians will refer patients to a cancer specialist. Medical organizations such as the American Medical Association, or the American College of Surgeons will be able to offer the names of cancer specialists in the U.S., as well as through cancer organizations throughout the country of origin.

For example, a brief overview of one excellent cancer treatment facility is the Florence Nightingale Hospital in Turkey. They are JCI Accredited and provide patient-focused and quality approach in providing health-care services. They specialize in:

• Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery - Angiography and Rhythm Disorders Center
• Robotic Heart and Prostate Surgery (daVinci)
• Organ Transplantation Center
• Oncology Center
• Plastic Surgery Center

Florence Nightingale offers international patients healthcare and hospitality service in their preferred language. Patients are received at the airport, provided with comprehensive service during their stay at the hospital, and transferred to the airport for their return trip.

There are options for excellent, accredited and highly trained cancer specialists when it comes to cancer treatments today. Costs in the U.S. are extremely prohibitive, and no one should ever have to choose between their health and their wallet.

Tags: abroad, alternative cancer treatment, board certified, cancer, cancer specialist, cancer specialist turkey, cancer treatment, Cancer Treatment Abroad, cancer treatment facility, cancer treatment in Turkey, Florence Nightingale Hospital, international patients, JCI, oncology, turkey
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by Denise

Depending on the type of cancer discovered, physicians will determine which options or treatments are best in every situation. In some cases, a patient may have a choice of procedures or treatments, while other times, they will not. Certain factors will determine which treatment will provide optimal results, including what type of cancer, what organs or tissues are affected, as well as what stage the cancer is in. The earlier the stage of cancer development, the better for treatment prognosis. Overall health and age may also factor in to treatment plans.

Common Cancer Treatments

· Chemotherapy

· Radiation

· Surgery

· Biological or hormone therapy

One individual undergoing cancer treatment utilizing a drug called Cytoxan, and chemotherapy for cancer treatment for his cancer costs him roughly $2,000 for each session he must undergo. His medical bills amount to roughly $300,000 a year. The astronomical costs of treating liver cancer or kidney cancer, or stomach cancer or breast cancer (the list goes on) can devastate financial stability in a matter of weeks.

However, cancer treatment centers in foreign destinations may offer hope for thousands facing such a dilemma. Cancer treatment centers located in Thailand, Singapore, India, Mexico and places in Europe such as Turkey and Jordan, offer cancer treatment for many types of cancer, including bone and pancreatic cancer, colon cancer as well as alternative cancer treatment options.

No one should ever have to choose between cancer treatment and financial ruin or the tragic results on not being able to afford such treatment. Check out cancer treatment abroad and do what you can to help yourself or a loved one utilize better options.

Tags: alternative cancer treatment, biological therapy, bone cancer, breast cancer, cancer, cancer treatment, Cancer Treatment Abroad, cancer treatment centers, chemotherapy, colon cancer, Cytoxin, hormone therapy, India, jordan, kidney cancer, liver cancer, Mexico, pancreatic cancer, Singapore, stomach cancer, thailand, turkey
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by Denise

Biological hormone therapies are also known as “anti-estrogen therapy” and are frequently used to help the immune system fight against some types of cancer.

Today, the most commonly used biological hormone therapy treatment for cancer include but are not limited to:

· AROMATASE Inhibitors – helps to stifle the conversion of substances into estrogen, which helps to stop production in many cells of the body. Types include:

o Arimidex

o Aromasin

o Femara

· SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators) – block estrogens from attaching to receptors on cancer cells. Types include:

o Tamoxifen

· ERDs (Estrogen-Receptor Downregulators) block and break down estrogen receptors, reducing the number of cancer cells that receive messages to grow.

o Faslodex

Other new biological therapies being used to treat breast cancer include but are not limited to:

· Herceptin

· Avastin

· Tykerb

Unfortunately, the cost of biological hormone therapy is astronomical. In the United States, price ranges for Avastin may cost up to $4,400 a month and Herceptin can cost an average of $3,000 a month. Newer drugs may cost patients more than $10,000 a month!

Often, individuals choose not to receive cancer treatments that devastate family incomes, financial security and retirement savings. Medical travel to other countries such as India and Thailand save substantial amounts of money on biological hormone therapy drugs.

For example, at the Artemis Health Institute in India, a year’s supply of Herceptin averages out to about $2,000 a month instead of the $3,000 a month in the U.S. In other locations such as Thailand and Singapore, medical travelers are also able to enjoy substantial savings.

Tags: AROMATASE, Avastin, biological hormone therapies, biological hormone therapy, breast cancer, Cancer Treatment Abroad, cancer treatment india, cancer treatments, Herceptin, India, medical travel, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators, SERM, thailand, treatment for cancer
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by Denise

Cancer can strike any gender or age group. Lung cancer, liver cancer, bone cancer and stomach cancer are common. Depending on the type of cancer, various treatments may be initiated in an effort to eradicate or kill cancer cells. Cancer treatments vary according to the stage the cancer is discovered, as well as location and overall health of the patient.

Common Cancer Treatments

· Chemotherapy

· Radiation

· Surgery

· Biological or hormone therapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of medications to attack and kill cancer cells. This type of treatment is used when cancer has metastasized, or spread to other areas within the body.

A specific type of x-ray called radiation is involved in radiotherapy cancer treatment. This type of treatment damages or disables cancer cells through the use of radiation, which prevents certain cancer cells from multiplying.

New treatments have been designed to use proteins to initiate the immune system to produce increased amounts of white blood cells that attack viruses, bacteria and cancers, through what is called biological therapy.

Hormone therapy is often the first step in treating prostate or breast cancers that are discovered in early stages of development. Various drugs that contain hormones are used in this type of therapy.

Surgery is often employed to remove cancerous tumors as well as affected tissues in the body. Surgical procedures may be used to treat cancers in the colon, liver, lungs, brain and other body organs.

Cancer treatment centers are available around the globe, such as Cancer Treatment in Turkey, Ukraine, Mexico, Jordan, India and Thailand at lower costs than those found in the U.S.

Tags: abroad, best cancer hospitals, biological therapy, bone cancer, cancer, Cancer Treatment Abroad, cancer treatment centers, cancer treatment hospitals, cancer treatment india, cancer treatments, chemotherapy, India, jordan, liver cancer, lung cancer, Mexico, radiation therapy, stomach cancer, thailand, turkey, Ukraine
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by Denise

Stem cell therapy technologies and advancements are made on an almost daily basis. From Japan to China to the U.S. to Europe, Africa and Australia, the world’s scientists and medical experts study, research and use stem cells treatments and stem cell therapy to treat a wide range of illnesses, injuries and disease processes. Check out this list, which doesn’t come close to the 70+ conditions that stem cell based therapy treat today:

· Stem Cell Therapy Brain and Stem Cell Therapy Spinal Cord treatments for:

o Multiple Sclerosis

o Parkinson’s

o Cerebral Palsy

o Epilepsy

· Stem Cell Based Therapy for Blood-borne Cancers such as:

o Leukemia

o Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

o Multiple Myeloma

· Stem Cell Based Therapy Treatment for Organ Cancers such as:

o Breast Cancer

o Prostate Cancer

o Lung Cancer

o Malignant Melanoma

· Stem Cell Therapy for Heart Conditions:

o Myocardial Infarction

o Atherosclerosis

o Congestive Heart Failure

· Musculoskeletal Conditions and Injuries such as:

o Bone damage caused by injuries and disease

o Joint injuries and diseases

· Hormonal, Immune and Circulatory Issues

o Auto-Immune diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Muscular Dystrophy

o Chronic infections such as Tuberculosis and Hepatitis C

Umbilical cord stem cell therapy and adult stem cell therapy have surpassed ethical and religious controversies to provide hope for the future. Stem cell treatments are available in state-of-the-art facilities found in the Ukraine, Thailand and throughout the world. Hopefully one day soon, stem cell treatments will also be available in the U.S.

Tags: adult stem cell therapy, Africa, Australia, Congestive Heart Failure, Epilepsy, europe, Japan, Leukemia, medical, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Spinal Cord treatments, stem cell based therapy, stem cell brain, Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy Brain, stem cell therapy for heart, stem cell therapy spinal cord, stem cell treatments, thailand, U.S., Ukraine, umbilical cord stem cell therapy
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