by Denise

The popularity of medical travel, more commonly known as medical tourism is a more common topic these days than it used to be. At first, people were leery of the concept of visiting other countries for their international medical care needs. What about qualifications? What about experience? What about education in various medical procedures and techniques? Unfortunately, many individuals, mostly in the United States, don’t realize that many other countries in the world offer world class, high-tech and state of the art equipment, surgeons and physicians in most medical fields, including cancer treatment and research, orthopedics, autoimmune disease processes, cosmetic and plastic surgeries, dental care and dental surgeries and more.

PlacidWay, a medical tourism portal, offers individuals up-to-date information and resources for individuals considering medical tourism. Questions about Spine Care Abroad to anti aging abroad, dental and cosmetic surgery, orthopedics and stem cell research are front and center at PlacidWay.

Some of the most common questions and individuals considering traveling to another country for medical care would naturally be:

• How much will it cost?
• How do I get there?
• How will I navigate my way in a country where I don’t know the language?
• Will someone meet me at the airport and take me to the medical facility?
• Will translators be available?
• How much training does the surgeon or physician have in this procedure?

Of course, there’s probably 1,000 more questions than any given individual might want to ask, the taking the first step means researching the facility, checking our web sites, and if possible, contacting individuals who have undergone surgery or treatments at that facility.

Doctor and facility certification, accreditation, standards of care and quality of care should be uppermost, and patients, regardless of origin, should never be afraid to ask questions of the physician or surgeon. After all, it’s your care.  Options are at your fingertips, and it’s up to you to choose which medical facility will best meet your needs.

Tags: accreditation, autoimmune disease, autoimmune disease processes, cancer, cancer research, cancer treatment, certification, cosmetic, cosmetic and plastic surgeries, dental, dental care, dental surgeries, doctor accreditation, doctor and facility certification, facility accreditation, international medical care, medical care, medical facility, medical fields, medical procedures, Medical Tourism, medical travel, orthopedics, physicians, planning for medical travel, plastic surgeries, qualifications, quality of care, standards of care, surgeons, surgeons and physicians, traveling to another country for medical care
Posted in Cancer Treatment Abroad, Cosmetic Surgery Abroad, Dental Tourism Abroad, Health Tourism, Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Accreditations, Orthopedics Surgery Abroad | No Comments »

by Denise

Medical tourism is here to stay, but people everywhere demand high standards and quality of care, as they should. When it comes to accreditation and certification of health care experience, the Medical Tourism Association, a fairly new global healthcare service organization new to the U.S. but growing exponentially, verifies a certain number of answers when it comes to specific questions regarding such experience. For example, here is a sampling of just a few of the issues any facility will need to answer on the certification application for 2009-2010:

·         Company’s health care experience

·         Facility or applicant has a medical advisor on staff

·         Languages spoken

·         Applicant defines which services are outsourced on their website

·         Applicant able to comply with HIPAA or privacy laws of other states, provinces or countries

·         Provide evidence of quality commitment

·         Names of all hospitals or clinics where surgical procedures are performed

·         Applicant inspected all surgical facilities to where patients are sent

·         Describes acceptable standards of patient “handling” from initial contact to final follow-up

·         Ease of travel arrangements, adequate travel packages, flight assistance and guides available for patients upon arrival to medical tourism destination

·         Proof that applicant has not had complaints or suits filed against them by patients, surgeons, hospitals or by embassies

Additional information for certification involves a searchable history of certification in other organizations and associations as well as contact information. Medical tourism must provide excellent, experienced healthcare providers for global travelers. The MTA (Medical Tourism Association) is on the right track to providing such assurance.

Tags: certification, certification guidelines, health care, health care experience, healthcare providers, HIPAA, Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Association, medical tourism destination, MTA
Posted in Health Tourism, Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Accreditations | No Comments »

by Denise

No matter where you’re from, you want to be able to trust your physician or surgeon. The Medical Tourism Association, an international nonprofit organization based in the United States, has created a certification process for international medical providers listing services, facilities and surgeons around the world. As the first international nonprofit association, the Medical Tourism Association has created a program to specifically certify international providers to identify and establish best practices.

PlacidWay, a medical tourism resource and information portal-based in Denver, Colorado encourages established and potential clients to always check the credentialing, training, and accreditation of physicians and facilities in international and foreign destinations throughout Asia, South America, South Africa and Europe.

The medical tourism certification program requires that potential applicants pass certain qualifications before acceptance into the Medical Tourism Association and prior to receiving certification. Medical tourism is a growing industry and the MTA takes its job of researching and accrediting facilities very seriously. Before certification applicants must answer hundreds of questions including but not limited to:

·         How many patients are seen on a monthly basis

·         How many years applicants have been in business

·         Does the applicant along to any medical society or association

·         Verification of organization located in services

·         Applicant is compliant with HIPAA or specific country privacy laws

·         Applicant is verified facility providers are accredited and certified in country of origin

The Medical Tourism Association promotes and encourages transparency in the medical tourism industry. Adequate and experienced medical care is expected from everyone, regardless of origin. Medical tourism is growing in popularity. Make sure your doctor, surgeon or procedure is safe, trained, experienced and effective in best practices and standards.

 

Tags: accrediation of physicians, accreditation, asia, certification, credentialing, europe, HIPAA, international medical providers, Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Association, medical tourism certification program, medical tourism industry, MTA, PlacidWay, south africa, south america, training, transparency in the medical tourism indistry
Posted in Health Tourism, Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Accreditations | No Comments »

by Denise

Since when is the United States the only place where individuals expect high quality and expert healthcare? Whether you come from Oklahoma or Britain, the Middle East, Africa, Asia or South America, individuals seek qualification, accreditation, and certification from their healthcare providers. Everyone wants and deserves quality healthcare in all fields, including bariatric surgery procedures.

Obesity surgery abroad offers individuals from around the world, but most especially the United States (as many cosmetic and obesity surgeries are not covered by health insurance policies) the opportunity to experience highly qualified, certified and accredited facilities in Latin America for obesity and weight loss treatments and procedures.

One such facility, called Angels Abroad, located in Guatemala City is one of the most popular and well-known healthcare facilities in Latin America when it comes to gastric bypass operation options, laparoscopic bariatric surgery, bariatric band surgery, gastric bypass information. Angels Abroad, one of the most well-known gastric bypass centers in Guatemala offers one of the best gastric bypass doctors in South America.

Dr. Rodrigo Gonzalez Toledo has been practicing his field since the early 1990s and has performed operations not only in Guatemala, but in the United States and France as well. Dr. Toledo’s practice is dedicated and focused on bariatric surgery and he belongs to multiple surgical societies throughout the world and has also completed multiple fellowship training programs in the United States and abroad.

When it comes to excellence and experience, medical travelers from around the globe can rely on foreign medical destinations for obesity surgery abroad with the same high expectations of quality and service that are expected, and demanded, in the United States.

Tags: accreditation, Angels Abroad, bariatric band surgery, bariatric surgery, bariatric surgery procedures, best gastric bypass doctors, certification, Dr. Rodrigo Gonzalez Toledo, gastric bypass centers, gastric bypass information, gastric bypass operation, Guatemala City, healthcare providers, laparoscopic bariatric surgery, latin america, obesity surgery, obesity surgery abroad, south america, weight loss treatments, weight loss treatments and procedures
Posted in Gastric Bypass Surgery Latin America, Obesity | Bariatric Surgery Abroad, South America Medical Tourism | 1 Comment »