by Denise

According to the University of Delaware, medical tourism as a health care product will continue to grow in the new decade. While some believe that medical care abroad is inferior, the reality is that hospitals and clinics that specifically cater to medical tourists are among the best in the world, with accreditation, certification, and staff, physicians and surgeons trained in major medical centers and universities throughout the United States and Europe.

A mere decade ago, medical tourism was a hardly recognized term while today, nearly 250,000 individuals from the Middle East visit Singapore while 1/2 million international travelers and patients will visit India for medical care, up from 150,000 in 2002.

Baby boomers, those individuals born between 1946 and 1964, will be in the forefront of change in healthcare delivery. According to studies and research performed by the University of Delaware, 220 million boomers in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Canada will be seeking affordable, high quality, effective and efficient medical care abroad by 2015.

Southeast Asia continues to be a leader in providing excellent and affordable medical care, but the Middle East, Central Europe, and Latin American countries are close behind. India medical facilities are known for orthopedic care such as knee or hip replacement, cardiac care such as open heart surgery and pediatric heart surgery, as well as cancer therapies including bone marrow transplant. Indian clinics and hospital facilities are outfitted with high-tech and state of the art medical diagnostic and electronic equipment, and its pharmaceutical companies meet requirements of the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Medical tourism has grown into a respected, viable and logical solution to patients abroad seeking affordable procedures while maintaining high standards of quality and care.

Tags: affordable medical care, affordable procedures, bone marrow transplant, cancer therapies, cardiac care, Central Europe medical care, foreign medical facilities, health care, health care delivery, health care product, healthcare, hip and knee replacement, hip replacement, India, Indian clinics, Indian hospital facilities, indian hospitals, knee replacement, Latin American medical care, medical care abroad, medical care in India, medical care in Singapore, medical facilities, Medical Tourism, Medical tourists, middle east, open heart surgery, orthopedic care, pediatric heart surgery, pediatric surgery, Singapore, Southeast Asia medical care
Posted in Affordable Heart Surgery, Health Tourism, India Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Singapore, Orthopedics Surgery Abroad | No Comments »

by Denise

Did you know that technologically advanced facilities are cropping up throughout Poland, especially in her major cities. Physicians, staff and facilities are accredited by reputable medical accrediting organizations in Europe and Internationally, and offer beneficial savings in treatments over costs found for similar surgeries and procedures throughout Europe and the United States.

Jordan is the only country in the Middle East with a booming healthcare business. Foreign patients have grown at about a 10% rate annually since 2004. Jordan created a reputation for groundbreaking cardiac and organ transplant surgeries of the 70s and 80s, to cancer treatments, cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures, fertility treatments and procedures in ophthalmology, and more. U.S. travelers pay one-tenth the cost of surgeries.

South Korea is the leading healthcare country in all of Asia and provides world-class medical and health care in non-profit organizations and facilities that place patient care above profit.  South Korea is on the cutting edge of technological advances in medicine and health care. For medical treatments and procedures in organ transplantation, spine care, cancer therapy treatments, dental care, plastic and cosmetic surgery and many others. Medical care costs in South Korea are generally ten times less than costs found in the U.S.

Turkey is fast gaining a reputation of providing superlative medical and health care in many fields, including cosmetic and plastic surgery, cardiac care and procedures, vision, LASIK technology and orthopedics and dentistry.

Croatia is an extremely competitive health and medical destination for safe and affordable treatments not only for neighboring Europeans, but travelers from North and South America as well. Croatia is known for superlative care, treatments and procedures in dental and cosmetic surgery, physical therapy and rehab.

Tags: accredited facilities in Poland, cancer therapy treatments, cancer treatment, cancer treatments, cardiac procedures, cardiac surgeries, cardiac transplant, cosmetic, cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures, cosmetic procedures, cosmetic surgery, croatia, dental care, dentistry, fertility procedures, fertility treatments, health care, health destination, healthcare, healthcare business, jordan, LASIK, LASIK technology, leaders in health care, medical accrediting organizations, medical care, medical care abroad, medical care costs, medical destination, middle east, organ transplant, organ transplant surgeries, orthopedics, physical therapy, plastic surgery, pohthalmology, poland, rehab, South Korea, spine care, turkey, vision, vision care
Posted in Affordable Heart Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery Abroad, Croatian Medical Tourism, Fertility Treatment Abroad, Health Tourism, Jordan Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Accreditations, Medical Tourism Turkey, Orthopedics Surgery Abroad, Rehab Centers Abroad | No Comments »

by Denise

In the past few years, the concept of traveling to other countries to receive medical treatment is no longer scoffed at.  Long gone are the horror stories or the jokes about substandard treatment in third world countries that people supposedly flock to save money, only to end up with disastrous results.  As a matter of fact, many such stories are based on rumor and have propagated because of misconceptions regarding foreign medical care.

As a matter of fact, foreign destinations are often the leaders in developing medical treatments, procedures and surgeries. Take Jordan Hospital Medical Center, for example.  Jordan Hospital Medical Center is a world renowned facility that specializes in providing the latest and best technologies in the medical health field.  The first to perform open heart surgery, the facility was also the first to perform a live liver transplant.

Wooridul Spine Hospital, located in Seoul, South Korea is a highly rated, accredited and certified spinal care and spinal surgery center that brings patients from around the world for cutting edge technologies in spinal surgeries.

The truth of the matter is, medical facilities, many of them located outside of U.S. or British borders are more highly rated and developed when it comes to equipment and technology, offer international patients and travelers the newest quality care procedures and techniques in the world.

A majority of medical facilities abroad are certified and accredited not only by national accreditation facilities but by international accreditation organizations such as WHO, JCI (Joint Commissions International), ISQUA (International Society for Quality in Health Care) and ISO (International Organization For Standardization).  When it comes to superlative, excellent and affordable healthcare, options are available, and often recommended, beyond domestic borders.

PlacidWay, an international medical tourism and health and wellness portal, is focused on breaking down barriers and offering reliable and up-to-date information regarding foreign facilities, surgeons and health care professionals to offer global choices when it comes to medical care options.

Tags: accreditation organizations, amman, certified spine care, developing medical treatments, foreign destinations, International Organization for Standardization, international patients, International Society for Quality in Health Care, ISO, ISQua, JCI, Joint Commissions International, jordan, Jordan Hospital Medical Center, live liver transplant, medical care, medical care abroad, medical health field, Medical Tourism, medical tourism portal, medical treatment, national accreditation facilities, open heart surgery, PlacidWay, quality care, Seoul, South Korea, spinal care, spinal surgeries, spinal surgery, spinal surgery center, WHO, Wooridul Spine Medical Center
Posted in Affordable Heart Surgery, Health Tourism, Jordan Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Accreditations | 1 Comment »

by Denise

In recent years, Barbados has become one of the most popular medical tourism destinations for international travelers from the United States, South America, South Africa and Europe. State-of-the-art treatments in fertility and infertility, cardiology, cosmetic and plastic surgical procedures, and dental and cosmetic dental medicine has drawn thousands of travelers to her sandy beaches and world-class medical facilities. A multitude of medical facilities, clinics and hospitals in Barbados are accredited by the JCI International, a U.S. health accreditation body.

Medical tourism is growing around the world, and it is estimated that nearly 800,000,000 patients will travel beyond borders in 2010 for medical and health care, a great number of them to Barbados. Medical spas and health and wellness tourism has hit it big in Barbados and travel executives in the Caribbean recently joined together to promote medical tourism and global health for Americans and Europeans.

PlacidWay, a medical tourism portal based in Colorado, knows that competition for medical care is rising, as will the demand for orthopedic surgeries such as hip joint replacement as well as diagnostic medicine and dental care needed by growing numbers of Baby Boomers. Cost of medical care in Barbados will be similar to that found in Latin American countries such as Costa Rica.

With the debate over health care reform and rising health care costs raging in the United States, more Americans will seek medical care abroad. What better than to schedule treatment in a vacation location? Barbados, a jewel of the Caribbean, meets that criteria, and will offer its medical facilities and treatment centers to the growing list of global health and wellness providers in coming years. PlacidWay is dedicated to providing relevant and timely resources for the health and wellness industry for travelers around the world.

 

 

Tags: accreditation body, accredited by the JCI, baby boomers, Barbagos, cardiology, Caribbean, clinics, cosmetic, cosmetic and plastic surgical procedures, cost of medical care, dental, dental and cosmetic dental medicine, dental care, dental medicine, diagnostic medicine, europe, fertility, global health, health and wellness industry, health and wellness tourism, health care, health care reform, infertility, international travelers, JCI international, joint replacement, medical and health care, medical care abroad, medical facilities, Medical Spas, Medical Tourism, medical tourism destinations, medical tourism portal, orthopedic, orthopedic surgeries, PlacidWay, popular medical tourism destinations, rising health care costs, south africa, south america, travel beyond borders, United States
Posted in Dental Tourism Abroad, Fertility Treatment Abroad, Health Tourism, Medical Spas, Medical Tourism, Orthopedics Surgery Abroad | No Comments »

by Denise

Argentina, located in South America, has long been known as a great destination for dental, vision and cosmetic surgical procedures. However, many people don’t know that medical tourism in Argentina is growing by leaps and bounds. Buenos Aires hospitals, Buenos Aires health centers, clinics in Argentina and surgery in Argentina provide some of the most cost effective and quality treatment that can be found anywhere in the world.

International patients, many of them from the United States, are venturing to Argentina for cosmetic and plastic surgery, weight loss programs, obesity/bariatric surgery procedures, dentistry, and the best in aesthetic treatments in locations such as Buenos Aires, one of the most popular, exciting and vibrant cities in all of South America.

One of the most well-known plastic surgeons in Buenos Aires, Dr. Thomas Brosto, offers superlative cosmetic and plastic surgery techniques and procedures at prices that are affordable by many Americans who opt to travel for cosmetic surgery abroad because it’s not covered by most insurance or medical plans in the United States.

Already famous for cosmetic surgical procedures, Argentina has expanded its reputation for quality service and specialized medical experts for those who are visiting the city from international destinations. With high standards in plastic surgery and dentistry procedures and reconstruction, Argentina has become a world leader in treatments and hospitality.

Locations such as Dr. Brosto’s offices in Buenos Aires, as well as the Odontologia de Avanzada  and the superlative services of M.D. Marco More, bariatric surgeon, compel visitors to look for treatment in Argentina for their healthcare needs. Besides, what can be better than taking care of healthcare needs and visiting one of the most exotic cities in the world at the same time?

Tags: aesthetic treatments, Argentina, Buenos Aires, cosmetic and plastic surgery, Cosmetic Surgery Abroad, cosmetic surgical procedures, dental, Dr. Thomas Brosto, MD Marco More, medical care abroad, Medical Tourism, medical tourism in Argentina, obesity/bariatric surgry, Odontologia de Avanzada, plastic surgeons, plastic surgery techniques, reconstruction, south america, vision, weight loss programs
Posted in Argentina Medical Tourism, Cosmetic Surgery Abroad, Dental Tourism Abroad, Obesity | Bariatric Surgery Abroad, South America Medical Tourism | No Comments »

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
Posted in Medical Tourism, Medical Tourism Accreditations | No Comments »