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

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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