Medical Tourism - The Process and Benefits You Need to Know!

Medical tourism is a term that is becoming more common place in even casual conversations in the U.S. That’s because more and more people are seeking treatment overseas for non-elective as well as elective surgeries.

With rising costs of health insurance and the shrinking benefits health insurance is providing, many Americans are choosing to travel to foreign countries for surgeries or treatment that is either unaffordable or unavailable in the U.S. For these reasons, we have seen the birth of medical tourism.

Medical tourism is becoming a booming business that has a new found acceptance among Americans. It is no longer the butcher shop surgeries or the quackery medicine of the past. Foreign countries have stepped up, and are out performing the healthcare system quality and cost in the U.S. Americans are recognizing these foreign doctors, hospitals, and healthcare centers as an alternative to their options in the states.

Medical tourism healthcare brokers have become plentiful. These brokers are like travel agents and help patients maneuver through the fairly straightforward process of obtaining healthcare services overseas. One such broker that specializes in cosmetic and bariatric surgeries is Global Surgery Center. Since this company impressed and intrigued this author, I will focus much of the remainder of this article on their model.

The way the process works is that a potential patient visit the Global Surgery Center website, and educate themselves about the various procedures available and what would be desirable and suitable for the potential patient. Most patients know what services they are interested in having before they ever visit a website, so making the selection is relatively easy. However, this service also offers packages, so a patient may visit the site considering a tummy tuck, and decide to purchase a package deal and also have a breast lift.

The potential patient then completes a simple questionnaire or calls the number listed on the website, for Global Surgery Center. At this time, a Personal Care Manager, who acts as the “travel agent” is then assigned to the potential patient. The personal care manager assists with all questions and becomes the patient’s main contact while arranging for the travel package and surgery.

The potential patient is required to provide a complete medical history prior to acceptance into the program. They are then guided by the personal care manager in any other documentation or medical testing they may need prior to arrival in the Dominican Republic.

At the time of arrival, the patient is picked up at the airport and taken to meet the surgeon prior to having any procedures. This is an opportunity for the patient to ask questions, tour the facility, and become familiar with the staff and operations of the hospital.

The next step is the actual surgery. The patient is in a hospital setting, not a clinic as in some other programs offered. The physicians are well educated, experienced, and board certified in their specialty, most in plastic or cosmetic surgeries. It is always best to ask for credentials and detailed information prior to arranging the surgery, so once a patient gets this far, they should already be comfortable with having surgery at this facility.

After the procedure(s), the patient either recuperates in the hospital with accommodating staff taking care of their every need, or may prefer to go to one of the all inclusive resorts and enjoy the beaches and climate of the Dominican Republic during their post-op period of recovery.

Recovery periods vary, so patients may stay at the resort for a few days, or may desire to extend their stay and vacation in the beautiful setting a while longer.

To summarize the process and benefits of medical tourism:

· Physicians and surgeons are usually as, if not better educated and experienced than U.S. doctors.

· The costs, even with travel can be much less than treatment or surgeries in the U.S.

· Most medical tourism facilities have broker like staff to assist potential patients to navigate the entire system.

· Patents are reporting astounding satisfaction with the care and treatments they have received.

· Recuperating while in a vacation setting allows patients to return home relaxed and ready to return to normal life much faster than at home recovery.

Anyone considering a cosmetic surgery of any type, should research the possibility of medical tourism!