As Medical travel continues to grow globally, Accreditation will be a key differentiating factor, as creating “Trust” between the consumer and provider is becoming a defining factor differentiating the most successful hospitals from those struggling to grow their programs. Trust will become an even more important factor as the media picks up stories of bad patient experiences in Mexico, Turkey and other destinations, where consumers have chosen the wrong facilitators, hospitals or doctors and have a bad or less desirable outcome then they expected.
In this post-pandemic era of medical travel, patient expectations have evolved and are driving the change. Gaps in medical travel are now more glaring, therefore, health consumers, plan sponsors, and health payers have stopped relying on anecdotes and Google reviews and are now looking for medical travel providers with the requisite skills and knowledge of the industry. This is where GHA’s medical tourism training, medical tourism certifications, and accreditations are integral in helping organizations achieve their true potential in medical travel.
Key into the Medical Travel Facilitator Certification to restructure your program and offer quality service to clients along the continuum of care
The medical travel patient experience starts with you. With the Certified Medical Travel Professional program, become a highly valuable and recognized expert in the industry, providing relevant and exceptional solutions for medical tourists at each touchpoint of the medical travel patient care journey.
Expect in the future an increasing number of patients to look for accreditation or certification as the determinant in selecting a medical travel agent. Certification assures patients that a facilitator has been vetted by a globally recognized third-party accreditor, affirming that the facilitator has the required protocols, processes, and staff training to deliver a safe and high-quality treatment journey and experience.
Since May 2022, cases of monkeypox have been reported in countries where the infection is not endemic, including parts of Europe and the United States. Although cases of the infection are shown to be dropping, it is still very much around. In this webinar, Heather Saunders, a registered nurse and infectious disease expert and researcher at Johns Hopkins University, and Claudia Jorgenson, Director of Clinical Operations at the Global Healthcare Accreditation, shares important information about monkeypox and the current outbreak.
In this interview, Dr. Ariel Ortiz, Medical Director of the Center, discusses his contributions to the field of bariatric surgery, the rise of bariatric surgery services for international patients, and how accreditation has set the center’s medical tourism program apart and built trust with local patients and medical tourists from around the world.
Trust is the new metric for the new normal of medical travel. If a health buyer or payer does not entrust their overall health - mental, physical, and emotional - to your hands during the entire care continuum, they will not be scheduling that flight to your destination
The rules are gradually changing for medical travel, and as the industry stages a comeback after the dark years of the pandemic, medical programs that have a third-party validation of their policies, procedures, and processes will see a greater long-term sustainable growth in medical travel, as medical travelers have now experienced a paradigm shift in what they consider to be “health.” Stakeholders must keep adapting to these changes and position themselves to be key players in the industry or lose out to those who do.
The Medical Tourism Magazine sat down recently with Dr. Andrea Maggioni, a Pediatrician and Director of Global Health at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (formerly Miami Children's Hospital) to discuss his experience building the global medical travel program for Nicklaus Children's Hospital and how the program has become a major player in the industry. Dr. Maggioni also shares insights into the value of the Global Healthcare Accreditation for the global healthcare program and how it has fostered trust and credibility.
The Medical Tourism Magazine (MTM) had the privilege to sit down to get some insights from Heitham Hassoun MD, Cedars-Sinai Vice President and Medical Director of International Health, and Shoma Desai, MD, International Patient Services Director. They shared their thoughts and insights into what a post-pandemic world holds for medical tourism, what makes Cedars-Sinai unique, and how the Global Healthcare Accreditation for Medical Travel Services has assisted the organization in building patient trust.
The last one-and-a-half years have forced many individuals to reexamine their health and lifestyle choices, and this shift will influence medical travel decisions in the post-COVID-19 era. Here are the top three pull factors that will drive medical tourism success in the new normal:
Cleveland Clinic has been awarded “Accreditation with Excellence” for its medical travel services by Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) for a second consecutive term.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, has been awarded Accreditation for a three-year term by the Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) Program for its Medical Travel Services Program.
As travel is slowly returning to normal, medical travelers have new expectations from a medical tourist destination - these patients now not only seek quality and affordability of medical care but also a medical travel destination that has put in place adequate measures to safeguard their health, given the COVID-19 pandemic.
As travel restrictions begin to lift; however, patients will begin to seek medical and dental care at destinations and organizations where they feel safe.
As healthcare spending in the U.S. continues to rise, employers are increasingly turning to direct contracting with Centers of Excellence (COE’s) in order to lower healthcare costs and provide competitive insurance benefits to employees
Since the industry began expanding, more and more patients have had to leave their home countries for other countries to seek healthcare treatment and sometimes.
We all have been to boring conferences taking place across the world where the speakers trying to sell products you don't need. But the World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress (WMTC), at LA Convention Center from October 2 -4, 2017 is different.
Healthcare accounts for 20 percent of Puerto Rico's economy, so expectations are high when it comes to quality service. The Puerto Rico Medical Tourism Corporation is reaching out to patients and healthcare operatives that service them.
Puerto Rico is banking that more Carribean patients will feel right at home in Puerto Rico and make the island their destination. International patients are handled with proper professional training and certification processes offered by the MTA.
Medical tourism is not a simple task and not always about providing an affordable treatment but sometimes more than that. Many factors can influence the patient experience, but our main focus must always concern quality, safety and outcomes.
The Medical Tourism Association® worked closely with the international healthcare community and stakeholders who purchase services. Puerto Rico medical tourism corporation is the midst of an aggressive campaign to market the healthcare services.
Healthcare consumers are willing to travel great distances for advanced services at reduced costs, high-quality service. Health tourism has opened doors for developing countries to promote their hospitals and doctors who can boast low-cost and high-quality.
Around 28 million travelers visited Jordan in 2014, 250,000 of whom were medical tourism patients seeking treatment. Each patient traveled with two companions, boosting the total count of medical tourists to half-million and more than JD1 billion in revenue.
Some governments and providers have evolved along with the healthcare industry to either maintain or increase their market positions. Planning strategy and execution are factors that create the most successful medical travel players today.
The World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress produced a fascinating display of how the industry has evolved. Today’s ease of travel, advanced technology and developments in global healthcare make this a unique period of growth.
The General Health Council (GHC) in Mexico is a decentralized organization reporting directly to the president. GHC established criteria for medical institutions and organizations and created the National Certification System for Medical Care Organizations.
Conversion-rate optimization (CRO) is the art and science of converting website visitors into leads and valued customers. You don’t just need website visitors; you need new customers even if you don’t double your sales.
Healthcare management leaders face many complex issues on a daily basis and can become quickly taxed when analyzing strategies. Depending on the state of system development, choosing the right method and partners is instrumental in achieving desired goals.
Leaders frequently make miscalculations in trying to influence change, as they often bet on a single source of influence. Latest research shows that the main variable in success or failure is not which sources of influence leaders choose.
Switzerland has been able to engineer The Swiss Leading Hospitals, one of the top health clusters in the world. Students at the seminar had the opportunity to learn from Peter Kappert, president of The Swiss Leading hospitals.
An increasing number of patients travel to different places a great distance from their homes to seek medical procedures. Medical services are rapidly evolving for both the national and international providers.
Trying to get to the right person is always difficult, whether you are on the phone with your insurance company, phone company. One of the challenges organizations face when trying to develop new business relationships is identifying the real decision-makers.
The 5th WMT & GHC will be bringing up to 2,000 people from over 90 different countries to the South Florida area this October. South Florida is no stranger to diversity, world-class healthcare, international business and, of course, fun.
In the United States and Canada, more and more people are becoming familiar with the concept of medical travel. People are warming to the idea of going abroad to save money on high quality medical procedures.
The Caribbean islands have always played a key role in the global economies, from the early days of the sugar barons. The islands are seizing the opportunity to develop niche markets for the most life enhancing spas, obesity centers and wellness destinations.
Muna Almuallem is involved in the global benefits market and has provided insights into the challenges facing the industry. Almuallem said one of the most challenging aspects the industry faces is obtaining transparency from carriers in certain countries.
For the past nine years, Andrew Bard has been involved in the global benefits industry. He learned the tricks of the trade and now, as the vice president of sales and marketing for HCC Insurance Holdings, he has shared some explanations and tips.
Nicole Schickler, VP of Mondial Assistance Canada, spoke about some of the obstacles in the industry and how to overcome them. Mondial Assistance Canada delivers innovative products and assistance services to Canadian travelers through its partnerships.
Global benefits managers have to face numerous challenges as the economy, industry and legislation changes. In an interview Phil Borden, Kohler Co. describes some of the problems the industry has to deal with and how to best overcome these issues.
The Global Benefits Conference launched the Leadership Award Program to recognize individuals that have contributed to the growth in the industry. This award recognizes a leader in the industry for providing an exemplary program or innovation.
Hospitals face growing operational challenges as they balance the delivery of excellent health care with a changing economy. Hospitals pay for waste in three ways – when they purchase materials, handle these materials and then dispose of these materials.
As the idea of corporate wellness is becoming part of businesses today, different approaches and strategies are being developed. In search of finding the best way to keep employees healthy in order to extend and enhance their working abilities.
Travel health specialists estimate that between 30 and 50 percent of people heading to developing countries for a month or more will experience some kind of health problem. Like Medical and security risks – traffic accidents, heart problems, infectious disease.
Creative approaches to maximizing growth and success means understanding two of the key stakeholders – physicians and patients. Women are the fastest growing demographic as key utilizers for their families, their partners and themselves, as female physicians.
You are in the international healthcare field as a provider, insurer, project developer, or a medical tourism facilitator. It is the duty of the licensed professionals and facilities as a condition of their licensure to obtain the patient’s informed consent.
There are many organizations wishing to jump on the bandwagon and there are many too who are falling off very quickly. Medical Tourism is a fast moving and incredibly challenging market place.
With amazing hospitals and clinics, a growing number of medical tourism facilitators using best practices and consultants. When it comes to making decisions about medical tourism providers and facilitators, it would seem essential best practices, certifications.
The last few years have seen major improvements in the quality of medical care in hospitals offering medical tourism services. Patients are therefore more easily able to identify facilities that have policies and practices in place that evidence the commitment.
Millions of Americans are sick and tired of healthcare and are giving up on solutions to cure the nation’s ill-reputed system. Even as Obamacare inches further toward implementation at the start of the year, patients still can’t afford to visit.
The boom in medical tourism has increased the need for hospitality staff training and education, the food service facet is no exception. Restaurants and hotel food and beverage operations are already seeing the demand for healthy menu options.
Healthcare in the United States, and in many other places around the globe, is living a watershed moment. This trend describes the increase pressure by payers for healthcare providers to show better clinical outcomes efficiency and patient satisfaction.
Due to the huge proliferation in the medical tourism market, medical providers and facilitators wishing to increase their customer base and services should acknowledge the equally rapid growth of knowledge of the industry by consumers by adapting.
In today’s healthcare environment, continuous professional development (CPD) is a must for medical professionals. And those supporting the healthcare enterprise, such as hospital administrators and medical travel facilitators.
As we enter a new year I think we all have to think about where we as an industry have been and where we are headed. They are wondering what strategies we should implement and what areas do we focus on in the years to come.
Hospital accreditation by a recognized quality certifier is an increasingly important way for hospitals to demonstrate their expertise. In the past accreditation has been seen as a ticket to trade instead of the strategic business asset that it can be.
Across all sectors and industries, the developing world has continued to see market growth and significant foreign direct investment. War, conflict and general political and social instability continue to plague these dynamic environments.
In the U.S. health care expenditures are 50% higher than any other country in the world, totaling about 16% of GDP. Employer’s medical costs have increased 80% since 2001, causing many organizations to lower plan benefits, eliminate coverage.
Going green” are two words politicians, media and activists around the world are heard articulating on a daily basis. Sustainability is not a new emerging trend but a philosophy, that has been present for over 20 years.
Extending the reach of medical tourism into pre and post surgical care for clients is now possible. The new information and communication technology on the market added to the desire of clients to have a more personalized service in the field of global health services.
An increasing number of destinations in countries are tourism hot-spots for adventure, eco-travel, edu-tourism, leisure travel and medical tourism. Growth in a region’s or specific country’s tourism trends directly impacts their hospitality sector’s development.
Work and financial pressures are classified as two of the top stressors for workers all over the world. Sometimes, these two factors are leading employees to health-related disorders such as depression, anger or even suicide.
Since medical tourism became an industry buzzword many private hospitals around the globe want to get a piece of the business. Expand notions about clinical quality and marketing to include in our strategic priorities the need for outstanding services.
As an innovator in the caregiving field with over 30 years of experience one of the ways in which Homewatch CareGivers has responded to the growth of medical tourism and global healthcare is developing a comprehensive Aftercare Program.
The benefits most often cited of medical tourism relate to reductions in the cost of care reduced wait times access to physicians. There are multiple viewpoints from patients physicians policy makers health economists and insurance agencies among others on the appropriateness of MT.
How can hospitals and health care service providers rise to the top of the international medical tourism marketplace? The search for health care services begins (and possibly ends) with something called language access.
The understanding of cultural issues in medical tourism is a two way process argues Dr. Prem Jagyasi a renowned medical tourism expert. Several Medical Tourism organizations believe that understanding culture in medical tourism is a one way process.
In the dead of night; under the cover of Christmas, the US Government dropped its Healthcare Reform Bomb on an unsuspecting people. The ObamaBomb dropped an ‘S-load of new taxes, new regulation, paperwork AND total tumult on US businesses – and employees.
From quality assurance to convenience and low price, your international patient clientele can be a tough bunch to please. The fact is an international patient’s decision to choose your hospital is often emotional rather than rational.
In the world of medical care, treatment for even a minor illness frequently runs into thousands of dollars. Medical insurance is virtually essential to gaining access to medical care.
U.S. insurance companies have yet to wholeheartedly embrace medical tourism, along with U.S. employers. This hesitancy, some argue, may inhibit America from becoming more involved in the industry.
Hospital affiliations are not uncommon on an international scale prominent U.S. hospitals such as John Hopkins are affiliated with hospitals. But according to a presentation given by Rosanna Moreno of Memorial Hermann- Texas Medical Center.
One fundamental principle underlies how Accreditation Canada International assesses a health service organization’s programs and helps enhance them, a focus on quality improvement.
We complete the patient inquiry process, by picking up the phone and following through on our service offering. We also covered how to effectively execute the initial response to inbound patient inquiries.
Over the last few decades the healthcare sector in Jordan has become a key engine of economic growth. It has developed to position Jordan as a pioneer of healthcare sector has also progressed to place Jordan as a medical tourism hub in the region.
It's high practical relevance, its focus on European & Austrian benchmarks as well as its orientation towards the future characterize the master’s program International Health Care Management at the Management Center Innsbruck.
Everything I know about Competition I learned in Kindergarten – when a snot-nosed classmate stole my girlfriend from under my own snotty little nose!Back then, I was King of the Jungle Gym!
Every organization has a unique way of running their enterprise and varying expectations when reducing costs. A strategic roadmap must be implemented during the early stage of the initiative for identifying the main focus area.
Business leaders in the Medical Tourism industry have valid questions about the viability of their business models. The combination of rising healthcare costs and the desire to provide healthcare to uninsured Americans will create disruptive market opportunities.
Countless patients and families come to the United States from abroad to seek medical care each year, yet few are familiar with their options for receiving access to language services – such as interpreting and translation – along with culturally sensitive care.
IBMS members are physicians, surgeons, dentists and other healthcare professionals in the global healthcare community. Qualifications have been reviewed and have established and maintained a professional standard of patient care.
Patients need unbiased information to make choices as most of them will access this information via the Internet. They will be looking for a safe provider in a convenient destination, at an affordable price.
SFR was organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. AAAASF, the parent organization, has been in business for twenty-eight years providing accreditation of ambulatory surgery centers.
Medical Tourism is experiencing enormous growth but blocks are not allowing this industry to achieve its maximum potential. Dr. Prem Jagyasi comes up with his valuable suggestions to alleviate the concerns that may arise regarding Medical Tourism.
As long as the Nicolet Bank Business Pulse© has been asking CEOs questions, Sales has been CEOs Number One Challenge…and Sales are glowing even brighter on the CEO’s Radar this year: 77% said Sales would be a “Very Significant” Challenge.
Does medical tourism now hold such similar long-term promise as a new market segment for international hotels and resorts? Even the more modest growth estimates project a tenfold increase in travelers leaving the U.S. for medical treatment.
At Joint Commission International (JCI) we are constantly learning and sharing the knowledge gleaned from over 55 years of experience working with many hospitals we accredited around the world.
