Medical Tourism - 5 tips for picking the right hospital
by Dave Berger
As medical costs skyrocket in the US, many people are turning to health care outside the country to save money. Unfortunately, if you have a problem or the job gets botched, you have no recourse. You can try suing the institution or the doctor, but this means you will have to return to the country for the court case. There is little to gain, as pain and suffering settlements are largely unknown outside the US. Your best bet is to avoid problems by doing research in advance.
So how do you pick the right hospital?
Tip #1 - Go to the hospitals website. Most hospitals list any International Accreditations if they have any. This is a great indicator. The Joint Commission International makes sure hospitals have state-of-the-art health care and technology along with advanced transportation and communications systems. JCI accredited hospitals health care standards, professionalism and quality of doctors are equivalent or superior to those you would find in the United States. You can visit their website at www.jointcommisioninternational.org for a complete list of accredited hospitals.
Tip #2 - Review the Doctors listed at the hospital. Most hospital website list the doctors they have on staff. They will present a short bio of the doctors including their specialties and alma maters. They should also list their specialties. If you are unfamiliar with the schools or universites they attended, do a Google search. This can tell you a lot about the quality of their education.
Tip #3 - Do a Google Search on the Doctor. Often, you will get no further information. Sometimes you will find complaints have been logged. Read through any complaints and see if they have been resolved. This is also a good way to find additional information about the doctor or hospital because blogs or message boards that list problems, will often have rebuttals or other recommendations.
Tip #4 - Find medical tourism review sites - Do a Google search for medical tourism reviews. This will often lead to blogs or review sites that have a wealth of information. You may find information that leads you to a better deal or at the very least confirms your choice. If you see a review, try using the Instant Message function found on most review boards to get in touch the with reviewer. Most people are anxious to tell you if they found the best deal going or if they had a bad time.
Tip #5 - Call the hospital and the doctor who will be doing your procedure. Prepare a list of questions that you want answered. If they don\'t have the time to talk to you or don\'t speak your language, you may want to find another doctor or hospital. If you don\'t feel comfortable speaking to them over the phone, you probably wont feel secure when you get to the hospital in person.
Medical tourism is the rage for elective surgeries like plastic surgery. Many people have had procedures done for a fraction of what they would have paid at home, but there are just as many horror stories. Doing your homework in advance can save you a lifetime of suffering.
|
