Choosing an International Medical Provider: Making a List and Checking It Twice

by PlacidWay

When looking for medical providers abroad, a multitude of factors and considerations need to be addressed by each individual. Assessing the services, benefits, and drawbacks of any specific provider need to be fully researched by a medical tourist in order to gauge the quality of services and effectiveness of treatments. Medical travelers also need to take into consideration such things as location, services rendered, and patient care, post-op support and follow-up.

When looking for medical providers abroad, some of the first questions an individual may want answered include:

• Convenience – where is the facility located?  How will I get there?
• Customized services – will the facility be able to meet my specific needs?
• Acknowledging risks – what are the risks involved not only traveling to this destination, but of my specific surgical procedure or treatment? Is staff at this facility open and honest about all potential risks of such procedures or treatments?
• Providing unique solutions – will the facility be able to cater their services to meet my specific needs?
• Are they open to the prospect of working with me to solve my particular problem or issue?
• Quality of service – is this facility accredited and approved not only according to their country’s accreditation levels, but also by international accreditation facilities such as JCI (Joint Commission International)?
• Please Click Here To Read More .

Choosing an International Medical Provider: Making a List and Checking It Twice

When looking for medical providers abroad, a multitude of factors and considerations need to be addressed by each individual. Assessing the services, benefits, and drawbacks of any specific provider need to be fully researched by a medical tourist in order to gauge the quality of services and effectiveness of treatments. Medical travelers also need to take into consideration such things as location, services rendered, and patient care, post-op support and follow-up.

When looking for medical providers abroad, some of the first questions an individual may want answered include:

• Convenience – where is the facility located?  How will I get there?
• Customized services – will the facility be able to meet my specific needs?
• Acknowledging risks – what are the risks involved not only traveling to this destination, but of my specific surgical procedure or treatment? Is staff at this facility open and honest about all potential risks of such procedures or treatments?
• Providing unique solutions – will the facility be able to cater their services to meet my specific needs?
• Are they open to the prospect of working with me to solve my particular problem or issue?
• Quality of service – is this facility accredited and approved not only according to their country’s accreditation levels, but also by international accreditation facilities such as JCI (Joint Commission International)?

The Joint Commission is an American healthcare accreditation organization that evaluates medical facilities based on standards of care. The international branch of the Joint Commission inspects facilities and takes into consideration key factors before offering their “stamp of approval”.  Such considerations include but are not limited to:

• Medical staff credentials and training
• Nursing staff credentials and training
• Medication Management
• Infection Control
• Environment of Care
• Patient Rights
• Provision of Care Treatment Services

Read the complete article on Medical Tourism Abroad

Global Healthcare Options in Today’s Depressed Economy

by PlacidWay
March 12, 2009, Denver, CO: Individuals who have lost their jobs, and their health care benefits, worry about how they’re going to receive essential medical care and treatments without losing their life savings, their homes, or their retirement funds. There is an alternative, says Pramod Goel, founder and CEO of PlacidWay, a popular online resource for foreign medical travel and medical tourism. “Whether traveling to Mexico, Costa Rica, India or Thailand, there are choices – people don’t have to be constrained by local healthcare providers.”

PlacidWay continues to expand by adding international healthcare providers and facilities to their network on a daily basis – accredited and experienced facilities, physicians and surgical specialists in a multitude of medical fields including but not limited to cardiac care, obesity treatments and procedures, orthopedics, cosmetic and plastic surgeries, dental and fertility treatments.

Offering not only backgrounds of popular medical tourist destinations, PlacidWay offers treatment and procedures information, and comprehensive information about medical facilities throughout the world, including highly acclaimed clinics and hospitals found in Asia, such as India, Thailand and Singapore, as well as Mexico and South American destinations like Brazil, Argentina and Colombia. Certified treatment facilities in South Africa and Central Europe offer affordable medical care for travelers from Italy to Croatia, Hungary, Turkey and the Ukraine.

Says Dr. Dheeraj Bojwani, President of Forerunners, “India continues to expand high-quality, low cost and excellent customer care service oriented health programs. Our partnership with PlacidWay enables and strengthens our ability to deliver the best solutions for medical travelers seeking affordable healthcare abroad.”

“PlacidWay continues to provide resources to educate healthcare consumers on vast spectrum of options that are available, giving a rare opportunity to folks to seek and experience a multitude of global healthcare options that are available even in today’s economic conditions,” says Goel.

Growing numbers of foreign medical travel destination providers are accredited by JCI and ISO organizations, and follow guidelines designed by the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety Standards in order to compete in today’s growing field of medical tourism.

Whether consumers are looking for affordable IVF treatments, heart care or bariatric surgery, medical care abroad offers affordable options for Americans & Europeans concerned about the future of their healthcare needs. PlacidWay offers in-depth information on medical treatments and procedures, wellness programs, and cost comparisons of such treatments. Case studies and articles written by medical experts from around the world provide PlacidWay customers recent and accurate information and transparent price quotes surrounding specific treatments at a variety of destinations.

Ms. Denise Hoogervorst, Director of Surgical Bliss, states, “Visitors from abroad are impressed by world class medical facilities, surgeons, and specialized care that South Africa offers. With rand currently being weak against US dollar, South Africa has become a very attractive medical tourist destination. Our relationship with PlacidWay helped us expand awareness of the South African health tourism programs to a worldwide audience.”

Explore the world of medical options at the click of a mouse. For free information regarding global health care options for individuals and families concerned about medical care and up-to-date information describing specialists, services, techniques and procedures for healthcare provider facilities around the world, visit www.placidway.com.

Understanding Malpractice Insurance

by PlacidWay

The astronomical cost of medical care in the United States is often blamed on the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance that must be carried by medical practitioners. Basically, medical malpractice insurance is necessary for health care providers to protect themselves from the costs and damages caused by lawsuits filed by legitimate as well as nonlegitimate patient cases around the country.

What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is defined as the failure of any physician to exercise due care or skill while engaging in a specific field or specialty that he or she would use in “normal” circumstances. In essence, medical malpractice is considered a form of negligence and failure to meet acceptable standards in quality of care in his or her medical practice.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, medical malpractice costs have risen steadily since the 1990s. The growing number of claims and suits filed against physicians, dentists, chiropractors, and other healthcare providers in recent years has driven insurance rate increases, especially in urban areas.

The United States Government Accounting Office reports that rising insurance rates could be blamed on several factors, including increased losses to malpractice insurers due to payouts, a decrease in investments of these insurers, as well as decreased competition between medical malpractice insurers. Because of this, malpractice premiums have increased, forcing the costs of such increases along to patients. In addition, such high malpractice premiums also cause many physicians and surgeons to limit high-risk services or surgeries because of their fear of being sued if outcomes are not ideal.

Read complete article on Understading Malpractice Insurance at PlacidWay.com

Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress to focus on international industry expected to top $40 billion by 2010

From Argentina to Thailand, countries have benefited from the growth in travel for medical procedures and the business is set to expand in the Middle East, according to leading industry observers.

“As global healthcare choices expand, patients are travelling across the world to seek medical treatment,” said Ayana Everett, Conference Producer of the first Healthcare Travel and Exhibition Congress taking place at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai, from 2-4 November 2008. “Internationally, healthcare travel is expected to become a $40 billion industry by 2010,” Everett added.

“Going abroad for elective or necessary procedures is taking off and countries such as Jordan and Lebanon are already benefitting. With a population predominantly made up of expatriates, the United Arab Emirates has always been a major market for the medical travel business. Now the UAE has embarked on ambitious plans to make the emirates a major inbound destination for medical travel.”

The UAE and other countries are hoping to emulate the success of places such as Singapore. In 2006, some 410,000 patients travelled to Singapore for healthcare and from 2012 hopes to attract one million medical travellers annually.

Based entirely around private businesses, global medical travel is a fiercely competitive market and substantial sums of money have been invested throughout the world. Healthcare travel is not only a matter of individual patients. Employers, insurance companies and governments are integral parts of the equation as well.

“The global economic downturn is expected to impact medical travel, as with all industries,” Everett added. “The challenge is for providers, brokers and insurance companies to help customers on budgets to ensure they remain well-covered internationally at a competitive price. Providers who can manage that balancing act will have a competitive edge.”

Read complete story at PlacidWay.com

Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress 2008

Welcome to the inaugural Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress 2008.

A global event dedicated to the complete supply chain of the medical travel industry.

Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress 2008 is a groundbreaking platform bringing together macro level decision makers on healthcare policy with payees of medical travel, specialized medical suppliers, travel providers, medical facilities and representatives from major medical tourism destinations all under one roof making this exhibition and congress truly representative of the total international medical travel industry.

Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress 2008, under the guiding theme of “the Globalisation of Healthcare”, brings together the entire cluster involved in medical travel at one specific event that is dedicated to the development of this growing sector.

This event establishes a platform for Medical Travel professionals to interact on a variety of business platforms:

• Exclusive networking opportunities made possible through innovative corporate match making
• A world-class conference streaming across multiple sectors
• Global exhibition, showcasing all segments of this exciting industry
• Internationally accredited CME endorsed through the AACME

This ground breaking platform focuses on all aspects related to the global healthcare travel market. Healthcare Travel Congress 2008 brings you exclusive and high level conferences ensuring the world’s leading decision makers discuss relevant issues to target audiences involved in medical travel.

Themes to be explored at Healthcare Travel Congress 2008:

• International standards and accreditation
• Building strategic partnerships
• Perspectives from international providers and regional initiatives
• Business and investment opportunities
     – Business opportunities in Healthcare Travel
     – Factors to consider when preparing your business for international patients
• Financing of medical travel & medical insurance
• Gaining competitive edge through marketing and promotion
     – How to attract the global consumer
     – Build brand recognition and loyalty
• Risk management an legal issues related to medical travel
     – Legal aspects and medical liability of medical travel
     – International standards for patient safety and quality control
• Best practices worldwide
     – Dental tourism
     – Hospitals
     – Travel Agents for medical travel
     – Ministries of health
     – Ministries of Tourism
     – International health insurance companies
• Overview sessions and panel discussions
     – Latest trends in healthcare travel
     – Issues and challenges facing medical travel
     – Understanding the key drivers for medical tourism

Take advantage of this exciting event to gain knowledge about best practices, share insights with key players, attend presentations from industry experts and interact direct with colleagues from around the globe.

To learn more about the conference please click here…

PlacidWay Presents World Wide Health Taiwan 2008

The medical travel industry has been sprouting the interest of healthcare providers ever so rapidly that some are classified as “swimmer who jumps into a pool without really checking out the temperature of the water”. What healthcare providers have to realize is that if they wish to be a part of the borderless endeavor, they have to prioritize on a globally acceptable structure to be pursued by those who desire to be a part of this new trend.  

To facilitate building a strong foundation, PlacidWay has teamed with World Wide Health Taiwan 2008 (WWH08).  The WWH08 forum will explore the challenges facing medical travel that impedes quality healthcare delivery as well as constructing strategies to counter these issues.  Subject matter experts will present a framework that would withstand the evolving storms and uphold the integrity of a healthcare provider. 

The WWH08 forum is designed for senior healthcare executives, superintendents, and business development officers from private and public hospitals, healthcare organizations, travel industry, as well as investors and financial institutions.  The conference aims to provide the Taiwan medical travel industry with a neutral platform to discuss with global industry experts existing issues while discovering what it takes to be recognized as a credible medical travel destination. 

Don’t miss out on the chance to explore the vast opportunities in Taiwan as the Taiwan Task Force of Medical Travel open their doors to welcome you. Join us on the 28^th – 29^th of May in Taipei, Taiwan and we will provide you with the professional insights and solutions to strive for excellence in medical travel.  

To request additional information about the event please contact WWH08.

More Americans Seeking Surgery Abroad – John. H, GoSculptura

High costs in U.S. are driving some patients to seek affordable plastic surgery in Argentina, and affordable gastric bypass and affordable cosmetic dentistry abroad, said John H., Director at GoSculptura, a company that sends dozens of patients each month abroad for specialized medical procedures.

Dismayed by high surgical costs in the U.S., increasing numbers of American patients are packing their bags to have necessary surgery performed in countries such as Argentina, India, Thailand, and Singapore.

According to Mark D. Smith, president and chief executive officer of the California HealthCare Foundation in Oakland, People are desperate. This illustrates the growing unaffordability of the U.S. health care system, even to people who are by no means indigent.

1) American Patients going abroad
John. H, Director at GoSculptura says there has been a 72% increase in the last 12 months in the number of American patients seeking care at the network of international clinics and Hospitals that Gosculptura covers. Patients are mostly looking for affordable plastic surgery in Argentina, affordable gastric bypass and affordable cosmetic dentistry treatment options.

Cost is a major factor – patients typically save upwards of 60% from the rates charged at U.S. hospitals. Mr John H. indicates a surge in volume from patients seeking treatments against morbid obesity (affordable gastric bypass & banding procedures): Treatments against obesity are not optional. Patients can die if they do not have access to these. Patients come to us as they are out of options in the U.S. Their country, their healthcare system leaves them on their own.

More…

Body liposuction in Argentina

Deborah went to Argentina for a complete body liposuction with GoSculptura Corp.

52-year-old Deborah from Texas is part of an increasing number of Americans who travel abroad for medical care. More than 45 million Americans do not have health insurance and suffer from high prices charged in the USA for cosmetic and aesthetic surgeries.

After doing some research Deborah discovered that by traveling to Argentina she could save upwards of 40 to 50-percent of the cost of undergoing a full body liposuction in the United States – and have dream vacations too!

She was greeted at the airport by Sol, her GoSculptura personal assistant, escorted through immigration, and taken by private car to her hotel, the trendy and cosmopolitan hotel Puerto Madero, one of the five-star hotels GoSculptura partners with.  After two peaceful days enjoying the sites of Buenos Aires Deborah underwent liposuction surgery.

Before the surgery she was “a little nervous, but I know that I am in very safe hands. Dr. Roblas has more than 35 years of experience and I have been very impressed with the medical staff so far. My GoSculptura personal assistants, Sol and Cecilia are also very attentive to all my needs”.

GoSculptura carefully selects the best private clinics in Argentina for all the medical procedures it covers. And they contract only the most experienced, accredited directing surgeons within these clinics, to perform the surgical procedures. All have over 15 years of experience and most are US trained.

Dr. Roblas, a board-certified senior MD with 35 years of experience performed Deborah’s surgery. He says that “Argentina has made significant contributions to the medical field across all types of surgeries. Professionals here are very good. Key is to provide patients with a tightly controlled 360 degree recuperation environment to ensure a perfectly safe experience”.

More…

AIDS/HIV Cosmetic Surgery (Facial Lipoatrophy) – Health Tourism Panama

Nip and Tuck Panama, Panama based Medical Tourism provider, announced today a new procedure being offered to Medical Tourists through Doctor Guido Spadafora Clinic in Panama. 

Medical Tourism now has Facial lipoatrophy for severe cosmetic problem for some HIV-infected patients and may be a sign of HIV lipodystrophy syndrome, which commonly occurs in HIV-infected patients who are treated with a combination of antiretroviral medications, especially protease inhibitors and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. In these patients, fat redistributes away from the face and limbs, towards the central trunk, breasts, and dorsocervical fat pad. Dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and osteoporosis may also be associated with the syndrome. 

Dr. Spadafora told Nip and Tuck Panama that Facial lipoatrophy is characterized by sunken cheeks, bitemporal wasting, and deep nasolabial folds. Patients develop a hollow appearing face. This facial appearance is easily recognizable and can serve as a social stigma for HIV patients causing psychological stress. Many patients with HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy are eager to correct their appearance. In Bioplasty, polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) is used for facial and body implants for the following reasons:

• Biocompatibility
• Does not migrate or move from the application site
• No allergic reaction
• No need for sensitivity tests
• Sculpted at the time of application
• Permanent
• Relatively low cost
• Ambulatory treatment
• Only very small amounts of local anesthetic are required
• The amount of product applied depends on the degree of correction desired
• It can be applied to various layers of the skin and deeper tissues (subcutaneous, juxta-periostium, mucous and intramuscular)
• Low incidence of complications
• Application with non-traumatizing cannulae instead of needles 

Panama Medical Tourism Industry is one of the few countries that offer Bioplasty which is an offshoot of traditional filling techniques, but it goes beyond filling. While in filling the biomaterial is lodged inside or just under the skin, in Bioplasty the application is done at much deeper levels, allowing the creation of shapes and angles.  

Nipandtuckpanama.com are informed that the traditional surgical technique removes excesses but does not add beauty. Bioplasty renews and enhances beauty. The technique can create harmonious lines for those who do not have them, enhance beauty, recover the contours of an aging face or add to the results of previous cosmetic surgery. Through bioplasty we can transform a person who is not beautiful into a beautiful person, and make a beautiful person even more beautiful. Bioplasty has already been used almost secretly by famous models, artists, and people who depend on good looks all over the world. Many international stars are anonymously having treatment where the procedure exists.

Bioplasty is getting more popular. Not only for famous but also ordinary people long for its benefits and a revolution in medical aesthetics begins to take place. Arrangements for the entire Bioplasty procedure including accommodation and transfer can be made through South Seas Pharmaceuticals. 

Please click here to request additional information.