Definition of Health TourismHealth tourism is an increasingly popular medical treatment option for people across the United States as well as countries throughout the world. And with a greater interest in the practice there are more questions that arise regarding it. And the first one for many people is what it actually means. The definition of health tourism, also frequently referred to as medical tourism, describes the practice of traveling to a country that differs from your own to secure medical treatment for a variety of health issues. This is actually one of the fastest growing practices in medicine and it reaches across the globe. There is another use of the term, though this is used much less frequently, and it describes the practice of medical professionals who travel across international borders to provide services to those in need. The first definition, or use of the phrase is actually the more popular and is a quickly growing practice that benefits increasing numbers of people every year.

At this point there are at least fifty countries that have claimed that medical tourism is part of their national industry and growing numbers of nations are actively advertising their services in an attempt to increase their appeal as a medical destination. India, Panama, Brazil, Costa Rica and Malaysia represent some of the top and most popular health tourism destinations, while other countries such as Jordan and Jamaica are seeking to attract new populations of medical tourists and continue the development of the industry in their country. And one of the things a beautiful place like Jamaica has to offer its potential consumers is an incredibly beautiful place to recover. And while there are some great benefits to the practice and it is enticing larger numbers of consumers every year there are also ongoing cautions and concerns that people should be aware of. As with any other medical treatment it is important to research the service before committing to fees or treatment.

Health TourismWhat is health tourism?  Most people understand the idea of health, and the idea of tourism, and combining the two may seem like a new idea, but it actually has its roots dating back thousands of years.  Centuries ago, pilgrims from Greece would travel from the Mediterranean to a small area called Epidauria, a territory in the Saronic Gulf.  Here, there was a sanctuary for the god Asklepios, whose powers included healing.  Over time, whole towns based on spas and sanitariums arose and patients traveled to them in order to bathe in the healing minerals of the water to treat everything from bronchitis to liver problems.  Today, the idea of health tourism has expanded.  Because international travel is relatively easy and other countries have increased their levels of care standards, many people have opted to travel outside their country’s borders and find health care far from home.  The health tourist will travel from the United States, Europe, Middle East, Japan, or Canada to other parts of the world; if the health concern isn’t life-threatening, such as plastic surgery, the patient may combine the surgery with a vacation.

Just a few years ago, as many as three-quarters of a million Americans sought health care abroad (2007), and that number is growing.  The main reasons for going so far from home is convenience and speed.  In some places, such as Canada and the UK, there is a wait for non-urgent medical procedures such as a hip replacement or a cataract surgery.  Instead of waiting nearly half a year for the procedure, some choose to travel.  For instance, it’s possible to get a knee replacement in places like Columbia for about five thousand U.S. currency; although not all clinics will provide a quote that includes everything.  Increasingly, though, it’s cost that is driving people to India, or Thailand, or South Africa, paying one-tenth of the price of surgery in the United States or Western Europe.

Typically, a person will seek medical treatment by speaking with a health tourism provider.  The provider will ask for a medical report, the opinion of a local doctor, a medical history, and so on.  Once this has been reviewed by a certified consultant or doctor, then arrangements are made for the choice of hospital, tourist destinations, length of stay and so forth.  The patient will then acquire a medical visa to be received from the embassy of the country in question.  Next, the patient travels to the country, where the provider assigns a case executive who is in charge of obtaining the patient’s accommodation and treatment.  After the medical procedure is complete, the patient may stay longer in the country, to become an actual tourist, or to return to his or her home country.  Clearly, health tourism in the 21st Century has progressed a long way from the days of Asklepios at Epidauria.

Main Entry: health tourism

Part of Speech: n

Definition : travel or vacationing for health or fitness purposes; a holiday to take advantage of health -care services

Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon

Copyright © 2003-2011 Dictionary.com, LLC

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Reasons to Promotes Health Tourism in MalaysiaMalaysia is comprised of a vast network of hospitals that offer medical facilities and services to meet the international standards, which is comparable with any high speciality care in the world. Malaysia is the home to medical practitioners and surgeons who are capable in a variety of specialties concerning the medical arena, such as cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, Internal medicine, Urology, Endocrinology, Neonatal and general surgery to name a few.

Malaysia’s medical care practices the latest trends in medicine and with the technology at above average treatment levels. Their facilities are proficient and are complemented with excellent nursing faculties that offer round the clock services to all medical tourist. One the the advantages to traveling to Malaysia for health reasons, is the fact that the faculties of the hospitals are all English speaking; facilitating correct communication and one-on-one interaction between the doctors and their patients. Plus, the medical staff come from all over the world, easing any concerns for the patient being foreign themselves.

Service and Hospitality are the key ingredients for Malaysia’s medical tourism. They take extra care when it come to comfort, such as being fully equipped with luxurious rooms for any pre-care and aftercare that is required for certain procedures. All procedures are carried out in the-state-of-the-art facilities that have been furnished to meet all international requirements. This homely and hospitable atmosphere is maintained throughout the entire process, from leaving your home country and going back to your home country. This allows the patient to recuperate and relax, which helps with a quick recovery.

Confidentiality is guaranteed to all patients; handling of patient information is under strict online security and guidelines that prevent unauthorized access to patient information. So, no one has to know why a person is traveling to Malaysia, as far as anyone will know, it is for a vacation and nothing more. Malaysia is always improving and upgrading their service on all levels, which makes them one of the most complete health providers in the world.

http://www.surgeonabroad.com/information/reasons-to-promotes-health-tourism-in-malaysia/

Health Tourism in MalaysiaIf there is one place in the world known for health tourism it is Malaysia. It is a great vacation spot, but it also has some amazing medical facilities. These are usually prompted by the doctors who work there to constantly improve the facilities and accommodations for patients. Malaysia draws some of the top medical experts from all fields. These doctors truly care about the experience each patient has before, during and after surgery. This is important because it means that the main hospitals in the region are encouraged by their doctors to keep the condition of the hospital high so that the doctors will keep working there. It is a very competitive market and if a hospital drops it’s standards at all, the best doctors will take jobs at a better hospital.

One of the other important features of health tourism in Malaysia is that it costs a lot less for doctor’s visits and procedures than it would in the United States. In a place where cardiac bypass surgery has been quoted as high as $15,000 it makes more sense for some people to travel abroad and find a doctor who will do it for half that or less. For many people, if this can be done without losing any comfort during surgery or in the aftercare, or if it means still having a very good doctor, all for the better. This is likely in Malaysia as many private hospitals will include a stay at a luxury hotel while recovering from the surgery in the price of the surgery. This may be a few days, or a couple of weeks, during which time the patient can explore the city to the best of their abilities. If it is a simple outpatient surgery this can be very pleasant.

Over the years there has been a lot of hype about hospitals in the United States. Often this hype also tries to denounce health care in other countries. This has been an unfortunate side effect of institutions like the hospitals in Malaysia. When better quality is offered by a competing arena often advertisement can get out of hand. This is the case here. Hospitals in Malaysia are just as clean, if not cleaner than any hospital in the United States, and doctors who are no longer willing to deal with insurance companies are usually willing to move to Malaysia and practice there.

Health tourism and MalaysiaMalaysia is by far one of the premiere travel destinations in the field of medical tourism today, and there are plenty of good reasons for this. People opt for health tourism, generally, from a variety of needs. First, health tourism is attractive when there are possibilities for having a surgical procedure done by competent doctors at a fraction of the cost. Even the total cost of the medical care, the airfare, room and board can come in significantly lower than in one’s home country. Malaysia is uniquely situated in this regard, because they do have a very good reputation for highly skilled doctors. This includes elective procedures, like cosmetic surgery, to dental work, to more delicate and necessary surgeries. With any important life event, check the doctor’s credentials thoroughly ahead of time, and get as many opinions and recommendations as you can before setting the plans in motion.

Second, people opt for medical tourism because of the tourism factor. And Malaysia is, quite simply, a spectacular place to visit. The bigger cities are extremely cosmopolitan and contemporary, and are in fact ahead of the trends in many different areas. There are also plenty of natural settings, including some of the finest beaches in the world, and these can be spectacular places to recuperate. Keep in mind that there are many procedures that don’t lend themselves to movement for awhile, so plan accordingly, and also let your traveling companions know that this trip might be mostly in the hotel.

Third, people opt for health tourism to get services that might not be available elsewhere. In Malaysia, there are many cultures that come together to make up a fairly complex fabric. Some of the more traditional cultures have methods of healing that are tremendous alternatives to western medicine, making it a very attractive destination for the alternative healing community, as well as those who have a particular tradition that they need to follow. There are plenty of other very good reasons for Malaysia’s popularity, but in the balance of quality care and great views, it’s difficult to beat.

Health Tourism MalaysiaMalaysia’s health tourism is undertaking a variety of measures to welcome the expected surge of people seeking medical treatment and therapies in its country. Malaysian hospital officials are quick to emphasize that their medical services, which includes modern treatment procedures in neurosurgery, urology, and orthopedics are if not comparable to, but better than those in some hospitals in Singapore as well as Thailand, India or the United States; noting that at least 10% of their health tourism clients comprised of Singaporeans way before the introduction of the elective overseas hospitalization.

One of Malaysia’s private hospitals has announced their ‘scheduled signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Australia’s Macquirie Neurosurgery’ to enable renowned surgeon, Dr. Micheal Morgan, to work exclusively with the hospital to provide the best high-end neurosurgical procedures. This development has served as an added boost to Malaysia’s health tourism.

Kuala Lumpur’s hospitals have initiated partnering with tour operators, airline companies and hotels to offer the health tourist a hassle-free, efficient and overall seamless travel between the health tourists country and Malaysia. They’ve gone so far as to even arrange ambulances from the airports to the hospital.

Malaysia is targeting new markets such as Vietnam, the Middle East, Cambodia, Europe, Canada and the United States. The Tourism Ministry has published a book series called ‘Patients Beyond Borders’ to promote Malaysia as a medical health destination globally with a special focus on the Canada and Europe clientele, who are faced with long waiting times for specialist appointments, medical screening, diagnostic testing, hospitalization and treatment or surgery.

Despite the challenging economic climate, health tourism still has an excellent positive outlook. According the the Abacus international, Malaysia’s health tourism industry is expected to be worth at least $4 billion by 2012. Studies show that a health tourist spends double the amount of normal tourist – $362 per day compared to $144 per day.

Health Tourism DestinationsCountries around the globe are putting more money into health tourism than ever before. As the economy in the U.S. continues to remain low, other countries are seeking out this opportunity to compete in the medical arena and entice much needed tourists into their country. This is by no means a bad thing. Health tourism has inspired innovation and the resurgence of traditional healing remedies that may have not been otherwise valued. This article will outline top destinations and the expertise of each.

Thailand: By far at the forefront of sex reassignment therapies. Almost no other country can rival its expertise and pricing. Other surgeries popular to this region include cosmetic surgeries and stem cell therapy.

India: May be one of the top destinations for its medical expertise. Heart surgery and orthopedic surgery are performed spectacularly here. Traditional Ayurvedic therapies use herbs, massage, and yoga to compliment western medicine practices.

Iran: Iran is a country rich in culture and tradition. Hot baths are prevalent here, as the geographical characteristics of the land have created magnificent bathing areas.

Philippines: Known for its dentistry and stem cell therapies. Veneers became a popular procedure to be done here. Hair transplants and cosmetic surgeries are also popular.

Hungary: Provides expertise in hair restoration and dentistry.

Spain: Specializes in Neurosurgery and facial treatments. The beaches in Spain are also spectacular, which add to the tourist attraction.

Turkey: Coming to the forefront of eye care and eye surgeries.

Poland: Has great pricing for orthopedic surgery and cosmetic surgery compared to its western European competitors.

Mexico: Its close distance from the U.S. allows many of its centers to be run by U.S. doctors and professionals. Cosmetic surgeries are the number one procedure done here.

Panama: No tourist visa is needed to enter the country. Panama is known for its cancer therapies.

While all of these countries have state of the art facilities and highly trained professionals, care should always be taken when choosing a physician, especially for a major surgical procedure. Many packages include flight and rehabilitation accommodations.

The Advantages Health Tourism in MalaysiaThe advantages of Malaysia health tourism is that the country comprises of a broad network of hospitals that offer medical facilities and services that meet and exceed international standards. Malaysia health tourism is comparable with any super specialty care in the entire world. It is home to surgeons and medical practitioners who are capable in various specialties of the medical arena.

Health tourist who frequent Malaysia are most likely seeking treatments under these specialties: Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, General and cosmetic dentistry, Endocrinology, Ear-Nose-Throat treatments, Gastroenterology, General surgery, Haemodialysis and Kidney disease management, Internal medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Neonatalogy, Nephrology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Urology, health screening and special diagnostic services, Immunization and vaccination services, and health rejuvenation packages.

Malaysia medical care follows the latest trends in technology as well as treatment levels. Treatments are carried out in state-of-the-art facilities that are furnished to meet international standards, and even exceed the standards. The high quality of treatments is maintained at the technology level as well as the professional levels. The biggest advantage is perhaps that all approved hospitals and medical faculties are English speaking to help facilitate proper communications and interaction. Malaysia’s medical specialist hail from all parts of the world, which in turn helps with foreign patients to relate with an identical nationality. Another advantage is confidentiality, which is guaranteed to all patients, transferring medical information online is handled with strict security, preventing any unauthorized access to patient information.

Given the potential economic gains from health tourism, Malaysia has made aggressive efforts to market health tourism, making the cost factor less expensive than its regional competitors. For example, cardiac bypass surgery at one of Malaysia’s top-notch private hospitals cost, on average, $6,300 compared to $10,400 charge in Singapore. Given Malaysia’s diverse culture and rich heritage, combined with the presence of a well established and very affordable health care facilities, this country has all the essential components to become a serious player in health tourism. Malaysia can expect to gain huge rewards, due to their excellent qualifications and ensuring a healthy tourist destination.

The Advantages Health Tourism in MalaysiaThe advantages of Malaysia health tourism is that the country comprises of a broad network of hospitals that offer medical facilities and services that meet and exceed international standards. Malaysia health tourism is comparable with any super specialty care in the entire world. It is home to surgeons and medical practitioners who are capable in various specialties of the medical arena.

Health tourist who frequent Malaysia are most likely seeking treatments under these specialties: Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, General and cosmetic dentistry, Endocrinology, Ear-Nose-Throat treatments, Gastroenterology, General surgery, Haemodialysis and Kidney disease management, Internal medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Neonatalogy, Nephrology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Urology, health screening and special diagnostic services, Immunization and vaccination services, and health rejuvenation packages.

Malaysia medical care follows the latest trends in technology as well as treatment levels. Treatments are carried out in state-of-the-art facilities that are furnished to meet international standards, and even exceed the standards. The high quality of treatments is maintained at the technology level as well as the professional levels. The biggest advantage is perhaps that all approved hospitals and medical faculties are English speaking to help facilitate proper communications and interaction. Malaysia’s medical specialist hail from all parts of the world, which in turn helps with foreign patients to relate with an identical nationality. Another advantage is confidentiality, which is guaranteed to all patients, transferring medical information online is handled with strict security, preventing any unauthorized access to patient information.

Given the potential economic gains from health tourism, Malaysia has made aggressive efforts to market health tourism, making the cost factor less expensive than its regional competitors. For example, cardiac bypass surgery at one of Malaysia’s top-notch private hospitals cost, on average, $6,300 compared to $10,400 charge in Singapore. Given Malaysia’s diverse culture and rich heritage, combined with the presence of a well established and very affordable health care facilities, this country has all the essential components to become a serious player in health tourism. Malaysia can expect to gain huge rewards, due to their excellent qualifications and ensuring a healthy tourist destination.

Which Countries Offer Medical Tourism?Medical tourism is a growing industry that has risen exponentially in popularity in recent years. They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and that’s certainly the case here.  With medical costs skyrocketing, and increased difficulties of getting coverage for either voluntary or necessary medical procedures, it makes sense that we would start to look at other options.  If there is a dentist just south of the border who can provide the same bridgework with the same excellence in care, for a fraction of the cost, then it simply makes sense to look outside the systems that are in place.  Which countries, then, offer medical procedures?

Because of the popularity of medical tourism, there are more doctors in more countries that are providing services to people from all over.  At the same time, a fortunate result of the trend is that we can share the information fairly easily.  It’s not an underground network, but usually begins with some simple searches on the internet, or getting recommendations from health professionals who are familiar with the better doctors in other countries.  This makes it particularly easy then to get information fairly quickly.  Some countries have better reputations than others, and sometimes there is a kind of specialization by place.

For example, Turkey seems to be the best place for laser surgery, Mexico for dental work, China for neurology, and India for just about anything.  Each of these fields and places are subject to change, however, and it’s necessary to keep up with who’s got the best reputation and price for what you’re looking for.  As of the early part of 2010, however, the countries offering medical tourism are: Mexico, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Panama, Uruguay, Cuba, the UAE, Israel and Jordan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic.  It will be interesting to see how this trend develops in the coming years.

How to Promote Medical TourismMedical Tourism is a growing practice and is becoming increasingly popular with private individuals and families. The phrase refers to the general practice of traveling to another country to receive necessary medical care. Sometimes this can be of a specific nature and other times it can relate to soaring health care costs in one country, which encourages those in need to seek care from an accessible foreign alternative. There is a pejorative aspect of the phrase, which can sometimes be confused with it, and this refers to the practice of health care providers who travel to different countries to administer their health care practice.

This article refers to the beneficial use of alternative health care systems, alternative meaning outside of your standard medical services and refers to the location where the services are obtained, not practices that fall outside of standard medicine though it certainly is not restrictive or ignoring of them. It can be of great benefit to an individual who needs, for example, a particular surgery such as knee replacement, to travel to a country where the service is either more affordable or it is conducted by the top professionals in the world.

Sharing medical information and practices can be an extremely positive and progressive structure, though as with anything appropriate and thorough advance research into the service you are seeking is essential. In order to promote better understanding of the practice and also to share your experience it is important to share your encounters with others through word of mouth exchanges. You also may want to post the information on your own website. Promoting medical tourism can be a great way of bringing this information to individuals who otherwise may be unaware of their options. It is also a great way to maintain the accessibility of healthcare outside of one’s own home country.

Luxury Medical Tourist HotelsBecause the importance of medical tourism has increased exponentially, searching for spot to stay during a surgery has decreased in difficulty.  Unsurprisingly, the medical tourism industry has aided the hotel industry significantly in its growth.  In many instances, the package a global health hospital provides often comes with a deal to stay at a luxury hotel.  If it does not, finding a hotel or a resort to stay at is not too difficult: these places come cheap too for tourists, though not in services or superiority.

In Malaysia, for instance, the prime hospitals for medical tourism are a short trip from a hotel.  The hotels there offer beautiful rooms, with the supposedly average rooms coming with gorgeous décor and deluxe enmities.  Guests are near the stunning sea, and the top spots for any dining and shopping are along Gurney Drive.  For those not only looking for luxury from their hotels, but also the chic, innovative design, Malaysian hotels certainly satisfy any anticipation.  Of course, the services are impeccable.  There is a pool and a gym—which provides yoga and other trendy workout regiments.   For those recuperating from surgeries, there are flat screen TVs and iYiY sound systems in hotel rooms.  Similar to most medical tourism hospitals, a large chunk of their cliental originates in the United States, and maintaining top facilities and services also maintains their reputation and finances.

Closer to home for medical tourists in the United States is Mexico.  Perhaps its busiest spots during the year are the holidays.  Many medical tourists are starting to combine a trip to Mexico or another country with health needs.   Part of what makes Mexican hotels ideal for medical tourists is the spa treatments, the doctor visits, the vacation package deals, and usually the adults only rule.  Doctor appointments to the hotels can also include the following feature that the most leery and reluctant medical tourist would appreciate: Amerimed certifies the medical staff.  Patients also obtain a dietary menu specific to their health requirements from a nutritionist with input from medical staff.  The hotel is also only a few minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport where its surrounding areas offer stylish art galleries, a stunning boardwalk, a relaxing golf resort, and other attributes appealing to the copious tourists.

Further, the medical tourism packages can offer hydrotherapy to help people recover from surgeries or injuries.  Developed by the Greeks, the process gained prominence in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries for healing purposes.  With a salon, a gym, and a fine dining restaurant, the hotel appeals to all wants and needs.  Most of the minor procedures performed at hospitals, such as urinalysis and electrocardiography, require little time on the part of the patient, and there is no waiting in an uncomfortable office for your name to be called.  Malaysia and Mexico offer fantastic hotels and deals, representing only a sample of the sumptuousness the medical tourism industry provides.

Behavioral Healthcare Magazine – Design ShowcaseCitation of Merit

““A one-stop shop for behavioral healthcare—incorporating elements of acute treatment, crisis response, and inpatient care—the design nicely integrates interior and exterior presentation, with good separation of vehicular and internal traffic flow. The on-site courtroom works extremely well, limiting both the patient’s apprehension of being transported to and from judicial proceedings, and the overall risk factor placed upon the patients and the staff.

The contemporary style of the facility’s beautifully designed exterior is very appropriate for Arizona, as is its use of sustainable design elements, including the optimization of land with various levels, drought-resistant landscaping, and sun screens. The interior and exterior ‘fold into each other’ seamlessly, with the subtle but thorough incorporation of safety and security features throughout.”

A Boutique Hospital? A Boutique Hospital? - Boutique or concierge medical practices have received quite a bit of criticism for limiting access to healthcare in a time when the number of uninsured is on the upswing. This article in the New York Times recaps the familiar debate. There is no doubt that boutique practices create a two-tiered system, where the "haves" get special service and the "have nots" don't, but there is something rational about this rebellion from the norm. When it comes to our health, people would naturally want special attention. Kaiser Permanente hit the nail on the head with their TV commercial featuring a man being followed around by a team of physicians. Surely, many physicians would want to practice this way as well - lighter case loads, deeper relationships, a more thorough understanding of the etiology of their patient's conditions, better service. In fact, it is an artifact, however necessary, of the current healthcare system that "boutique" isn't the standard of care. The economics of our current financing system simply don't allow physicians to provide this level of service (though I am sure that they would argue that they are providing at least adequate care outside the boutique model). In the end, it is a matter of degree and supply. There are probably not enough physicians to provide this level of service to everyone.

So could there ever be a boutique hospital? And what would it look like? Certainly, we could envision a hospital with a higher level of service. The concierges would welcome you to the hospital, orient you to its amenities, and walk you to your room, where you would be met by your personal nurse, who would take the time to discuss your stay and schedule your facial in between your MRI and physical therapy. There are, no doubt, individuals that could pay for such hotel-like services in a hospital, but, as one might guess, this is not a model that would work for the larger healthcare system. Whereas physicians are more of a personal resource, something that people consume individually, hospitals are by nature a community resource, something that is shared. As with all other shared resources, hospitals must operate in a way that is not cost-prohibitive for its users.

So there probably aren't boutique hospitals on the horizon. While hospitals can provide great service, the economics of the current system simply don't allow for highly individualized hospital services, like personal nurses. Nevertheless, we can imagine what boutique hospital care would look like, and as we raise the bar for quality and customer service, we will be brining that vision to everyone.

http://www.cannondesign.com/#%2Fimagination%2Fproposals_and_competitions

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http://ataland.com/Files/Articles/z4.pdf

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