Ensuring Your Safety as a Medical Traveler
With a little preparation, medical tourism is safe. Remember doctors and hospitals depend on their reputation for care. But there are no guarantees. There are risks of complications here or abroad. With that in mind, there are some things you yourself need to consider before deciding to travel for medical tourism.
Find Medical Health Advice
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends consulting with a travel health provider and your own practitioner before travel. Discuss the treatment or procedure you are seeking.
Does the hospital or doctor specialize in the procedure?
If you are going for a major surgery – like in the cardiology or orthopedics department – this is very important. Ask how many times the doctor has done this procedure, and if the hospital is medically-equipped for care.
Is the surgeon properly licensed?
To ensure that the doctor is someone experience and you can trust to do the surgery, verify your doctor’s credentials before traveling. It’s important for you to know that the doctor has the background, training and skills to successfully perform the surgery.
Consider the hospital’s accreditation
The Joint Commission International (JCI) sets rigorous standards for medical care. They conduct random inspections to ensure medical facilities continue to reach those standards. Other accreditation can come from the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP)and National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (NIAHO).
Facilities and hospitals strive to meet the qualifications to apply for these accreditation.
Is the destination safe?
Research your destination. Political turmoil and the level of crime in some countries is definitely one of the most important things to consider. If this is an issue, consider picking another destination.