Risk Prevention for Medical Travel

Traveling overseas for medical care is certainly a cheaper solution for many American consumers, but it brings with it a variety of concerns. While every surgery carries an inherent risk, there are additional risks when traveling abroad that consumers, employers, and insurers should consider. These may include complications with the procedure, cultural differences, and language barriers.
One case, as illustrated by Niko Karvounis on Healthbeatblog.org, tells of a woman who traveled to Thailand for plastic surgery only to return to the U.S. and discover that the surgery had gone wrong. Because the surgery was performed in Thailand, she was not successful in taking legal action.

While certain risks are unavoidable, there are many ways to prevent them. Some of these include:

Research – The internet is a place with readily available information on doctors, hospitals, and travel options. Patients should research their options online as much as possible before traveling overseas, receive recommendations via word-of-mouth, and investigate any potential problems before traveling.

Accreditation – U.S. or internationally known organizations, such as Johns Hopkins and the Joint Commission International, accredit the top hospitals abroad. Employers, insurers, and patients should use hospitals accredited by a known organization.

Training and Certification – Many doctors working overseas in the medical travel industry receive training and certification in the U.S. Insurers, consumers, and employers should fully research their potential doctor’s credentials, and verify their training and certification.

References:
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2008/10/01/13-smart-questions-and-quick-answers-about-medical-tourism.html