There are many factors that have fueled the growing popularity of medical travel in America over the past decade. Also referred to as global health care or medical tourism, medical travel is the practice of crossing international borders to obtain health care. Services typically sought by patients include elective surgical procedures, such as joint replacement, cardiac, bariatric, cosmetic, and major dental work.

The availability of quality medical care at international hospitals is one of the key factors driving the growth of this trend. And yet, while premium care is available at many hospitals around the world, not all medical travel programs offer the same level of quality and patient management.

So, what are the crucial attributes to look for in a global health care program? If you are considering recommending that a client add a medical travel benefit in order to reduce their medical spend, below are some important tips to help ensure that the care they receive is of the highest quality and safety.

  1. Make sure all hospitals in the network are accredited by the Joint Commission International. The Joint Commission International (JCI) is the international arm of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), which accredits all hospitals in the United States. JCI is the recognized world leader in health care quality and patient safety, and has set 350 standards of excellence that are comparable to U.S. standards. More than 300 public and private health care organizations in 39 countries around the world are now accredited by the JCI.
  2. Look for a global health care network that is composed of U.S. / U.K. or equivalently trained, board-certified physicians. Many international physicians are trained in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom, and speak English, which means they are familiar with treating American patients.
  3. Check to see if the international hospitals have affiliations with prestigious U.S. medical universities and hospitals. Several top-tier international hospitals are directly affiliated with Harvard Medical, Johns Hopkins, The Cleveland Clinic, and The Mayo Clinic.
  4. Partner with organizations that follow the guidelines on medical travel put forth by the American Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons. These organizations have set specific, important guidelines pertaining to medical travel. Credible medical travel facilitators should follow all the established guidelines.
  5. Determine if the medical travel program has a quality assurance team in place. A medical travel facilitator should have a full-time chief medical officer to ensure ongoing quality improvements in patient care, and a focus on quality management and outcomes.
  6. Work with an organization that offers a dedicated customer service team for the patient. Choose a medical travel program that has a strong patient advocacy and support program in place, in order to ensure optimal delivery of health care services and a rewarding experience for the patient. Specifically, seek out a program that gives you access to registered nurses who coordinate care, facilitate medical record transfer, and schedule follow-up care with a U.S. physician. The customer service team should be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  7. Make sure the medical travel program offers a companion program. Another important factor of ensuring patients' safety and comfort when undergoing surgery abroad is that they have a trusting companion to accompany them throughout the entire experience. A companion can enhance the ease of the trip and improve the overall quality of life for the patient while abroad. The best medical travel programs should include the cost of travel and accommodations for the companion.

Steven Lash is the president and CEO of Satori World Medical.

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