Comments on: Medical Tourism http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/health-care-costs/medical-tourism/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:34:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Priya http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/health-care-costs/medical-tourism/#comment-5578 Priya Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:24 +0000 http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/?p=232#comment-5578 yes, this indeed can be the beginning of healthcare without boundaries. Isnt it what consumer driven healthcare is about? The best treatment at the best price that the consumer seems deem. However, there needs to be openness and clarity over the benchmarks set for comparison based on which the patient is to make an intelligent choice. Not an easy task for hospitals or medical tourism companies to put across without a common platform unifying them. A successful step in the direction has been the Virtual global healthcare ecosystem by eMedsol - where all entities (hospitals, medical tourism companies, insurance companies, employers) in the domain can grade services, network, exchange information, and implement an end to end process towards delivering the service to the patient. You have seen the change that has happened in a decade to the concept of medical tourism. Now (calling out to hospitals, medical tourism companies, employers, insurance providers) come and be part of this online platform that can take your business and healthcare decades ahead. Priya Brijesh Public Relations e-Medsol Pvt Ltd www.emedsol.biz yes, this indeed can be the beginning of healthcare without boundaries. Isnt it what consumer driven healthcare is about? The best treatment at the best price that the consumer seems deem. However, there needs to be openness and clarity over the benchmarks set for comparison based on which the patient is to make an intelligent choice. Not an easy task for hospitals or medical tourism companies to put across without a common platform unifying them. A successful step in the direction has been the Virtual global healthcare ecosystem by eMedsol - where all entities (hospitals, medical tourism companies, insurance companies, employers) in the domain can grade services, network, exchange information, and implement an end to end process towards delivering the service to the patient.

You have seen the change that has happened in a decade to the concept of medical tourism. Now (calling out to hospitals, medical tourism companies, employers, insurance providers) come and be part of this online platform that can take your business and healthcare decades

ahead.

Priya Brijesh
Public Relations
e-Medsol Pvt Ltd
http://www.emedsol.biz

]]> By: Charlie Baker http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/health-care-costs/medical-tourism/#comment-5523 Charlie Baker Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:20:47 +0000 http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/?p=232#comment-5523 All -- The question under consideration is a simple one - Is this a bleeding edge or a leading edge trend? I don't know. What I note about this trend that makes me think it's leading edge is the investment various health care organizations and institutions that are U.S.-based are making in this endeavor - and the work that's been done by systems in other countries to measure outcomes and promote their success in delivering on benchmarks. The best way to convince a skeptical audience is to monitor, measure, and publish - using independent analysis. Many of the providers in other countries are doing just that. Thanks for the comments. All — The question under consideration is a simple one - Is this a bleeding edge or a leading edge trend? I don’t know. What I note about this trend that makes me think it’s leading edge is the investment various health care organizations and institutions that are U.S.-based are making in this endeavor - and the work that’s been done by systems in other countries to measure outcomes and promote their success in delivering on benchmarks. The best way to convince a skeptical audience is to monitor, measure, and publish - using independent analysis. Many of the providers in other countries are doing just that.

Thanks for the comments.

]]> By: Prakash http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/health-care-costs/medical-tourism/#comment-5519 Prakash Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:44:03 +0000 http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/?p=232#comment-5519 I've heard mixed reviews of medical tourism. Is plastic surgery really safe in Thailand? Are Indian doctors qualified? Is Medical Tourism for Me? But now...the scenario is different, as you rightly said "What a difference a decade makes". Nice Article, thanks. _________ Prakash http://www.healism.com I’ve heard mixed reviews of medical tourism. Is plastic surgery really safe in Thailand? Are Indian doctors qualified? Is Medical Tourism for Me? But now…the scenario is different, as you rightly said “What a difference a decade makes”. Nice Article, thanks.
_________
Prakash
http://www.healism.com

]]> By: Stephanie Sulger http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/health-care-costs/medical-tourism/#comment-5513 Stephanie Sulger Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:10:00 +0000 http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/?p=232#comment-5513 Mr. Baker, Thanks for the perceptive and timely blog post. I’ve noted before that Harvard Pilgrim tends to be a leader in considering and addressing change on the frontier of healthcare and I am glad to see that medical travel and tourism is on your radar. At BridgeHealth International, the potential of medical travel to both lower costs and improve care for patients in the United States and around the world is something in which we deeply believe, as a provider of international medical services. However, we are cognizant, as you are, that growing international competition for providing medical services may have profound consequences for the delivery of healthcare services in the U.S. Our first concern is, of course, for patients and the patient population. On an individual basis, it is hard to find a downside for medical travel. Patients pay less for similar or better care; they get surgery and procedures that they could not otherwise afford. For payers and employers, offering medical travel options is a win-win proposition. That under this scenario there will be a loss of revenue to hospitals and facilities in the U.S., over time, cannot be denied. We think it is urgent for the U.S. healthcare industry to anticipate the changing profile of what it provides in order to optimize local patient care. American healthcare is entering a transition that is driven by consumer demand and a global marketplace. We’re wondering – in what venue do you see this entirely necessary conversation taking place? Stephanie Sulger RN, MS VP Consumer Division BridgeHealth International www.bridgehealthinternational.com Mr. Baker,

Thanks for the perceptive and timely blog post. I’ve noted before that Harvard Pilgrim tends to be a leader in considering and addressing change on the frontier of healthcare and I am glad to see that medical travel and tourism is on your radar.

At BridgeHealth International, the potential of medical travel to both lower costs and improve care for patients in the United States and around the world is something in which we deeply believe, as a provider of international medical services. However, we are cognizant, as you are, that growing international competition for providing medical services may have profound consequences for the delivery of healthcare services in the U.S.

Our first concern is, of course, for patients and the patient population. On an individual basis, it is hard to find a downside for medical travel. Patients pay less for similar or better care; they get surgery and procedures that they could not otherwise afford. For payers and employers, offering medical travel options is a win-win proposition.

That under this scenario there will be a loss of revenue to hospitals and facilities in the U.S., over time, cannot be denied. We think it is urgent for the U.S. healthcare industry to anticipate the changing profile of what it provides in order to optimize local patient care. American healthcare is entering a transition that is driven by consumer demand and a global marketplace. We’re wondering – in what venue do you see this entirely necessary conversation taking place?

Stephanie Sulger RN, MS
VP Consumer Division
BridgeHealth International
http://www.bridgehealthinternational.com

]]> By: Cindy Carpenter http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/health-care-costs/medical-tourism/#comment-5512 Cindy Carpenter Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:07:30 +0000 http://www.letstalkhealthcare.org/?p=232#comment-5512 Charlie, I think the answer to your last question is clear, that health care is both a local and a global market. The next question is: how do we, as a country, as a company, as individual consumers, act? Can global competition for high quality/low cost health care be an opportunity for us to strengthen the US health care model? What are the opportunities and pitfalls for health care companies operating in this environment? How can individuals make the best choices for their own care, in an increasingly complex situation? I've experienced the health care systems in the US and in India, and know the answers are not easy. Thanks for writing a thought-provoking piece. Charlie, I think the answer to your last question is clear, that health care is both a local and a global market. The next question is: how do we, as a country, as a company, as individual consumers, act? Can global competition for high quality/low cost health care be an opportunity for us to strengthen the US health care model? What are the opportunities and pitfalls for health care companies operating in this environment? How can individuals make the best choices for their own care, in an increasingly complex situation? I’ve experienced the health care systems in the US and in India, and know the answers are not easy. Thanks for writing a thought-provoking piece.

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