MTQUA Announces the Top 10 World¡¯s Best Hospitals for Medical Tourists date: 2010-01-20 |
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MTQUA Announces the Top 10 World¡¯s Best Hospitals for Medical TouristsMTQUA Announces the Top 10 World¡¯s Best Hospitals for Medical Tourists Bangkok -- Patients looking for medical care abroad need accurate up-to-date and reliable information. Medical tourists, Americans in particular, have a world of choice in healthcare and are taking advantage of this. This list of leading hospitals for medical tourism is issued by the Medical Travel and Health Tourism Quality Alliance (MTQUA, mtqua.org) to help patients, hospitals, and medical travel agents better understand the important factors that create an outstanding medical experience for a medical tourist. Some patients now consider accreditation status and word of mouth recommendations before they make their choice of hospital, and that¡¯s a definite improvement over relying only on the internet for information or choosing the lowest cost. ¡°There are other significant, even critical, factors by which one should make a decision,¡± says MTQUA founder Julie Munro, a leading medical travel facilitator and health tourism expert. Issues such as patient safety and security, international patient operations and protocols, marketing integrity, transparency and facilitator review must be weighed heavily in any selection of hospital by the medical traveler. All 10 hospitals on the MTQUA Top 10 World¡¯s Best Hospitals ¢â list provide medical treatment and care of the highest quality with the most advanced technology. All have outstanding local and regional reputations. Many have accreditation from JCI, the Joint Commission International (jointcommissioninternational.org), and a US-based organization. Others on this list may not have international accreditation but have stellar international reputations and other qualifications of medical quality and patient safety standards. To get the best value and care from going abroad for treatment to these hospitals or other hospitals in these medical destinations, we advise medical tourists to consider using a qualified medical travel facilitator who has professional trained staff on site to take care of any circumstances that may arise, medical or otherwise. Hospitals were reviewed on the following criteria which are listed not necessarily in their order of importance.
Dozens of hospitals from around the world were considered for the MTQUA Top 10 World¡¯s Best Hospitals ¢â list. Asia continues to be the leading destination for medical travelers: six hospitals in Asia, two in Europe, and two in North America made the list for 2010. For Americans, despite the longer traveling time, Asian medical destinations offer more and better medical procedures and care than most medical destinations closer to home. The list of MTQUA Top 10 World¡¯s Best Hospitals ¢â for Medical Tourists
Some of these hospitals we recommend without qualification. For others, we attach specific advisories for American medical tourists that should be considered when making plans. Fortis Hospital (formerly Wockhardt Hospital), Bangalore. It provides excellent surgery options for medical travelers seeking orthopedic procedures including hip resurfacing and replacement, and has exemplary follow up care and services to monitor American medical travelers once they return home. Further details are below. Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore. The Parkway Hospital Group may well be the standard bearer for private hospital care in Singapore, and Gleneagles Hospital its flagship. Anyone looking for a top medical destination, and a top hospital in this destination, won¡¯t find much better than this. Prince Court Hospital Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is a relative newcomer as a medical destination. Prince Court Medical Centre in the capital Kuala Lumpur is a brand-new facility with outstanding patient safety and infection control features including state-of-the-art laminar air-flow technology in all operating rooms and an exceptional burns unit. It is owned by oil and gas giant Petronas, and managed by Austrian healthcare services. Shouldice Hospital, Toronto. Shouldice Hospital has distinguished itself for four decades in managing hernia surgeries. More Americans should know about this private hospital in the land of government-sponsored healthcare so close to home. Schoen-Kliniken, Munich. One of the largest owner-managed hospitals groups in Germany, it meets most of our criteria even though the group has a policy – currently under review – of not encouraging American patients because of the belief that Americans would sue the hospital for any perceived lack of care. This should not stop Americans from seeking medical treatment there as treatment and patient care are outstanding. The hospitals welcome qualified medical travel agents. Wooridul Spine Hospital, Seoul. This unique hospital is a world leader in medical treatment of the spine. Its influence and prestige has spread worldwide through its doctors and its joint ventures with hospitals in Asia and Europe. Christus Muguerza Super Specialty Hospital, Monterrey. An outstanding hospital for medical tourists but it is not isolated from the drug violence raging across Mexico. For anyone who has family or friends, or an on-site medical travel facilitator, in Monterrey who can look out for them in case of trouble, it¡¯s an outstanding choice. Clemenceau Medical Center, Beirut. Clemenceau has ties with Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and stands out as a leading hospital in the Middle East. For value, treatment and patient care, it doesn¡¯t get much better than this, though most Americans would be uncomfortable traveling to the region for care. Finally, we selected two excellent hospitals in Thailand. It may surprise some that Thailand, a popular medical destination in past years, does not have a representative at the top of the list. We remain concerned about the possibility of political unrest of the ruling party that has recently caused the closure of the main international airport and some violence. For anyone, American or otherwise, wishing treatment in Thailand, we strongly suggest that plans be made through a medical travel agent who has local representatives that can assist should any problems arise. Those coming to Thailand for medical care should register with their embassy in Bangkok. Bangkok Hospital Medical Center, Bangkok. The flagship of the largest private hospital chain in Thailand, it meets several of our criteria. Individual hospitals of the medical center include the distinguished Bangkok Heart Hospital, Bangkok International Hospital, and Wattanosoth Cancer Hospital. The hospital lists qualified medical travel agents on its website. Bumrungrad International, Bangkok. The most well-known hospital for medical tourists, it has been taking foreign patients for almost 20 years. Medical records, pharmacy, labs and other hospital departments are almost fully integrated into a state-of-the-art electronic environment. Why Fortis Hospital Bangalore is Number One on the MTQUA Top 10 World¡¯s Best Hospitals for Medical Tourists 1. Medical Quality Fortis Hospital Bangalore is an excellent surgery option for medical travelers seeking joint replacement, particularly hip resurfacing and replacement. It¡¯s also strong in cardiac surgery and neurosurgery. Fortis Bangalore is internationally accredited and has strong ties to Harvard Medical School. 2. International Patient Management Fortis has a carefully considered transparent process sensitive to the needs of patients and families for their cultural, language, and religious requirements, their medical needs and emotional support. As the majority of its international caseload is either life-saving or life-enhancing procedures, their honesty and integrity provides outstanding case management and better patient understanding. 3. International Patient Marketing Fortis actively supports web-based social networks, including Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter. It has its own blog. The hospital has a dedicated team of men and women available 24/7 with access to treating physicians who can respond to qualified patient inquiries. 4. Value For Services India¡¯s hospitals are positioned to provide value for services and will continue to do so because the number of hospitals in India seeking the American or international patient market nurtures a competitive cost structure. 5. Patient Safety And Security Fortis Hospital Bangalore wraps the traveling patient from America in a security blanket. From the initial hospital response, Fortis assigns dedicated staff representatives to the patient throughout their hospital stay and a treating physician who directly discusses procedures and outcomes before the patient leaves their home country. Communication with the patient¡¯s family physician is encouraged. Patients may stay in the hospital for their full recovery period to avoid moving to a hotel. 6. Transparency Every effort is extended to ensure transparency of care, from cost to outcomes data. Patients receive a portfolio of their medical file and surgery documents including CT scans, MRI and X-rays, and operative notes to take back to their home country. 7. Attention To The Unique Needs Of The Medical Traveler More than 50% of Fortis¡¯ international patients are Americans, according to the hospital. It encourages patients to use a good medical travel facilitation company to ensure proper and timely care. It offers prompt scheduling of pre-surgery preparation. It provides exemplary follow up care and services to monitor American medical travelers once they return home. |
