Are you ready to choose the best hospital or doctor to treat you?
All hospitals are not the same. Even the best hospitals in one country may not be as good for you as the best hospitals in another country. You may want to first choose a country to go to, and then find a hospital or doctor there who can take care of you.
Choose the best quality hospital for your treatment that you can afford and that acknowledges that you need treatment and care especially as a medical traveler.
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Is the hospital accredited?
Hospitals must be accredited, either by a country’s national health care accreditation board, or an international accreditation board.
The accreditation systems of Canada, Australia, and other western countries were established 60 – 70 years ago. Their review boards rigorously and regularly monitor patient outcomes, problems in surgery, and problems after care.
Compare these countries to India, United Arab Emirates, China, and others whose national accreditation boards are 10-15 years old or less. Do these countries have the same history, experience and monitors as the other countries?
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Does the hospital have medical tourism certification?
A hospital with MTQUA medical tourism certification understands that medical tourists are not ordinary patients. Because medical tourists are travelers, away from home and family, they need special attention in treatment and care in order to get the best possible, lasting results.
A medical tourism certified hospital works constantly to improve its own quality of care for medical tourists.
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How do you pay the hospital?
Does the hospital take your insurance or health plan?
If you are a self-pay patient, or sponsored by your government, what special financial arrangements does the hospital have so that your treatment is not interrupted if you can’t pay the bill immediately or in advance?
What is the amount and form (e.g. cash, bank transfer) of advance payment required?
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Does the hospital offer you a doctor who has experience and success with your condition?
How does the hospital select a treating doctor for you? What choices do you have? Is there full disclosure of the success of the hospital and doctors in treating your condition?
Under what conditions can you request a second opinion? What if you change your mind and don’t want to undergo treatment?
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What is the hospital’s reputation?
Does it have good reviews or high ratings on the internet? Internet ratings are not reliable especially for “foreign” hospitals as there are not enough inputs to show quality or reliability. Be very cautious of ratings, patient reviews, and word-of-mouth comments in forums.