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Health tourism is an increasingly popular medical treatment option for people across the United States as well as countries throughout the world. And with a greater interest in the practice there are more questions that arise regarding it. And the first one for many people is what it actually means. The definition of health tourism, also frequently referred to as medical tourism, describes the practice of traveling to a country that differs from your own to secure medical treatment for a variety of health issues. This is actually one of the fastest growing practices in medicine and it reaches across the globe. There is another use of the term, though this is used much less frequently, and it describes the practice of medical professionals who travel across international borders to provide services to those in need. The first definition, or use of the phrase is actually the more popular and is a quickly growing practice that benefits increasing numbers of people every year. At this point there are at least fifty countries that have claimed that medical tourism is part of their national industry and growing numbers of nations are actively advertising their services in an attempt to increase their appeal as a medical destination. India, Panama, Brazil, Costa Rica and Malaysia represent some of the top and most popular health tourism destinations, while other countries such as Jordan and Jamaica are seeking to attract new populations of medical tourists and continue the development of the industry in their country. And one of the things a beautiful place like Jamaica has to offer its potential consumers is an incredibly beautiful place to recover. And while there are some great benefits to the practice and it is enticing larger numbers of consumers every year there are also ongoing cautions and concerns that people should be aware of. As with any other medical treatment it is important to research the service before committing to fees or treatment.
Health Tourism
What is health tourism? Most people understand the idea of health, and the idea of tourism, and combining the two may seem like a new idea, but it actually has its roots dating back thousands of years. Centuries ago, pilgrims from Greece would travel from the Mediterranean to a small area called Epidauria, a territory in the Saronic Gulf. Here, there was a sanctuary for the god Asklepios, whose powers included healing. Over time, whole towns based on spas and sanitariums arose and patients traveled to them in order to bathe in the healing minerals of the water to treat everything from bronchitis to liver problems. Today, the idea of health tourism has expanded. Because international travel is relatively easy and other countries have increased their levels of care standards, many people have opted to travel outside their countrys borders and find health care far from home. The health tourist will travel from the United States, Europe, Middle East, Japan, or Canada to other parts of the world; if the health concern isnt lifethreatening, such as plastic surgery, the patient may combine the surgery with a vacation. Just a few years ago, as many as three-quarters of a million Americans sought health care abroad (2007), and that number is growing. The main reasons for going so far from home is convenience and speed. In some places, such as Canada and the UK, there is a wait for nonurgent medical procedures such as a hip replacement or a cataract surgery. Instead of waiting nearly half a year for the procedure, some choose to travel. For instance, its possible to get a knee replacement in places like Columbia for about five thousand U.S. currency; although not all clinics will provide a quote that includes everything. Increasingly, though, its cost that is driving people to India, or Thailand, or South Africa, paying one-tenth of the price of surgery in the United States or Western Europe. Typically, a person will seek medical treatment by speaking with a health tourism provider. The provider will ask for a medical report, the opinion of a local doctor, a medical history, and so on. Once this has been reviewed by a certified consultant or doctor, then arrangements are made for the choice of hospital, tourist destinations, length of stay and so forth. The patient will then acquire a medical visa to be received from the embassy of the country in question. Next, the patient travels to the country, where the provider assigns a case executive who is in charge of obtaining the patients accommodation and treatment. After the medical procedure is complete, the patient may stay longer in the country, to become an actual tourist, or to return to his or her home country. Clearly, health tourism in the 21st Century has progressed a long way from the days of Asklepios at Epidauria.
health tourism n
Definition : travel or vacationing for health or fitness purposes; a holiday to take advantage of health -care services Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon Copyright 2003-2011 Dictionary.com, LLC Cite This Source
http://www.surgeonabroad.com/information/reasons-to-promotes-health-tourism-in-malaysia/
Behavioral Healthcare Magazine Design Showcase Citation of Merit A one-stop shop for behavioral healthcareincorporating elements of acute treatment, crisis response, and inpatient carethe design nicely integrates interior and exterior presentation, with good separation of vehicular and internal traffic flow. The on-site courtroom works extremely well, limiting both the patients apprehension of being transported to and from judicial proceedings, and the overall risk factor placed upon the patients and the staff. The contemporary style of the facilitys beautifully designed exterior is very appropriate for Arizona, as is its use of sustainable design elements, including the optimization of land with various levels, drought-resistant landscaping, and sun screens. The interior and exterior fold into each other seamlessly, with the subtle but thorough incorporation of safety and security features throughout.
A Boutique Hospital? A Boutique Hospital? - Boutique or concierge medical practices have received quite a bit of criticism for limiting access to healthcare in a time when the number of uninsured is on the upswing. This article in the New York Times recaps the familiar debate. There is no doubt that boutique practices create a twotiered system, where the "haves" get special service and the "have nots" don't, but there is something rational about this rebellion from the norm. When it comes to our health, people would naturally want special attention. Kaiser Permanente hit the nail on the head with their TV commercial featuring a man being followed around by a team of physicians. Surely, many physicians would want to practice this way as well - lighter case loads, deeper relationships, a more thorough understanding of the etiology of their patient's conditions, better service. In fact, it is an artifact, however necessary, of the current healthcare system that "boutique" isn't the standard of care. The economics of our current financing system simply don't allow physicians to provide this level of service (though I am sure that they would argue that they are providing at least adequate care outside the boutique model). In the end, it is a matter of degree and supply. There are probably not enough physicians to provide this level of service to everyone. So could there ever be a boutique hospital? And what would it look like? Certainly, we could envision a hospital with a higher level of service. The concierges would welcome you to the hospital, orient you to its amenities, and walk you to your room, where you would be met by your personal nurse, who would take the time to discuss your stay and schedule your facial in between your MRI and physical therapy. There are, no doubt, individuals that could pay for such hotel-like services in a hospital, but, as one might guess, this is not a model that would work for the larger healthcare system. Whereas physicians are more of a personal resource, something that people consume individually, hospitals are by nature a community resource, something that is shared. As with all other shared resources, hospitals must operate in a way that is not cost-prohibitive for its users. So there probably aren't boutique hospitals on the horizon. While hospitals can provide great service, the economics of the current system simply don't allow for highly individualized hospital services, like personal nurses. Nevertheless, we can imagine what boutique hospital care would look like, and as we raise the bar for quality and customer service, we will be brining that vision to everyone.
http://www.cannondesign.com/#%2Fimagination%2Fproposals_and_competitions
- Unprecedented value for money, favourable exchange rates - World-class practitioners ... - Ease of entry - Tourist attractions to suit every taste - Modern infrastructure - Competitive prices & favourable exchange rates - Clinical competency - Seamless and integrated healthcare system - Multi-ethnic, multicultural, multi-lingual - Proven track record in recoveries & surgeries - Wide range of tourism attractions
http://ataland.com/Files/Articles/z4.pdf http://torrent.jiwang.cc/Media_Hiburan_20_02_2010_JWG_torrent_-s-74370.html