EMRs and other information technology can improve communication and patient safety if fully implemented in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. For example, EMRs can help reduce medication errors, avoid the need to repeat diagnostic testing, and improve continuity of care across the healthcare system.
The World’s Largest Medical Tourism Provider Network More than 800,000 participating healthcare providers in over 40 countries and throughout the USA impaneled in the MHI globally integrated health delivery system® will have appropriate and secure access to secure, complete clinical information that is HIPAA and HITECH compliant wherever they need it. Last month, Practice Fusion debuted a prototype of its native iOS mobile application for the iPhone at the Health 2.0 conference in San Francisco. Practice Fusion currently has iPhone and Android applications in private beta testing. When the stable release comes out, the mobile solutions will provide MHI nurse case managers, Care Navigators™ and medical advisers a lightweight and secure way to stay connected to our global network of providers and other medical advisers on the go.
MHI’s network includes over 6000 pre-screened and inspected hospitals, more than 4300 of which are in the USA, along with over 750,000 vetted physicians, surgery centers, dialysis centers, physical therapy and rehab centers, labs, imaging and hearing centers, substance abuse and mental health facilities, and more than 65,000 ancillary facilities. Records can be moved inbound and outbound enabling us to move more patients’ health information faster between treating providers and our medical management teams.
MHI operates several offices worldwide where case managers, regional medical directors, specialty medical advisors and certified Care Navigators™ work to operate a health travel and medical tourism logistics hub, conduct patient safety reviews and use medical records to conduct extended outcomes measurements for health travel and medical tourism patients seeking care in a location other than their home town.
MHI’s core business function is to provide employees of self-funded / self-insured companies and individual consumer members the opportunity to access clinically coordinated health and wellness services. High-quality healthcare providers who are impaneled in its seamless, globally integrated health delivery system®have been pre-screened, reviewed and inspected before they offer are permitted to provide services in the USA and abroad at negotiated prices to MHI clients.
Mercury Healthcare International provides cost containment, disease management, global case management, foreign medical records review and claims audits, and coordinates routine, urgent, emergent, high-cost elective surgical care, executive physicals and emergency medical assistance and evacuation/repatriation for its self-funded employer clients with domestic, expatriate and traveling employees. The company also offers health travel and medical tourism facilitation to individual consumers for services not covered by their health insurance such as experimental, investigational and cosmetic services, or medically necessary services not covered by a health plan that have been deemed pre-existing and excluded from coverage.
MHI is an industry leader in medical tourism continuity of care best practices. The company operates the only known global medical implant registry to record and track implants of all types and brands which are placed in medical tourism patients. MHI uses innovative and well-developed outcomes measurement tools originally developed by Rand Corporation to monitor, measure, and report functional, clinical and patient satisfaction outcomes over a 36-month event horizon and to document continuity of care.
We’ve not identified any other medical tourism company that has even begun to apply managed care best practices and principles of patient-centered care to their operational work flows. Most likely this is because it is extremely rare that medical tourism firms in the USA and Canada are operated by individuals with any medical or insurance industry background or travel experience. Most operate as healthcare marketing companies that simply promote hospitals and providers who pay them commissions for patient referrals. MHI’s strong acumen in the areas of managed care, case management, predictive modeling, self-funded employee health and wellness benefits, travel logistics and sophisticated infrastructure enable it to offer domestic and international health travel options for employer groups of any size.
“The powerful and comprehensive Practice Fusion EMR system will make our globally integrated patient-centered care operations flow more efficiently and lower the cost to provide care and case management services, says Maria K Todd, MHA PhD, CEO and Founder of the Mercury Healthcare Companies. “We love the fact that we can also share the full Practice Fusion EMR solution with our healthcare providers who have not yet implemented an EMR so they can get their own system absolutely free of charge. It made me grin ear-to-ear to learn that our system is more robust than the one my own primary care concierge physician just implemented costing several thousands of dollars. Ryan Howard and his Practice Fusion team are to be commended for their innovative leadership in health information technology.”
Providers who wish to learn more about how they can obtain Practice Fusion’s EMR system absolutely free through MHI should visit our website’s provider relations section (http://mercury-healthcare.com/prov-rel/freebies/100-free …) for additional details and a no-obligation referral.
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In 2007, Steve Lash, an alumni of USD’s MBA program, read an article in Time magazine called “Outsourcing Your Heart,” about the rise of medical tourism. A year and several articles later, Lash was inspired to launch Satori World Medical, a company that combines medical care with international travel. Satori has what Lash calls their “world headquarters” here in San Diego.
Last Thursday, Lash presented his talk “Medical Travel: Globalization of Health Care Market” at USD as part of the Ahler Center’s International Business Speakers Series. Over lunch, undergraduates, graduates and faculty joined Lash as the President and CEO of Satori spoke about this expanding industry. With a resumé including 25 years of experience in health care, this worldly entrepreneur proves that his unique business model is thriving.
Aside from monetary issues, Lash explained one of the challenges in starting up a business is to “take the business plan, implement it and get people to drink the Kool-Aid.”
“Satori World Medical takes care of the cost,” Lash said, “such as the hotel, airfare and medical procedures.
“Our unique business model includes personal assistance, fixed price health rates and sharing savings with our employees,” Lash said.
Take hypothetical customer named Bob who works for a company of about 2,000 employees. Bob is in his 50s and makes $45,000 a year. An active lifestyle has taken its toll on his hips. In need of a hip replacement, Bob opts for a financially-friendly alternative to medical practices in the United States and chooses to get treated overseas.
Bob registers for Satori World Company by submitting his paperwork online. After guaranteeing approval from his insurance company, Bob selects from one of nine countries including the following: India, Thailand and Turkey. Joint Commission International approves the hospitals in the Satori network, which means that they have to meet or exceed U.S. hospital standards. The biographies of the doctors are all online so that Bob is able to research the qualifications of his favored doctor. Once the schedule is confirmed, Satori makes all travel and hotel accommodations for Bob and his travel companion.
Independent businesses such as these are Satori’s target market. These businesses provide health insurance for their employees, and contracts with Satori enable savings of 40 to 80 percent. Satori equates to the One Stop Student Center, where all out-of-pocket expenses are exempt. Part of the savings made is reimbursed back to the individual through their employers or sponsors.
Lash said that another challenge in start-up was that people were not familiar with Satori’s innovative business model. Satori’s patented Business and Care model “allows all individuals, employers and planned sponsors to share in the financial benefit of global health care.” Even with the travel expenses, procedures with Satori are cost efficient. Total expenses for hip replacement amounts to $60,000 for standard U.S. providers, while total cost for the same need amounts to $20,000 through the Satori network.
“International health care is not for everyone,” Lash said. “A lot of people have a visceral reaction to it. It’s only for a segment of the population.”
Why would someone choose to leave the country to meet his or her medical needs?
Lash explained that in India health care centers compete in price and quality while in the United States they do not. “In India, the middle class is much bigger than in the U.S.,” Lash said. “They’re paying out-of-pocket and hospitals have to compete to win over individuals.”
In addition, Lash stressed the improvement in technology and standards of care in many countries. “Prior to 9/11, a lot of Middle Eastern families were going to the Unites States for medical procedures, after they started outsourcing to India, Thailand and Singapore,” Lash said. “As a result, these countries developed state-of-the-art international patient centers.”
In contrast, Lash said that medical practice in the United States is not what it used to be. “With the third party payer system for health insurance,” he said, “someone else is paying. They’re not paying as much attention.”
According to the World Health Organization’s study, out of 191 countries, the United States ranks No. 37 while France ranks No. 1.
Despite these apprehensions to the health care system in America, many are hesitant to take their health care needs abroad.
“The lack of quality standards, the prominence of malpractice in some foreign countries and the need for financial protection are reasons for apprehension among Americans.” Lash said. “Something might go wrong and the overall insecurity about flights are ever-present in the minds of Americans.”
“The risk, however,” said Dr. T. Somasundaram, Marketing Professor and Manager of USD’s Business of Health Care Initiative, “is that upon return to their home country it may be easy to neglect sensible and necessary post operative activities such as physio-therapy and diet leading to complications.”
Over time, Dr. Soma explained, health care providers in the United States and other home countries will respond by giving away less profitable procedures to off-shore providers and emphasize complex procedures available only in these countries. “This is a classic example of disruptive innovation at work in health care,” Dr. Soma continued .
Still, the health care industry is an explosive market. This year, health care spending in the U.S. is expected to reach $2.5 trillion, more than four times the amount spent on national defense. Those involved in the health care industry, including Lash, ultimately strive for enhanced quality of life.
“What keeps me up at night is making sure that patients continue to have good experiences,” Lash said.
India is fast developing as a medical tourism destination as the countryas orthopaedic surgeons are performing surgeries which are comparatively better and three times cheaper than those done in the West.
This was stated by Padmabhushan Dr K H Sancheti, a pioneer in the field of orthopaedics in the country, while speaking at a seminar organized here on Wednesday to mark the World Arthritis Day.
He said arthritis patients from various countries, including the UAE and Bangladesh, are flocking to India. He also hailed the expertise of Bihari doctors in this regard.
Later in the evening, Dr Sancheti performed a knee-replacement surgery on a 65-year-old patient at a hospital in the city. The patient, Shanti Devi, hails from Muzaffarpur and has been suffering from acute arthritis for the last 15 years.
asDuring the last six decades, peopleas longevity has drastically increased. But due to poor nutrition and lifestyle, many aged persons are suffering from arthritis of various kinds,a? said the doctor who is a former president of the Indian Orthopaedic Association.
He will perform a knee-replacement surgery at PMCH on Thursday. asThe surgery will be performed on CCTV camera and will be watched by the cityas doctors and medicos,a? said Dr Ranjeet K Singh, organizer of the event.
Dos & Donats
Central Zone Orthopaedic Associationas president-elect Dr Amulya Kumar Singh prescribes immediate medical care in case of:
* Stiffness in a joint on getting out of bed or while sitting for long
* Swelling in one or more joints
* A feeling or the sound of a bone rubbing with another
If you suffer from arthritis:
* Diet to control weight as excess weight puts stress on the joints
* Go for immediate treatment of injury to the knee or hip
* Ensure your body gets complete flow of nutrients
* Exercise as it decreases pain and increases flexibility
* Provide rest to joints, prevent stress on them; proper sleep is important
To prevent arthritis:
* Diet to control excess weight; consult doctor if you keep putting on weight
* Immediately treat injury to the knee or hip
* Ensure your body gets complete flow of nutrients.
Medical tourism has emerged as one of the fastest growing market in the Asian countries. When treatment gets delayed or the cost of treatment becomes unaffordable, patients in US, UK and Europe prefer Asian countries such as India, Singapore, Medical Tourism Malaysia, etc. for their treatment. Lower costs of treatment in Asian countries have led to the growth of medical tourism market in these geographies. Consequently, the medical tourism market in Asia is anticipated to generate revenues of around USD 4 billion by the end of 2012.
Factors such as rising affluence and significant technological advancements in healthcare infrastructure have played an important role in boosting the medical tourism market in the country. Our report Asian Medical Tourism - Healthy Opportunity Awaits: An Update covers nine major countries of this region: Malaysia, Singapore, India, Thailand, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea. Our research team at Dion has also identified spa market as an emerging opportunity in the medical tourism space and has included a detailed description of spa segment in the report. The report also highlights major treatments such as cosmetic surgery, dental treatment etc. which are attracting overseas patients to these countries.
The report entitled Asian Medical Tourism - Healthy Opportunity Awaits: An Update provides a comprehensive analysis of the current status and overall growth of the Asian medical tourism market. The report gives an insight into the various trends and developments that are currently taking place in the medical tourism market and substantiates with necessary statistics. With the synchronization of all the factors, the report presents a logical analysis of the opportunities present in the sector. It also provides a competitive landscape of the sector, including a brief overview of the key players.
Key findings in the report include:
India, Singapore and Thailand collectively account for more than 90% of the Asian medical tourism market.
Their share is driven by the investments made by these countries in healthcare infrastructure to meet the increasing demand of accredited medical care through state-of-the-art facilities.
The medical tourism industry in the region is driven by the government support that ensures adoption of high quality standards.
For instance in Malaysia, the Ministry of Health and the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia has formed The Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) which monitors the quality standards followed by doctors, medical practitioner etc.
The spa industry in Asian subcontinent is thriving with India and China acquiring a considerable share of the market. Increasing aging population in Asian countries which seek pain relief and relaxing treatments through spa have largely driven the growth of spa industry in the region
Key Topics Covered:
1. Research Methodology
2. Global Medical Tourism Market: An Overview
3. Asia Medical Tourism Market: An Introduction
4. Key Industry Trends and Drivers
5. Cost Analysis
6. Emerging Opportunity: Spa Industry
7. Key Country Profiles
8. Major Treatments Attracting Patients
9. Competitive Landscape
10. Conclusion
For More Visit: http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5bf990/asian_medical_tour
MIDF Research has maintained its positive view on healthcare sector citing intact business fundamentals, positive earnings growth and defensive play.
It said on Monday, Oct 3 that the defensive health care sector was expected to receive investors’ attention given the current uncertain market outlook.
As an indication, it said that while the GDP contracted 1.6% in 2009, KPJ Healthcare’s revenue and earnings grew by 14.9% and 29.5% respectively.
In addition, it said rising private health care demand and potential in medical tourism Malaysia would continue to drive the sector’s future growth prospects as the government is also putting effort to develop the sector.
“Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) has been established to transform Malaysia into a preferred destination for clinical research in order to tap into global contract research industry worth US$20 billion,” it said.
The research house also said the Entry Point Projects (EPP) was targeting to attract two million medical travellers to Malaysia by 2020 from an estimated 410,000 in 2009.
“We believe the likelihood of economic slowdown moving forward will not affect industry fundamentals. For KPJ, we reckon the company will achieve its revenue target of 10% to 15% in 2012,” it said.
Given KPJ’s track record in terms of five year revenue and net earnings compound annual growth rate (CAGR) at 18.8% and 30.1% respectively, MIDF Research said its expansion strategy of adding one or two new hospitals each year will bode well company’s future growth.
“We also expect KPJ to outperform the market,” it said.
More western Europeans are going abroad for cheaper medical treatment, with France and Germany among the top destinations and cheaper places such as Poland and Bulgaria well-placed to develop medical tourism industries, a report on Friday showed.
A study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) found that France tops the ranking of global destinations for medical treatment. Germany, Sweden and Belgium are also in the top 10.
With ageing populations, the “baby-boomer” generation heading towards retirement, and healthcare budgets being squeezed around the world, the report said the flow of medical tourists, once mainly rich people from developing nations who came to prestigious hospitals in the West, would shift significantly.
As cost pressures in the healthcare systems of rich countries start to bite, this should play into the hands of developing countries keen to develop a medical tourism industry to boost revenues and develop healthcare expertise.
Medical tourism has long been a feature of healthcare, but it has largely been the preserve of wealthy patients from developing nations who travelled to western hospitals to get the best treatment they could buy.
More recently, cross-border travel for fertility treatment, plastic surgery, dental tourism and other treatment has been increasing, bringing with it fears about patient safety.
Scientists said last year that a dangerous “superbug” infection called NDM-1 had was spreading quickly around the world in part because of medical tourism.
Medical Tourism is at current a widespread phenomenon in several components of the world. Some of the most common health-related and healthcare journey areas abroad incorporate South East Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
Health care Tourism in Asia
Medical tourism is huge business in Asia. The industry is forecasted to grow at a complete annual expansion charge of close to 14% in the course of 2009-2012. The nations dominating the region’s healthcare tourism are Thailand, India and Singapore. These three giants had a mixed market place share of close to 90% in 2008. To proceed with statistics, the whole market in Asia is anticipated to attain the mind-boggling range of US$ eight.five Billion by 2013.
The two primary contesters for the healthcare tourism crown in the area are Thailand and India, with obvious distinctions. On average, Thailand’s prices are a bit greater than India’s. Even so, the overall tourist experience is regarded as far better in Thailand, and the services degree fairly higher. For a long time, Thailand was also keeping the best therapy range of foreign individuals. But in current a long time, the Thai industry has declined relatively.
India is identified to be the cheapest country for healthcare tourism in the entire world, and is now also the leader in the subject. The top quality of personnel, healthcare treatment options and machines equals other main locations, which in unison with the decrease fees tends to make it beautiful. Numerous medical practitioners are skilled in the West, and are returning property to operate at the freshly built state of the art hospitals that are opening up all above the place. Even so, the introduction of a cosmetic surgical treatment tax in 2009 has been disadvantageous for India. Nonetheless, in 2012, the appeal of health care tourism to India is anticipated to be as higher as USD 2 billion. The most popular treatments sought in India are bone-marrow transplant, substitute medication, eye surgical procedure, orthopaedic surgical procedure and cardiac bypass surgical procedure.
Nevertheless, there are numerous other nations in the location that attempt to get their share of the health-related tourism pie. South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines all have authorities-backed healthcare tourism plans and are attempting to catch up rapidly. For instance, each South Korea andMedical Tourism Malaysia held large fairs and congresses in the course of 2010. South Korea requires this a action more by permitting foreign traders to run hospitals in the country’s free of charge financial zones. With an investment of USD 315 Million, the nation is also organizing to develop an island for health-related tourism obtaining all kinds of healthcare services accessible for foreigners. South Korea is well-known for cancer treatment method, beauty methods, organ transplantation, joint care, infertility treatment method and dental treatment. The medical tourism sector in Singapore has grown with 11.9 percent over the many years 2004-2008. The region also has a dozen of hospitals and well being centres with JCI accreditation.
Malaysia has a national accreditation healthcare scheme (MSQH), and many Malaysian hospitals are presently on their way of accomplishing worldwide healthcare accreditation. English is commonly spoken, and numerous members of the health care staff have been educated in the U.S. or the U.K.
More east, China and Hong Kong are emerging rapidly as desirable locations for healthcare and wellness. A lot of major hospitals mix Conventional Chinese Medicine with Western health-related technological innovation. Even although geographically small, Hong Kong has several major hospitals, which early on obtained worldwide accreditation.
Sri Lanka is one more region in the region with a enormous prospective to create health care tourism. In 2009, Sri Lanka’s personal healthcare market grew by 23 %.
For clients that are at ease with the thought of health-related tourism, there are great financial savings to be made by heading to Asia for remedy. For instance, the typical expense of angioplasty price about USD 6,000 in Malaysia, USD 11,000 in Singapore and a hefty USD 57,000 in the U.S.
Healthcare Tourism in Europe
Though numerous Europeans decide on to journey quite far for worldwide healthcare, numerous also decide to go for treatment to neighbouring countries. In Europe, Eastern Europe has emerged as a substantial and well-known destination for global healthcare. Its proximity to Western Europe, collectively with excellent infrastructure, language abilities and technology has created East Europe really attractive.
For instance, numerous specialized travel agencies offer you dental therapies that absence the large charge or the bureaucratic and extended methods in the patients’ residence countries.
But sufferers not only go for dental and healthcare therapies. A lot of West Europeans journey to Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic for spa and wellness therapies. Each Prague and Budapest offer you outstanding thermal springs and spa facilities.
Germany has turn into a vacation destination for international sufferers in search of advanced health-related engineering. The charge for healthcare therapy contend nicely with the rest of the European nations, and are considerably reduced than individuals in the U.S. Right after the September 11 attacks in 2001, Germany has grow to be an beautiful vacation destination for patients from the Middle East that have a tough time getting into the U.S.
Health-related Tourism in Africa
In Africa, South Africa is with out doubt the biggest vacation destination for medical tourism or international healthcare. Many South African clinics provide offers wherever individual assistants, visits to therapists, trips to elegance salons, article-operative care in luxury motels and safaris function as extra incentives. Many tour operators have gone as far as promoting “medical safaris”.
Some countries in North Africa have also not too long ago jumped on the health care tourism wagon. Tunisiais one this sort of place.
Health care Tourism in the Middle East
In spite of the political turmoil, Israel is emerging as a well-liked destination for healthcare travelers. The Israel Ministry of Tourism with each other with numerous medical services companies have set out to generate international awareness of Israel’s health-related capabilities. Individuals occur to Israel for processes this kind of as heart surgical treatment, bone marrow transplants, rehabilitation and oncological and neurological treatment options. But it’s not only healthcare procedures that entice vacationers. Psoriasis patients flock close to the Dead Sea, known for its therapeutic resorts.
Turkey has since numerous years attracted healthcare visitors from numerous distinct areas, these kinds of as the Middle East, Europe, the Balkans and the U.S. Turkey also has the best amount of JCI accredited healthcare establishments in the planet except for the U.S.
Another crucial region is Jordan, exactly where 250,000 worldwide clients sought therapies in 2007. A lot of of these came from Palestine, Iraq and Sudan. Therapy price is about 25-40% of the U.S. A study by the World Bank rated Jordan as amount one in the region, and quantity five in the globe for medical tourism.
Healthcare Tourism in North America
Even however one particular may think of North The united states as a continent exactly where patients travel absent from for health-related tourism, this is not truly true. Canada has recently entered the healthcare tourism subject. In comparison to U.S. costs, well being clients can preserve up to 50% on some wellness fees by crossing the border more than to Canada.
And the U.S. itself also enjoys some inbound medical tourism. For instance, in 2008, close to 70,000 health-related travelers travelled to the U.S. to get in-client health care treatment. Several big health-related centres and teaching hospitals supply global patient centres for foreign individuals. Many of these also offer you offers with preparations for transport, funding, accommodation and medical care.
Medical Tourism in the Pacific and Australia New Zealand is one particular of the latest locations for healthcare tourism, and retains numerous benefits appealing to North American clients. The nation has a sophisticated and extensive healthcare program and English speaking medical practitioners in which many retains global coaching. A lot of of the hospitals are internationally accredited and offer you integrated treatment offers. Even though the services degree holds highest worldwide standard, the costs are vastly reduce than the U.S.
Health-related Tourism in Central The united states Costa Rica is the selected location for economical, higher-top quality health-related treatment, and is notably popular for plastic surgical procedure. It is close for Americans, but more costly than numerous of its counterparts.
Cuba was one particular of the countries that first entered the health-related tourism discipline as a main provider. In 2006, almost twenty,000 patients came to the island for therapy. The most popular treatment options in Cuba are beauty medical procedures, cancer treatment method, eye medical procedures, joint alternative and addictions rehabilitation. The fees are up to 70% significantly less than these located in the U.S. Cuba has hospitals catering for Cuban citizens, and other individuals that target wholly on serving foreigners. At existing, no Cuban facility has reached JCI Accreditation.
The closest of the Latin American countries for Us residents is of program Mexico, and many Us citizens now routinely cross the border to Mexico for healthcare. Some of the common specialties include plastic surgical procedure, bariatric medical procedures and dental treatments. Dentist costs are typically a single-fourth of what you would shell out in the U.S, whilst other processes generally price a 3rd of what they would in the U.S. Several American dentists, fearing a decline of enterprise, have lifted concern on the Mexican dental program and details out the bad service and the Mexican legal system that helps make it practically not possible to sue Mexican physicians for malpractice. However, most individuals travelling to Mexico are far more than satisfied with the care and service.
With its near bonds to the U.S, Panama is one more increasing marketplace for wellness tourism. The use of the American dollar as an official currency, the simple fact that most of Panama’s physicians are bilingual, board certified and employed to function with the same medical equipment and technology as Europe and the States are all elements in favour or Panama. The rates are about 50 % of what you pay in Europe or the U.S. As to date, no Panamanian hospitals maintain global accreditation.
Health care Tourism in South America
Medical tourism in South America is mainly cantered on Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil. Brazil has been a centre for plastic surgical procedure for a lot of a long time. The nation is slightly pricier than other destinations, but has a properly-developed healthcare industry on all locations.
Argentina has a flourishing wellness tourism market and ranks substantial for plastic medical procedures. Even so, its geographical position is a issue for several.
Colombia also provides sophisticated care in cardiovascular and transplant surgical procedure.
So many vacation spots for Medical Tourism.
