Are you seeking medical treatment abroad but don't know how to look for the right hospital? Check out our list to find what points you should consider!
Thanks to the growth of medical tourism, people can now go to a lot of destinations for their treatments. The process is not only easy but also relaxing.
However, there exist the difficult decision of selecting a hospital in another country thousands of miles away. There is so little information available, you can only check the websites and compare which one is the best.
Thankfully, we're here to help make this process go smoothly for you.
Here we have made a list of 6 steps you can follow to select the hospital that will be best for your treatment abroad. As a medical tourist, you should prepare a shortlist of clinics or hospitals you'd like to choose from before you follow our steps!
If you already have a shortlist, then let's get straight to it!
1. The Official Standard
Thanks to the benefit of international accreditation, it has minimized the amount of guesswork you would otherwise do when researching for hospitals.
Accreditation helps you not only to evaluate the hospitals but also lets you see whether they're meeting certain healthcare standards or not. This is vital when it comes to choosing a hospital for medical treatment abroad.
The first thing, you should check as a medical tourist or patient, is international accreditation. Some reputed and popular accreditation you should check out is Accreditation Canada International, Joint Commission International (JCI), QHA Trent Accreditation, and Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI).
Meanwhile, here's some Cross-border Telemedicine you can look into as well.
2. Evaluate the Distance
The next thing you should consider is the distance. When it comes to a medical tourism destination, it's important to know if you can travel for long distances given the medical condition.
If it's not a debilitating condition, then you can consider traveling long distances. However, if it is a serious and urgent condition, then consider choosing a destination that's not too far.
Sometimes air travel can also complicate your condition. Make sure to consult with your doctor about the possible risks that are involved with air travel.
Generally, it's wise and beneficial to choose a destination that's within the same continent as yours. You can avoid long-distance traveling, as it'll put less strain on your health if you're coming back after undergoing surgery.
Also, it'll help you to minimize costs too!
3. Consider the Expenses
It's always a good idea to compare the prices of different hospitals before you settle for one. Naturally, a hospital in New Zealand will have different prices than a hospital in Thailand or India.
But then again, hospitals that are in the same country can also have different prices for the same medical condition. So, it's important first to clarify the cost of medical treatment before booking a trip.
You'll save yourself the trouble from spending too much money and come out saving some instead!
4. Review the Safety Levels, Doctors and Hospital Staff
During communication with your chosen hospital, it's smart to ask about the doctor who will treat your condition. You can find the doctor's profiles available on the hospital's website.
Check their profiles for the kind and amount of experiences they have had in the medical field and their basic training qualification. Additionally, you should also inquire after the hospital's staff who will attend to you.
And if you request it, the hospital will also be happy to provide information about the level of safety it has. It's essential to be informed about the safety levels of a hospital before visiting one abroad.
Finally, don't forget to check for accidents and complaints. Read the reviews and research if there have been any recent inspections and infections episodes by any administrative bodies.
5. Learn About the Facilities
Once you've done your research about the doctors, hospital staff, and safety levels, it's time to find out about the facilities they will be providing. Find out if they provide airport pickup or not.
It'll also help to know what languages the doctors speak and if there is a translator available. Ask about the kind of rooms they have available and which type will be assigned to you
You can also inquire if by paying extra you can get certain facilities or not. The idea is to get all the details of the facilities the hospital has available for their patients.
Finding and learning about the facilities will help save you time after you've been admitted to the hospital. Plus, being aware of the facilities will also benefit you from making the right call. So, remember, it certainly helps to be thorough!
6. Medical Technology and Equipment
Lastly, the final thing you should consider is to find out about the information that's related to the procedure you're going in for. The kind of technologies and medical equipment the hospital has available to them and whether they are of the latest standard or not.
You can also ask them to inform you about any new types of procedures they are providing for their patients. It's common knowledge that a good hospital should always strive towards development in the medical field.
Using modern technologies and equipment means they are efficient and also reliable in their duties. This will help you to feel reassured that you made the right choice and that you'll also be getting the best treatment available!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, we'd like to say that before you decide on a hospital, ask yourself which of these 6 things is most important to you when you're going abroad for medical treatment.
Are you someone who thinks saving cost is the top priority? This could mean that the hospital you've chosen might not have state of the art medical technologies available.
If you think health is more important than cost, then it's only fair you should get the best treatment they have to offer to you. Whatever you end up considering, we hope the hospital meets all your criteria and provides the best treatment!
