Copyright © 2008 Medical Travel Today is a publication of CPR Strategic Marketing Communications, a public relations firm based near New York City that specializes in health care and life sciences, with an international clientele. CPR, its partners and clients are at the nexus of where medical travel is today, and where it will be tomorrow. Publisher: Laura Carabello CONTENTS From the Editor: This week in Medical Travel Today, Amanda Haar News in Review: News and links from around the web and around the world… Spotlight:
Perspectives: McKinsey Quarterly Publishes “Mapping the Market for Medical Travel” Industry News: Unotron Calls for Increased Awareness of “Green Technology” During National Health IT Week Healthbase Announces Partnership with South Korean Spine Hospital Boosting Medical Tourism Startup veteran hopes to cash in on medical tourism Leading Spanish healthcare company is first to receive accreditation under new Code of Practice for Medical Tourism India's Largest Private Insurer Partners With UnitedHealth Group to Give Travelers Visiting the U.S. Access to a Broad Array of Health Care Services Destination:
Upcoming Events: The Self-Insurance Institute of America |
THIS WEEK IN MEDICAL TRAVEL TODAY
Volume 2, Issue 16
by Amanda Haar, Editor
Greetings,
In this issue of Medical Travel Today we’re going to open with a domestic approach to the industry. In our first SPOTLIGHT interview we talk with Mark Patton of HealthPlace America and learn how his company evolved from its original vision of global medical travel to travel that keeps patients right here in the U.S.
Next, we talk with Siobhan Palmer of the California Health and Longevity Institute to learn how their approach to wellness is attracting executives across the U.S. and from abroad.
We’ve also got a great conversation between our publisher, Laura Carabello, and Paul Mango of McKinsey & Co. that touches on the highlights of the company’s recent paper on the future of medical travel as presented at Consumer Health World in Las Vegas.
As always, we welcome your thoughts and feedback.
Cheers,
Amanda Haar, Editor
ahaar@cpronline.com
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Mark Patton, Managing Director of Sales and Marketing at HealthPlace America |
Up until now, our attention on treatment and care centers has focused solely on options outside of the United States. However, thanks to HealthPlace America (HPAM), there’s a new and decidedly domestic twist to patient options.
As a recent press release from the company announced, the new HPAM Benefit “delivers the cost savings promised by medical tourism, without the need to leave the U.S.”
We caught up with HPAM’s Managing Director of Sales and Marketing, Mark Patton, to learn more about the company and their latest offering.
Medical Travel Today (MTT): Thanks for your time today. Can you tell us a bit about HPAM and how you got involved in medical travel?
Mark Patton (MP): HPAM, previously known as GlobalChoice Healthcare, was in the process of building the complete infrastructure to offer international medical travel to specialty hospitals as a supplementary benefit for health plans. Our founder, Ken Erickson, pretty much had it all in place—the provider network, the coordination of transportation, booking procedures, record transfer, all of it.
But then, he was approached by a number of American physicians who were asking, why are you sending people abroad when they can have the procedures done here, with highly skilled physicians at top-notch facilities and with the same type of savings you’re getting abroad? This was a big “aha” moment. You suddenly had the people who could provide the care here, working with you to find ways to make it more affordable for patients and employers.
MTT: So how exactly does this work?
MP: We offer the Healthplace Benefit. It’s an additional benefit that sits on top of your health plan. Basically, it provides incentive for patients to use one of the facilities we partner with.
The cost savings come because they provide us with a case-rate all-in that is significantly less than if you had used the traditional network. And the reason they’re willing to do this is because we’re willing to pay upfront, and we provide them patients from all over the country. We are building the first Provider Directed Healthcare Marketplace (PDHM). Providers can, in addition to receiving fees in advance, compete for patients nationwide based on their service, quality, and cost. This is after years of the government and large insurance companies dictating reimbursement to them.
That’s attractive because so many specialty facilities spend months, sometimes years, chasing down payment. We’re dealing with self-funded plans so we’re able to pay upfront, and they’re willing to offer us the rates we need to make this offering work.
And what works is what saves employers money. With this Benefit, you can get what might normally be a $40,000 knee replacement for $25,000, including travel and hotel for the patient and a companion.
Now employees aren’t required to use the HPAM facilities. As beneficiaries, they get access to HealthGrades™. They can compare the hospitals in the HPAM network with their local providers and make an informed choice.
MTT: As I understand it, there’s no increased cost to the patient through this benefit. But what about the employer?
Actually, there are significant savings to the employer, usually around 20 to 40 percent of the current network. What’s exciting is that they can use the savings to provide an incentive for patients to utilize our network. Then everybody wins. The employer appreciates the savings. They can pass some of the savings along to the employees, and the employees get access to the providers with the best outcomes.
MTT: So the incentive is primarily financial?
MP: No, not really. We’re partnered with specialty hospitals. Right now we’ve got orthopedic and cardiac care centers on our roster.
As you can imagine, if you’re going for bypass surgery, you want to go to the place where they do heart surgeries all-day, every day. That’s what we give you. For the employer, that means better outcomes, quicker returns to work, and healthier employees. And they’re giving their employees more choice. One of the complaints employers often hear about health plans is the lack of choice. This health benefit helps overcome that complaint.
On the patient side of things, they get the choice, plus we offer Healthplace America’s Concierge Plus. With the service, we coordinate the entire process. From the minute they make their initial inquiry and all the way to recovery, we follow their care. That’s everything from arranging air travel, hotel, and meeting them at the airport, to assisting with registration at the hospital, handling records, and we even have flowers from their employer waiting for them when they wake up. We believe the concierge approach ensures a better overall healthcare experience.
Plus, we provide a per diem to help with the expense of travel…meals and so forth. In the best-case scenario, the patient gets the best facility and provider for their procedure and a little cash in their pocket at the end. Not that that’s the ultimate reason for choosing this option, but it does happen.
MTT: So it really is domestic medical travel?
MP: Yes. It’s that exactly but better. We have built the Provider Directed Healthcare Marketplace that provides access to high-quality domestic providers. With international medical travel you don’t always get the level of accreditation you’re looking for in a hospital as you do with HealthGrades. Not all companies provide medical advocates to help patients navigate the system, and then there’s the lack of or limit to malpractice insurance.
And you know domestic care simply works much better for some people, especially those who have never been abroad. Getting heart surgery is intimidating enough, add on the whole culture shock, the toll long distance travel can take, and just the unfamiliarity of being in a foreign country. It can be stressful. And the last thing you want to be before having major surgery is stressed.
Our Benefit removes all that’s challenging about traditional medical travel and keeps all that’s good about traditional domestic care.
MTT: Well, thank you. This is a very interesting new addition and twist on the industry. Best of luck.
Siobhán Palmer
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Siobhán Palmer, Director of Operations at the California Health & Longevity Institute |
Another organization that’s making an effort to promote domestic travel with a goal of wellness in mind is the California Health & Longevity Institute (CHLI.org). Opened at the end of 2006, the Institute promotes a proactive and preventive approach to wellness. It attracts clients from across the U.S. and from as far away as Denmark, Iceland, and Japan.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with the CHLI’s Director of Operations, Siobhán Palmer, about the organization and its approach to healthcare. The following is an excerpt of that conversation.
Medical Travel Today (MTT): In the past, much of the coverage of this newsletter has been focused on people traveling to and from places other than the U.S. for care. What is it about your organization that’s drawing them here?
Siobhán Palmer (SP): Well, we’re truly different from traditional Western care, and I think people these days are more aware of the alternatives and are eager to explore them. Plus, as the population ages and as Baby Boomers watch their parents age, they’re thinking about what they can do now to make that stage of life easier on themselves. And that’s what we try to teach them.
Seventy-five percent of chronic diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, are caused by our lifestyle choices. We work on teaching and coaching people how to make better choices now so that they can enjoy their lives more fully now and later.
MTT: So clients coming to you don’t necessarily have an urgent medical condition that needs to be dealt with?
SP: Sometimes they do but not always. The patients that we do see with chronic conditions tend to come with us because they’ve exhausted all the traditional Western treatments for care, and either they’re not working or they want to see if there’s another way to handle them other than a lifelong regimen of pills and so on.
But most of our patients are taking a very proactive approach to their health. They understand that wellness doesn’t have to follow the Western interpretation of simply being “not sick.” They’re looking for a more Eastern approach that defines wellness as “being the best well you can possibly be.” Our programs really blend the best of both philosophies together to create a new “well” that works for each person.
MTT: Tell us a bit about your programs. What should a client expect?
SP: We offer a number of different programs for both individuals and groups. Many of our services are utilized by larger corporations that are interested in making sure their staff stays healthy and well. Companies, like Dole and Amgen, are working hard to promote a culture of wellness, and sending their employees here to really engage in their health does that. Plus, they end up healthier, which definitely helps the company’s bottom line.
Typically, a program runs three to five days. They begin with a complete physical targeting the client’s specific health needs based on age, gender, health history, and current health issues. The thing that clients most often comment on about this portion of their care is the amount of time they spend talking with a doctor. Most often you go to the doctor, report your issue, and they diagnose you and treat it.
Here we take a more thorough and holistic approach to the individual. We need to understand what the issues are that you can’t see in the exam that are affecting this person’s health. We need to understand their behaviors, their lifestyles, and what drives them. Ultimately, we want to guide them on making healthier choices, and that can only be done when you understand the whole person. A do-this-because-I-said-so approach simply isn’t going to work for everyone, certainly not if we’re asking them to adopt a new approach to living for the long-haul.
After the interview with the physician, the patient undergoes a series of diagnostic tests and exams. Again, what they get depends on a variety of factors such as age, gender, history, and current conditions.
Most do the Stress Echo, which is a treadmill with an EKG and an ultrasound of the heart. We also have a colonoscopy suite, which is important as the standard of care is to start screening colonoscopy at age 50 if there is no history of colon cancer in one’s family. Many of our clients are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.
In the radiology suite we have digital mammography, 4D Ultrasound, a bone densitometer, a 64-slice CT scan, and a 3T MRI machine. So, we really can look at people from head to toe and inside out.
I should also mention that as part of the physical we do blood work. We’re looking, of course, for things like high cholesterol and blood sugar issues, but we also routinely test for mercury and risk factors for developing heart disease.
The patient’s care is managed by a team of providers. We have four board-certified internal medicine physicians on staff, a dermatologist, dentists, and our head of complementary medicine is a board-certified internal medicine physician who is licensed in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Other therapies and treatments are also offered at our spa. It’s actually the largest Four Seasons spa in the world.
Plus, we have a variety of coaches.
MTT: What do you mean by coaches?
SP: The exams and testing are just part of what we do. We also teach people how to live. We offer workshops in fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle. We think it’s really important to create a plan for living that people not only understand and value, but is one that they’ll want to—and will be able to—keep up with when they leave here.
To that point, clients work with a registered dietician and learn how to actually cook healthier meals that are easy to make and don’t require any strange ingredients, if you know what I mean.
On the fitness front, we have a team of exercise physiologists, who are great at helping people get started on a program that contributes to their health today and down the road. Each exercise plan is designed for the individual. They focus a great deal on posture, flexibility, core stabilization, and strength and cardio training. So while one guest might leave here with plans to run three miles every other day, another might discover that pilates twice a week is what he or she needs to feel his or her best. It’s all very personalized and customized.
It’s all about teaching people how to make permanent, positive changes.
MTT: It all sounds so lovely, and I hate to muddy the waters, but what’s the story with insurance? Is this type of care covered?
SP: No, it’s an important question. As of now we are not contracted with any insurance companies. For the most part, this is an out-of-pocket expense, although most people do tend to get reimbursed for blood work, radiology, and cardiology tests. Also, many of our clients come here through their company, in which case their care and stay is covered by the employer.
MTT: You mentioned early on that you get guests from across the country and around the globe. How are most people learning about you?
SP: Most of it’s word-of-mouth. On the corporate side, businesses are beginning to recognize how important it is to promote wellness and to keep their people healthy. If they come here and see the value of our approach, they tend to share that with others in their industry.
On the consumer side, people are actively seeking out new ways to care for themselves. Our blend of Eastern and Western care gives them plenty of options, and I think they find that appealing.
MTT: Thank you so much for your time and continued good fortune to you.
Sound Bites: A Conversation with Paul Mango, director, McKinsey & Company
During the recent Consumer Health World meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, Paul Mango unveiled McKinsey’s report on medical travel – and generated some raised eyebrows that the report did not actually reflect the true market size.
Mango shared some of his observations following the presentation, and noted that he is ‘bullish” on the market. He regards the “tourism” piece as a minor matter in the overall opportunity.
Mango did admit that his personal preference would be to stay in the U.S. for medical care and take advantage of the services provided at outstanding academic medical centers.
The market for medical travel:
The uninsured have low barriers to enter the medical travel marketplace, while employers face numerous challenges.
There will be backlash to this movement, particularly among providers and some employee groups such as union members who feel that their jobs may be threatened.
Payers are not likely to this lead this change but will follow and support their customers.
Most likely adopters: the uninsured and employees covered under defined contributions, HSAs and Flexible Spending Accounts where the mindset is, “It’s my money and my health.” Additionally, individuals may pressure their employers to enable medical travel.
U.S. hospitals and other providers are likely to put forth cost structures that match the pricing of international providers.
Key responsibilities for employers:
Safeguarding role…certifying the legitimacy of the opportunity and playing a direct role in ensuring quality. Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation is a good baseline, but all stakeholders will need to understand the potential for positive or negative patient outcomes.
Education and awareness…provide information and education to employees so that they understand the risks and rewards of medical travel. Benefits payers are under siege to perform fiscally – it is no longer simply a matter of pooling risks. With risk shifting in place, plans are handing off to employers who then shift to individuals. By enabling medical travel, payers and employers may be able to present cost-effective opportunities for traveling outside the U.S. for medical care.
“Directives will not work,” Mango advises. “Rather, give employees the information and let them decide.”
Facilitator…encourage employees to make positive behavioral changes that impact health and wellness. Promote a commitment to improving one’s individual health, with targets and timeframes for achieving goals. Medical travel may have a role in facilitating these changes.
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Ruben Toral, CEO and Founder of Mednet Asia Ltd. |
Ruben Toral is a recognized leader in medical tourism and healthcare globalization. Formerly Group Marketing Director for Bumrungrad International, Toral is widely recognized as one of the driving forces behind medical tourism and Bumrungrad’s position as the world’s premier medical tourism destination. Now owner and operator of a healthcare marketing company, Mednet Asia Ltd., Toral has extensive healthcare experience.
Toral shares his perspectives on the growing industry with Medical Travel Today on a monthly basis.
Back in the Spotlight
In the past 30 days, two major consulting companies—McKinsey & Co. and Deloitte Consulting—released self-funded studies on medical tourism, and three major business publications—US News and World Report, Fast Company and BusinessWeek—featured stories on medical tourism.
That’s a lot of eyeballs looking at the same thing. The question is: has anything really changed? Has medical tourism rounded the corner and is it becoming a more viable mainstream option?
The short answer is no, but a qualified no. Some observations:
- The story line really hasn’t changed. The medical tourism story line remains the same. Americans are having more trouble accessing good quality and affordable healthcare; they are traveling to a select handful of overseas hospitals for treatment and coming back home raving about the quality, cost savings and SERVICE. But, no major employer or insurer has fully ‘engaged’ in developing medical travel as a component of its benefits plan, although there is evidence more are looking at it. Figures on the size of the industry vary widely, and concerns about quality, liability and standards are recurring themes.
What is interesting, however, is that the Deloitte surveys suggest that Americans, especially insured Americans, are receptive to traveling overseas for care if quality is similar to what they can get at home and savings are significant. This dovetails with the McKinsey findings, and the importance of getting payors into the game.
- The numbers are not right, but that doesn’t matter. I spoke with many people at the Consumer Health World Conference in Las Vegas (May 5-7) where the McKinsey study was released, and it was clear that no one was ‘happy’ with their estimates on the current size of the medical tourism market, which they estimate at 65,000 – 80,000 patients/year.
I am much more sanguine about the report for a couple of reasons. First, I think McKinsey (and Deloitte) did a service to the industry at-large by examining the drivers behind and the potential of medical travel. Second, the takeaway from the report is that the market potential is significant – around 500,000 – 700,000 patients a year and savings on the order of $20 billion. This is the carrot at the end of the stick.
- The opportunity is much clearer. The McKinsey report was quite clear on the opportunities in medical travel. The report essentially said that the sweet spot for medical travel is: American patients requiring medically necessary procedures where the cost savings are in excess of $10,000. That’s a pretty clear focal point for the industry, insurers and employers to gather around, and suggests that if insurers build products that deliver quality overseas options at significant savings, there is a ready buyer.
- Liability, continuity of care, standards. If the medical travel industry has an Achilles heel, this is it. Employers (and insurers) will not engage until the industry can offer some level of liability protection for medical travelers, continuity of care for patients traveling abroad for treatment, and some basis for measuring the quality and clinical outcomes for treatment overseas. As I have said many times, these are the immediate challenges the industry faces and each challenge has a commercial solution waiting in the wings. Standards measurement is the lynchpin, because people always want to know … what’s the risk?… before taking the next step.
The fact that major US-based consulting companies and business publications are focusing on medical travel is heartening for people like me, who believe that globalizing healthcare delivery will improve it. That said, this hasn’t really moved the dial in any significant way, and won’t until the payors and employers engage and they won’t engage until the industry addresses their core concerns.
The message is clear.
Ruben Toral
Bangkok, Thailand
May 22, 2008
McKinsey Quarterly Publishes “Mapping the Market for Medical Travel”
A recent article in the McKinsey Quarterly by Tilman Ehrbeck, Ceani Guevara, and Paul D. Mango on “Mapping the Market for Medical Travel” explores what motivates today’s medical travelers, the actual size of the market and its potential.
By special permission of the McKinsey Quarterly, Medical Travel Today is happy to supply you with the following “Guest Pass” link to the article. With this link you will be to access to the entire story and supporting graphics without the need to register for the site or provide a password. We are grateful to McKinsey Quarterly for allowing us to provide this special access to our readers.
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/links/29609
New Web Portal and Blog — ‘The Bridge’ – Opens Online Communities for Consumers, Employers and Payers Involved in Medical Travel
DENVER, Co. – May 20, 2008 – With the introduction of BridgeHealth International’s new Web site (www.BridgeHealthInternational.com) and its accompanying blog entitled The Bridge, business leaders and consumers have access to objective, timely information on medical travel. Offering easy-to-find, relevant information on the numerous aspects of medical travel, visitors will learn some of the best ways to access high quality healthcare worldwide and maximize their medical travel experience.
“Today, medical travel is top-of-mind for some of the nation’s leading employers and health plans in response to consumer demand for lower cost, quality healthcare outside the United States,” says Victor Lazzaro, Jr., CEO of BridgeHealth. “As a result of this interest level, the Internet has been flooded with boundless amounts of information that may have created some market confusion. This proliferation of online material has actually made it more difficult to find specific, credible resources or to locate exactly what is needed. We have simplified this process and de-mystified the search.”
Lazzaro points out that in late 2005, a Google search for "medical tourism" returned 326,000 results, while the same search in 2008 produces more than 1.6 million links. Comparably, a search for the two terms "medical tourism" and "cosmetic surgery" in 2005 found 14,900 pages, while the identical search in 2008 returns 122,000 pages of results.
“In creating a new Web site for BridgeHealth, we recognized a back drop of cyber clutter in the area of medical travel information and an overwhelming abundance of medical tourism information,” notes Lazzaro. “This makes it difficult for the discerning visitors to locate accurate, trustworthy sources of information pertaining to their individual or corporate needs. BridgeHealthInternational.com provides rich, timely and relevant content in a way that is easy to navigate, pleasant to view, and worthy of a visitor’s trust.”
Complementing the Web site, BridgeHealth also launched The Bridge, a medical travel and tourism blog edited and moderated by medical tourism expert Jeff Schult, author of Beauty from Afar: A Medical Tourist's Guide to Affordable and Quality Cosmetic Care Outside the U.S. The Bridge will provide ”news you can use," with fresh insights, perspectives and advice from medical professionals and patients who have hands-on experience with medical travel worldwide.
Blog discussions will cover a wide range of topics, with sessions already underway focusing upon the impact of a weak U.S. dollar on medical travel; an interview with Stephanie Sulger, R.N., BridgeHealth's vice president, consumer division, identifying options for stem cell treatment abroad; the future of medical travel; top ten criteria for selecting a healthcare provider outside the United States; and ways in which employers can utilize medical travel to cut healthcare costs and have employees come out ahead.
“This rich forum for active discussion addresses the needs of prospective patients, businesses seeking to learn the value of introducing a medical travel benefit, as well as international medical providers searching for current information,” says Lazzaro.
About BridgeHealth International, Inc.
BridgeHealth International, Inc. (BridgeHealth) is the premier service provider in the burgeoning medical travel industry, founded in with a vision “to create a trusted bridge to the world of international healthcare.” BridgeHealth serves health plans, insurance carriers, employers, third party administrators, individuals accessing benefits via voluntary benefits plans, health and affinity card programs or Consumer Directed Health Care Plans (CDHP), and individual consumers seeking medical travel options. Visit www.BridgeHealthInternational.com.
Consumer Health World Awards Program Announces 2008 Winners
Las Vegas, NV, USA — May 22, 2008 – We are pleased to announce the winners of the Consumer Health World Awards May 2008 Program. A ceremony and reception held on Tuesday, May 6th at The Venetian in Las Vegas, NV served as a forum to announce the winners to the assembled group of healthcare industry leaders. These awards recognize excellence and advancement in service, products and programs that enhance consumers' abilities to manage their healthcare expenditures and enhance healthcare quality.
"I have been involved in the Consumer Health World events and awards since their inception," says Wendy Borow-Johnson, Consumer Health World Chair and current President of BOOMj Inc. "The value of these awards is that they demonstrate what both large and small entities—from health plans to hospitals to provider groups to technology entities—are doing to advance quality and efficiency in healthcare and to improve health and wellness for all of us and our families."
Since 2003, Consumer Health World has been presenting awards to companies, non-profit organizations, foundations, government agencies and academic entities in a variety of categories. Judged by a panel of industry experts, composed of Consumer Health World speakers and advisors, points are awarded to entrants for their innovation, value to intended audience, impact/return on investment, and scalability.
Borow-Johnson continues, "This year, all of our winners showcased projects and advances that can be mirrored in other organizations and really make a difference in the delivery of care and the enhanced role consumers as partners in health now have. Our Best in Show award in particular showcases how a simple advance can have real meaning for individual healthcare consumers as well as the industry as a whole."
The Best in Show Award went to the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups for their TrialCheck®, the nation's premier cancer clinical trials navigation and matching service. The Coalition is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life and survival of cancer patients by increasing participation in cancer clinical trials. TrialCheck® is a service that matches cancer patients to appropriate clinical trials in real time. With the help of partners such as the American Cancer Society and American Society of Clinical Oncology, TrialCheck® now has over 5 million views a month.
Additional honors were awarded to Wockhardt Hospitals Group for "Best International Hospital Website", SNAPforSeniors Inc. for "Best Website for Patient/Consumer Information", E-Duction Inc. for "Best Web Solution for Healthcare Commerce", The Healthcare Scoop for "Best Web Based Tool Promoting Community", White County Memorial Hospital for "Best Wellness Initiative", LabCorp for "Best Health Promotion Initiative", and Healthwise Ix Conversations for "Best Innovation Stimulating Consumer Engagement".
For a complete list of winners, please click here.
High-Profile New York Board-Certified Bariatric Surgeon
Forms Strategic Alliance with IMS Israel
New York, NY/PETACH TIKVA, Israel – May 20, 2008 – A prominent U.S. board certified bariatric surgeon, currently chief of the bariatric surgery service and an attending physicians at a New York-based hospital, is forming a strategic alliance with International Medical Services, Global Ltd. (IMS), a global health care firm specializing in medical travel to Israel (www.medicaltourismforyou.com). This renowned surgeon will provide medical/surgical services at one of Israel’s quality hospitals in the IMS network, presenting an opportunity for individuals to access weight-loss surgery at dramatically lower costs than in the United States or Canada and without a long waiting period.
“This is a breakthrough opportunity for people to access this specialized surgery at a fraction of the cost in the U.S. or Canada, and performed by one of the world’s most qualified surgeons,” says Ira Nissel, founder and CEO of IMS, noting that Israel has emerged as a key, cost-efficient destination for the highest quality medical care. “We are extremely gratified and honored to welcome this physician to the medical community of Israel, which is quickly becoming a destination of choice among medical tourists from the United States and throughout the world.”
Medical-surgical travel packages are now available, including airfare, at no extra cost to prospective patients. Patients can take advantage of these procedures:
Gastric Bypass Surgery: Known as Roux en Y, for this surgery, the stomach is made into a smaller pouch using staples and then connected to the small intestine
Lap-Band procedure: Minimally invasive, this involves the placement of a silicone, adjustable band which is placed around the upper part of the stomach to help control food intake.
About IMS (www.medicaltourismforyou.com)
International Medical Services Global, Ltd. (IMS) specializes in uniquely customized medical travel to Israel. Founded in 2007 by Ira Nissel, CEO, IMS offers a full range of medical services to children and adults and provides a completely personalized treatment and travel experience.
The company also aims to advance the image of Israel as a global leader in medical treatment, research, and technological development.
Unotron Calls for Increased Awareness of “Green Technology” During National Health IT Week, June 9-13, 2008
Dallas, TX – May 21, 2008 – With a focus on “green technology” and its important role in mitigating the spread of infectious disease in hospitals and healthcare settings worldwide, Unotron, Inc. (www.unotron.com), the originator and international leader in manufacturing and marketing of washable data input devices, calls for increased awareness of its value to our nation’s healthcare system during National Health IT Week, June 9-13, 2008. Unotron points to its patented SpillSeal® technology, including washable keyboards, mice and smart card readers, as a prime example of innovative technology since it can be cleaned and disinfected without injuring functionality.
“National Health IT Week brings together public and private sector organizations that are looking to improve healthcare efficiency, quality, cost-effectiveness, and patient safety through the adoption of interoperable HIT,” says Nancy Makoben, director of sales for Unotron. “This is an ideal time to create awareness of green computing and its value in ensuring patient safety while reducing costs. Unotron aligns with this week-long observation and applauds the efforts of industry stakeholders to press forward with new initiatives which enhance interoperability and interconnectivity.”
Makoben explains that Unotron technology eliminates the need for plastic computer keyboard skins which must be continuously discarded and replaced. Unotron keyboards and mice are easily cleaned with a hospital grade disinfectant, not only eliminating the need for keyboard covers that ultimately collect in landfills but also protecting healthcare environments from the spread of MRSA and other deadly viruses.
“We regard this technology as one of the greatest advances of this decade in healthcare IT and an outstanding example of innovation,” she says.
Makoben points out that many hospitals and other healthcare facilities have traditionally used plastic covers on their keyboards to improve sanitation and mitigate the spread of infection – including MRSA. But these skins proved to be expensive, inefficient, and must be discarded regularly.
“Some hospitals were actually discarding their keyboards after every use in order to halt the spread of these deadly germs,” she notes. “This not only creates waste, but also costs the hospital $10-20 per cover. The price of the Unotron washable keyboard is equivalent of to two to three plastic covers.”
Unotron technology is fast-becoming a strategic imperative to ensure a more hygienic environment in virtually every area of a healthcare facility. Further supporting green computing, Unotron has received certificates for all of its products indicating compliance with the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) standards. UNOTRON® has taken all reasonable steps to confirm suppliers' statements regarding the absence of the restricted substances, and maintains an audit trail of relevant documentation to support this.
Unotron joins industry vendors, hospital and provider organizations, payers, pharmaceutical/biotech companies, government agencies, industry/professional associations, and consumer protection groups that are united in National Health IT Week. The week includes several partner events including the HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) Summit, HIMSS Advocacy Day, The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Telehealth and Healthcare Informatics Technology Showcase, a Capitol Hill press conference, and The Center for Information Therapy Seventh Annual Conference.
About Unotron
With 30 years of OEM manufacturing experience, Unotron maintains a global footprint with offices located across North America, Europe and Asia, making everyday computing clean and safe for organizations around the world. Unotron designs, manufactures and markets high quality, washable data input and security devices that are easily cleaned and disinfected to mitigate the spread of infection in healthcare, education, commercial and government environments. Unotron holds patents for SpillSeal® technology and draws upon a catalogue of patents in automated manufacturing systems and office products. For more information, visit www.unotron.com or call 800.469.7440.
Healthbase Announces Partnership with South Korean Spine Hospital
Boston-based medical travel facilitator, Healthbase Online Inc. and Wooridul Spine Hospital (WSH) of South Korea have partnered to provide uninsured and underinsured Americans, Canadians and others with more affordable spinal treatment solutions.
To learn more about this new partnership, visit: http://www.healthbase.com.
Startup veteran hopes to cash in on medical tourism
By Getahn Ward, Tennessean.com, April 25, 2008
Since moving here in the early1980s to help run a managed-care startup with Gov. Phil Bredesen, Stryker Warren has made a name for himself starting and growing companies that aim to bring technology and efficiency to healthcare.
A year after leaving his most recent venture, CIMplify Inc., which provides management services for healthcare practices, Warren is looking to ride the growing trend of medical tourism.
Amid rising healthcare costs, more health plans and insurers are beginning to warm to the idea of seeking medical care abroad. Proponents cite statistics such as surgeries overseas that generally cost 60 percent less than in the United States.
"There's a pretty compelling argument for how to take advantage of the world being flat," said Warren, chief executive of his latest venture, Atlas Health System.
The Nashville-based company plans to charge clients, such as health plans and employers, a fee for arranging travel to healthcare facilities in other countries that it has approved as meeting specific quality standards. The company would help to determine on the front end those patients who would make good candidates for treatment overseas and, upon their return, continue to monitor them.
Paul Keckley, executive director with the Washington, D.C.,-based Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, expects double-digit growth in outbound medical tourism as employers encourage use by workers and international providers demonstrate that their services are as good as those here.
"It's a trend aligned with consumerism in the U.S. health system focused on increased convenience, improved access and service, and lower costs," Keckley said.
Despite the potential cost savings, concerns about quality and questions about differences between the legal systems of the United States and other countries have held back growth in what is estimated to be a $60 billion global market for outbound medical tourism.
"They're going to have to publish very specific statistics demonstrating that their clinical performance is as good as the quality of care in the best institutions in the U.S," said Joseph Marlowe, a senior vice president at Aon Consulting. "We're talking about mortality (rates), complications, infections — that type of thing."
Accreditation is vital
Accreditation of overseas healthcare facilities by organizations, including the nonprofit Joint Commission International, has helped address quality concerns. Atlas also plans to use its expertise to designate "Centers of Excellence" for medical centers abroad.
In addition, AOS Assurance Co. plans to offer coverage of up to $1 million for patients who experience a medical malpractice during surgery overseas, a move that could help bolster the medical tourism industry by providing for legal recourse after a patient returns.
"Because healthcare costs are going up, it's one way to help their employer groups," said Paul Laverty, co-founder and director of AOS Assurance Co., which shifted the target of its product from individuals after seeing little interest in a previous launch.
Healthcare insurers, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Tennessee, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare are exploring or offering a medical tourism product. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina has a subsidiary that provides its members help with arranging travel and care in foreign locations.
Aetna has a pilot program with supermarket chain Hannaford Bros. Co. of Maine that involves hip and knee replacements. Peter Hayes, director of associates' health and wellness for Hannaford, said as many as six employees are considering using the service.
Essentially, the program involves paying airfare and lodging for the patient and a companion. Under IRS guidelines, up to $10,000 of travel-related medical expenses are tax-free to the patient. Hannaford expects savings of around $3,000 each for both the company and employee, Hayes said.
Not all are keen on idea
Not all employees have warmed to the idea of traveling overseas for surgeries.
Two years ago, Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. of Canton, N.C., was set to send an employee to India for gallbladder and shoulder surgeries. But the trip was canceled after the union that represented its employees objected.
Alan Jones, president of Local 507 of the United Steelworkers, said that the union had issues with ensuring members' legal rights in case of a mishap. "We're continuing to have our jobs outsourced,. We definitely don't need to have our healthcare outsourced either," he added.
Warren sees Atlas handling 400 cases in its first year, mostly major elective surgeries and some cosmetic surgeries. With that volume, the company could bring in $1.5 million annual revenue.
In addition to employers and health plans, Atlas also plans to work with retirees. Warren said that in the future the company could own facilities close to the U.S. border focused on specific surgical procedures.
To cover operational expenses for Atlas' first year to 18 months, Warren is seeking to raise $3.5 million — something that's a challenge because investors have become more skittish after the recent credit market turmoil.
Warren, however, is convinced that Atlas can thrive because rising healthcare costs are putting more pressure on employers, employees, and retirees.
"Everyone is beginning to become much more aggressive in their due diligence regarding the options they have for the provision of care," Warren said.
Leading Spanish Healthcare Company is First to Receive Accreditation Under New Code of Practice for Medical Tourism
Mills & Mills Medical Group, the leading Spanish healthcare facilitators for medical tourists, has become the first clinic to receive accreditation under the new Code of Practice for Medical Tourism recently launched by Treatment Abroad.
The Code of Practice for Medical Tourism, the first of its kind in the industry, has been set up to encourage the adoption of best practice in medical tourism through the commitment of international healthcare providers to a voluntary code of practice.
David Mills of Mills & Mills Medical Group said, “We are delighted to have met the standards set out in the code and to receive accreditation from the new Code of Practice for Medical Tourism. It has always been of paramount importance to us that our patients have access to as much impartial endorsement and information as possible about us as a facility and treatment provider.”
Medical tourism is growing rapidly throughout the world and by agreeing to adhere to a code of “best practice” healthcare providers are giving patients the reassurance and accountability that they need when making healthcare choices.
Keith Pollard of Treatment Abroad comments, “At a time when medical tourist numbers are rising rapidly, transparency and patient accountability are crucial to the continued success of this industry. Since launching the code, we have had an excellent response from healthcare providers. There was clearly a need for self-regulation and it is through a commitment by overseas healthcare providers to this voluntary code of practice that we can give an even greater level of information to patients considering treatment overseas.
“We know that the majority of clinics already provide a very high standard of care to its patients. The recent 2008 Treatment Abroad survey of medical tourists revealed that 96 percent of patients who had overseas treatment would return to the same treatment provider; adoption of the Code of Practice for Medical Tourism will make it even easier for patients to make the right choice of provider.”
For more information about the Treatment Abroad Code of Practice:
http://www.treatmentabroad.net/medical-tourism/code-of-practice
About Mills & Mills Medical Group
Mills & Mills Medical Group is a leading international cosmetic surgery, aesthetic medicine, and cosmetic dentistry company in Marbella, Spain. Mills & Mills Medical Group was founded by David and Debra Mills, respected professionals who have over 25 years experience in the British cosmetic surgery industry. The company is just over two years old, and its success has been phenomenal. This is due to the high standard of care and the offer of a “patient care guarantee” to all patients, which is not offered by any other cosmetic surgery clinic abroad.
India's Largest Private Insurer Partners With UnitedHealth Group to Give Travelers Visiting the U.S. Access to a Broad Array of Health Care Services
Minneapolis, MN, US (March 4, 2008) – UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) and ICICI Lombard, India’s largest private general insurance company and second-largest health insurer, are partnering to provide ICICI Lombard’s policyholders traveling to the United States with access to UnitedHealthcare’s programs and services.
Through this initiative, any of ICICI Lombard’s 1.6 million policyholders traveling to the United States who are covered by the insurer’s Overseas Travel Insurance or Student Overseas Medical Insurance will have access to UnitedHealthcare’s Options preferred provider network, as well as medical management and organized resources that align to their health needs. All of this helps millions of people take charge of their health.
The partnership with ICICI Lombard illustrates the increasingly global nature of today’s healthcare marketplace in which health companies are offering broader access to more innovative healthcare solutions for a more mobile population. UnitedHealth Group’s growing global business is helping lead this trend by offering expatriate coverage for both U.S. and international foreign companies.
A recent independent study by SK&A Information Services, Inc., a leading provider of healthcare information solutions and research, found that U.S. physician offices accept UnitedHealthcare insurance more than any other plan.
Sudhir Menon, Head, Travel Insurance, ICICI Lombard, said: “This partnership is an innovative benefit for Indians who are increasingly traveling abroad for both occupational and educational purposes. We are committed to continuously enhancing our service and value proposition, and we look forward to leveraging the assets of UnitedHealth Group to deliver the best in service and resources to our customers throughout their travels to the United States.
Ori Karev, CEO of UnitedHealth International, said: “Our new partnership with ICICI Lombard is an important step in making access to cross-border healthcare more seamless for consumers, a model we are exploring in multiple markets. ICICI Lombard is an outstanding partner committed to enhancing the quality and access to healthcare for its members. We believe Indians traveling overseas will have peace of mind knowing that, when they visit the U.S., their healthcare needs will be met.”
DESTINATION
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UPCOMING EVENTS
BridgeHealth International to Host “What You Should Know About Medical Travel”
BridgeHealth will host a free one-hour online seminar on Friday, May 30, 2008, at 11 a.m. MDT.
Hosted by BridgeHealth’s Stephanie Sulger, RN, MS vice president of consumer division, and Will Garin, vice president of marketing.
The seminar will explore consumer-oriented topics including:
* Why medical travel?
* Is quality care really available internationally?
* What kind of savings are we talking about?
* What is the client experience?
* Where can I go for care?
* What kind of procedures can I get done?
* Is this really a good idea for me?
The program will also include a Question and Answer session with the hosts.
To register for this free seminar, visit: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?rfe=uuk9g49h7i8w&udc=uymp990uko01
EC to Hold e-health Management Workshop June 9, 2008
The European Commission will hold a workshop on e-health management, organized by the ePractice.eu portal – the EC’s web service for the professional community of eGovernment, eInclusion, and e-health practitioners.
The workshop will be facilitated by e-health experts and will be introduced by a high-level keynote speaker, still to be confirmed.
Three different e-health cases will be introduced briefly before the workshop divides into three breakout sessions in which each case is explored in further detail. A number of core issues and questions will be discussed throughout the day.
The three cases will focus on the macro government level, centered on Britain’s NHS service, the institutional hospital level, presented by the Hospital Catalonia in Spain, and the clinical to patient level, focusing on electronic patient records.
The aim of the workshop is to review IT management issues, with a core focus on e-health.
It is geared to two sets of people - those with a particular interest in e-health and those with a general interest in public services and their use of information and communication technologies.
Especially welcome are health service managers and executives, public sector officials, civil servants, ICT managers, designers, and implementers.
Key questions relating to e-health and IT implementation will be discussed. These are:
* How was your e-health initiative developed; the technology chosen and taken up; and the preparation of implementation launched?
* Who is leading the introduction; how are decisions taken; and how is IT represented on the corporate board?
* Who is participating in the implementation; how is continuous improvement managed: and who is responsible?
* Which group(s) is (are) most resistant, if at all; and how is overcoming this resistance managed?
* If completed, what are the major lessons learned from the experience; and what could have been done differently?
The event will be held in July and is free of charge. For further information and registration, please visit: http://www.epractice.eu/workshop/e-healthmanagement.
SIIA Schedules International Conference in Barcelona on June 10-12, 2008
The Self-Insurance Institute of America, Inc. (SIIA) has scheduled a new international conference in Barcelona, Spain on June 10-12, 2008.
SIIA's Global Self-Insurance & Alternative Risk Transfer Executive Forum will highlight self-insurance and alternative risk transfer (ART) opportunities that are emerging on multiple continents. An internationally stellar cast of business leaders will lead seminars at the Hilton Barcelona Hotel.
This new stand-alone conference comes on the heels of a successful international track of educational sessions incorporated as part of the organization's most recent National Educational Conference & Expo, held last year in Chicago.
"Alternative risk transfer, including self-insurance, now comprise the majority of all property-casualty and employee benefits coverage plans in the U.S., and we expect that to expand to the rest of the world," said SIIA President Dick Goff in announcing the Barcelona conference. "In addition to a splendid educational and business development opportunity, attendees will have the opportunity to explore one of the world's richest cultural and historic centers."
SIIA's International Committee has worked to develop a seminar program that will appeal to risk managers and professional service providers throughout the world. The committee members represent seven nations in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
"The emergence of seamless global communications technologies have enabled us to work together as easily as if we were present in the same room," said Committee Chair Brij Sharma, CEO of Tela-Sourcing, Inc. of Baltimore, and owner of a TPA in India.
"Our objective for the Barcelona conference program was to introduce self-insurance/ART strategies and coverage concepts to people throughout the world and to provide SIIA members access to markets and service resources that are available in other countries," Sharma said. "The conference represents a true global collaboration."
Global risk management leaders that will appear at SIIA-Barcelona include the following:
* Patrick Leroy, CEO of International Assistance Group of Paris
* Armando Baez, vice president of Global Benefits Group of Foothill Ranch, CA
* Ken Barrett, CEO of Besso Re Ltd. of London
* Mike Clifton, Head of U.S. Casualty, Aspen Re
* Christopher N. Disparo of the Chubb Group, Warren, NJ
* Ricardo Faerman, CEO of Argentina Salud y Vida, Cia of Buenos Aires, Argentina
* Hector Gueler, Partner, Fernando Mesquida & Associates, Buenos Aires, Argentina
* Walid Hassassou, vice president of business development of GlobeMed Ltd.of Lebanon
* Chacko Kurian, president of JPN Associates, Inc. of Warrenville, IL
* Daniel J. Lebish, president and CEO of HM Insurance Group of Pittsburgh, PA
* Bill Maloney, Principal, Mercer Human Resources Consulting, Phoenix, AZ
* Fernando Adrian Mesquida, President, Fernando Mesquida & Associates, Buenos Aires, Argentina
* Elio Moccia, CEO, Generali International
* Girish Rao, CEO of Swiss Re Healthcare Services Pvt. Ltd. of Bangalore, India
* Tom Sackville, CEO, International Federation of Health Plans, London; and Sharon Welsh, managing director of Aetna Global Benefits of Phoenix, AZ
For more information, visit: http://www.siia.org/files/public/ScheduleOfEvents.pdf
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