Medical Travel Today

THIS WEEK IN MEDICAL TRAVEL TODAY
Volume 3, Issue 9
by Amanda Haar, Editor

We start this week's issue with an invitation to readers to write. Specifically, we're looking for opinions on two recent news stories addressing the outcomes of procedures performed at bariatric surgery centers that bear a distinction of 'excellence,' either self-designated or otherwise. We invite you to read both stories under INDUSTRY NEWS and pen us a few words on your opinion about such distinctions and whether you think they truly translate to value and safety for consumers.

In our SPOTLIGHT section we feature a conversation with Bruce Fairchild of Kahler Hotels of Rochester, Minn. The hotel's parent organization has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Mayo Clinic and has recently expanded its guest services to address the needs of a growing international patient base. Dubbed a 'healthtel,' the Kahler properties are at the forefront of creating truly patient-designed (versus patient-adapted) accommodations.

Plus, we've got the latest news on developing trends, panels, and studies on the industry.

Risk Management for Medical Travel
Tracy Simons, President, Custom Assurance Placements, Ltd.
David Boucher, President, Companion Global Healthcare

Medical travel as an alternative and cost savings medical treatment option is making a significant presence in medical care management. Many individuals and employers are considering the risks involved when weighing the benefits. Employers thinking about amending their benefit plans to encourage their employees to travel to JCI-accredited hospitals abroad are considering the possibility of unintended consequences, either as a result of the procedure or in making the international journey to receive medical care. Employers want to make sure they have a solid risk management plan to protect themselves and their employees.

Some employers and individuals may have concerns with the international legal process if they find it cumbersome to sue a provider in an overseas locale. Additionally employers want to be sure they and their Directors and Officers are protected if the employee decides to sue them.

To date, there does not seem to be a legal precedent recorded that could guide injured parties to who is responsible for a bad outcome from the employee’s decision to pick an international care benefit option through an employer plan. Even though many facilitators have done a credible job using JCI-accredited providers, the risk, as it is here in the United States, for medical malpractice still exists. Overseas hospitals have worked hard to accommodate “US style” limits. However, overseas court systems are not as rewarding and access to them is not as easy.

Most of us in the medical travel industry are innovators and, hence, stand on the bleeding edge of progress. Many of us are aware of the risks involved when developing a new concept and we know what risk is required to accomplish a goal.

We have found that travel service providers are working hard to establish “gold” standards for services including developing overseas networks of accredited facilities.
In response to risk management concerns, staff from Companion Global Healthcare and Custom Assurance Placements (CAP) has worked for over a year to develop risk management solutions for Companion Global Healthcare, other medical travel facilitators, employers, and international hospitals. In the spirit of cooperation and common sense, Companion assisted CAP throughout this process so that any interested patient or employer might now have answers to the questions posed above.
Similar to a travel agent, we think that medical service providers may have a liability which stems from the professional services provided to the medical traveler. Professional liability policies are NOW available for the service providers.

Secondly, individuals now have the ability to purchase travel accident insurance which includes medical complication benefits. Limits on the Global Protective Solutions (GPS)sm product range from $50,000 to $250,000. As this product develops, higher limits will be available. This policy is designed to cover an accidental outcome with set limits chosen by the traveler. Endorsements to cover travel companions are also incorporated in the program. The policy includes accidental death, dismemberment, disability, repatriation of mortal remains, emergency evacuation and medical expense coverage. With specific medical procedure complications coverage to include costs of corrective surgical treatment, additional travel expenses, dependent and family coordination, residence modification, rehabilitation and more.

Finally, employers who sponsor an international medical care option on their self-funded group coverage now have liability insurance options. GPSsm has added an employer liability policy to the product offerings. This product is a melding of a professional liability policy and a managed care liability policy meant to protect the employer if they are deemed liable in medical travel accident. Limits are available readily to $5 million and excess limits can be purchased in some instances. This policy is also growing and changing with the industry. US employers will have no trouble gaining access to the product and Canadian employers will need some local representation to assist with the placement of this policy. In any event, Custom Assurance Placements can help guide you through this process.

In conclusion, whether the accidental injury is a result of a medical procedure, a transportation accident or another unforeseen accidental injury, insurance is now available to manage the risk for all the parties. The insurance products that mitigate the possible liability should open this industry up as a whole and really be the catalyst that moves this trend to the forefront.

Contributors:
Tracy H. Simons, President
Custom Assurance Placements, Ltd.
A Specialty Lines Insurance Broker
PO Box 5736, Columbia, SC 29250-5736
Phone: (803) 799-1770, Fax: (803) 799-1817
www.GlobalProtectiveSolutions

David Boucher, MPH, FACHE
President and Chief Operating Officer
Companion Global Healthcare
I-20@Alpine Road, AX -724
4101 Percival Road
Columbia, SC 29219
803-264-3256
803-264-7063 (fax)
David.Boucher@CompanionGroup.com

In a recent issue of Medical Travel Today we featured a press release from the Kahler Hotels in downtown Rochester, Minn.

The Kahler Hotels, whose flagship properties include the Kahler Grand Hotel and a luxury property called the International Hotel, have a long history of catering to medical patients of Mayo Clinic.

Known as “healthtels,” the Kahler properties provide patients and their families with wellness-oriented services and amenities throughout their stay. With an increase of international patients in the past few years, the Kahler has taken steps to ensure their amenities and services meet the needs of their diverse client base.

We recently had the opportunity to talk with Bruce Fairchild, regional director of Operations at Kahler Hotels, about the organization's unique approach to the guest experience.

Medical Travel Today (MTT): When did the Kahler first become involved in or aware of the opportunities in medical travel?

Bruce Fairchild (BF): That really pre-dates me by quite a bit. When the Mayo brothers started the clinic in the 1900s, they knew they needed a hotel to accommodate incoming patients and they invited John Kahler to build that first hotel. In fact, the first Kahler hotel was really a combination hotel/rehabilitation center. It even had an operating room on the third floor.

The next incarnation of the hotel, which opened in 1921, was even more patient-oriented. It featured a 210-bed hospital with operating suites for oral, plastic, and general surgery, a 150-bed convalescent unit, and a 220-room hotel.

After the Great Depression and the war, it became clear that the hotel needed to operate more like a hotel and less like a hospital if it was going to make a profit. But by that time, the bonds between the Kahler and Mayo Clinic were longstanding and strong. And, just as important, patients and medical professionals recognized the level of care provided by Kahler and a standard of excellence was set.

MTT: What percentage of your current client based is comprised of international patients?

BF: Seventy percent of our business is related to people receiving medical care, and I'd say 10 percent of our total guest base is made up of international guests.

Canada represents the largest percentage of our international guests, but we see a significant number of guests from the Middle East as well. Last year Mayo Clinic attracted 5,300 international patients to Rochester, the majority of who stay in Rochester anywhere from four nights to a couple months. Once they've come, they tend to come back again and again. Some of our guests have actually been coming for 30 to 40 years.

Mayo Clinic offers a method of treatment that's not matched by many other places. How often does a patient get to spend such quality time with their physician for a medical exam? People find this very reassuring and they appreciate the attention. They appreciate it enough to return every year for their routine exams, for the essential care, and to bring family.

BF: It's a term we developed as a team. As we talked about the hotel and why people come here, we hit upon the fact that they really come because they want to get healthy. So we blended the health element with hotel and got healthtel.

MTT: With whom did you consult about the specific needs and requirements of creating a healthtel?

BF: We usually hold a variety of focus groups with key people at Mayo Clinic. We also network with a variety of people in the health care industry, including doctors, administrators, and others who deal with the day-to-day needs of patients. We talk to the professionals in small groups to find out what they're hearing from patients and identify emerging patient needs and concerns.

We have also shaped our services by learning from others. Over the years I've traveled to different clinics and facilities and the hotels that serve them around the world to understand what they do and how they do it. We're constantly looking for ways to get smarter and better.

For example, when we opened our luxury property, the International Hotel, we spent a lot of time studying international cuisine and culinary arts. Because the Middle East is a big market for us, we consulted with a team of native Middle Easterners throughout the entire menu development. Upon completion of the menu, one individual said a dish was "as good as my mom makes." I'd call that hitting the mark. But, as with all of our other customized services, it took effort, it took refinement, and it continues to take refinement.

One other interesting culinary area is coffee. We actually strive to tailor the style of coffee we serve to where people are from. The ways to prepare coffee and serve it are almost endless. Even in just one region of the world, the Middle East for example, there are numerous varieties of coffee.

The little details like this may not sound important, but they are. When guests come to Rochester, they're open to eating the local cuisine and trying the American version of coffee the first few days. But after those days are up, they get almost homesick. And when guests are dealing with illness, they want to feel nurtured. At the International Hotel, we make the effort to make them feel as at home as possible.

For some guests, that might mean bringing their own chefs. We can accommodate that, too.

MTT: What specific services do you offer medical guests that typical guests might not avail themselves of?

BF: Our hotel rooms have a variety of adaptive things. Many of the rooms are ADA compatible and have roll-in showers, grab bars, and so on. In others, we have recliners for guests who can't sleep in a bed. We have oxygen available for those who need it.
We're also in the process of testing a couple of allergen-reducing programs for guests with allergies or asthma. We have a vast inventory of medical devices available for our guests, including wheelchairs and scooter-type devices.

We also cater to a number of different dietary needs. Our guests often have dietary restrictions because they are preparing for tests or procedures. We offer a healthy “Right Choice Menu” that was developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic dietitians, who are accustomed to modifying and creating meals depending on the type of request.

But more than things and services, we recognize that each patient's need and issue is truly unique. We make it a point to cater to the individual's needs and assist them in the most comprehensive and confidential way.

One big advantage of staying in our hotels is the fact that we are connected to Mayo Clinic by an underground pedestrian walkway. We're located directly across the street from the Clinic, which means our guests can simply exit their room, go down the elevator, walk the corridor, and find themselves in Mayo Clinic’s lobby. For those guests in wheelchairs, our bellman will personally wheel them from their room to the admission desk. When they're procedure or recovery is complete, they're simply returned to our lobby or room in the same manner.

It really couldn't be any easier to get to and from Mayo Clinic for admission and recovery.

BF: We no longer have medical staff on-site due to insurance issues, but our staff is trained to deal with all kinds of emergencies. If there's a need, the response time is extremely quick due to our proximity to the hospital.

At the International Hotel we have an "Ask Mayo" button on the guest phones. The button connects guests to a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic 24-hours a day. The nurse can dispatch an ambulance if necessary, change a prescription, get in touch with a doctor, reschedule an appointment, and so on. Guests are reassured that if need be, medical care is available for them with the touch of a button.

MTT: Are there any particular types of patients you cannot or will not accept?

BF: Not really. Occasionally we have patients who need nursing care and we can arrange for that. Sometimes a VIP will want a suite to recover in, so Mayo Clinic will work with us to accommodate that. Both organizations are interested in providing the right kind of care in the right setting for the patient. Between our hotels and Mayo Clinic, we're able to meet any patient need.

MTT: Is your recruitment effort mostly through your relationship with Mayo Clinic or are you working with any medical travel facilitators?

BF: The majority of our recruitment comes through Mayo Clinic, but we do work with some health care facilitators, particularly those overseas. We work directly with embassies in Washington D.C. and visit them three to four times a year. Most recently, a colleague and I spent 10 days in Dubai talking to a variety of health care professionals in the Middle East who refer people to Mayo Clinic. We visited with key folks at a medical center and several business leaders. We also met with a lot of providers and travel professionals.

That's the second trip we've made to the Middle East, and it's proving to be very worthwhile.

MTT: Are you finding you are caring for patients seeking a particular type of care?

BF: No, not any one area. Mayo Clinic is very diverse so we see a wide variety.

BF: We've definitely seen growth, especially from international guests. Last year all of our properties’ numbers were up against the previous year. I attribute most of that growth to word-of-mouth marketing. People seem to really like the visitor experience they have both at our hotels and at Mayo Clinic.

One of the best parts about staying at the Kahler Grand or the International Hotel is that our guests are so close to Mayo Clinic. Medical appointments are often a couple of hours apart, leaving patients in limbo while they wait for the next appointment. What's different about the experience we offer is that we have over 100,000 square-feet of retail space right here. That includes a bookstore, a pharmacy, a hair salon, a full service health spa, and numerous independent retailers. Guests can get a test done, come here and browse or shop, or even buy a snack. It's good use of time and can provide a needed distraction. Patients love it and many cite it as a significant, positive part of their experience.

And for those who are weary from travel or just not feeling well, our hotels are close enough that they can come back to their room and rest without feeling rushed or worried about missing the next appointment. Their room is just a few steps away.

MTT: What kind of developments are you working on to improve future guest experiences?

BF: Right now we're testing five rooms with a new style and design. We're looking to create an accommodation that provides the essentials of a handicap accessible room but that doesn't look or feel like one. Again, we're trying to give the customer a sense of luxury and pampering, rather than feeling like a patient. It's a bit of hiding the function behind the form, but we're excited about it.

About Bruce Fairchild
Fairchild’s award-winning hospitality career began in the 1970s. And since, hotels and resorts in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, and Texas have all watched their profits and guest scores rise during his tenure. In 2003, Fairchild ventured to Rochester, Minn. to accomplish even more for the city while providing first-class service for guests of the hotels surrounding the Mayo Clinic.

As the regional director of operations for Sunstone Hotel Properties, Fairchild manages daily operations for five hotels - Kahler Grand Hotel, International Hotel, Kahler Inn & Suites, Marriott Rochester at Mayo Clinic, and Residence Inn Rochester Downtown - which account for nearly 75 percent of downtown Rochester’s hotel rooms.

For more than 30 years Fairchild has worked in the hospitality industry, consistently bringing about an increase in revenue, occupancy, and the bottom line while managing multi-million dollar renovations at hotels and resorts in Illinois and Minnesota. Fairchild’s most recent renovation, the International Hotel, has brought first-class hospitality to guests from around the world while offering personalized services and tailoring to the needs of international travelers.

An active representative of the community, Fairchild is past chair of the Rochester Convention & Visitors Bureau, as well as a member of the board of directors for the Minnesota Lodging Association. Fairchild, a certified hotel administrator, earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant administration from the University of Missouri.

EDITOR'S NOTE: On Monday, April 20, 2009, an interesting Reuters story hit the wire. Entitled Hospital Label No Guarantee of Better Weight Surgery the story cites statistics indicating that hospitals designated bariatric surgery "centers of excellence" have just as many deaths and complications from the procedure as other non-designated facilities.

Citing the effort, time, and money it takes a hospital to earn a "center of excellence" designation, the story casts doubt on the true value of the designation.

The story begins:

Hospital Label No Guarantee of Better Weight Surgery
Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:20pm EDT
By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Despite the fancy label, hospitals designated bariatric surgery "centers of excellence" have as many deaths and complications from the procedure as others, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

The extra cost and effort required by hospitals to earn such a designation might not be worth it, they said.

"Designation as a bariatric surgery center of excellence does not ensure better outcomes," Dr. Edward Livingston of the University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine, whose study appears in the Archives of Surgery, said in a statement.

(For the complete story click here.)

EDITOR'S NOTE Continued: The second news item on bariatric centers hit the wire on April 23. As you'll read, this story conveys a very different set of outcomes for patients undergoing procedures at Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery®.

Patients Had Fewer Infections Rates, Fewer Complications at Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery®, According to HealthCore Study

Surge in number of facilities offering weight loss surgery, more people choosing laparoscopic surgery

WILMINGTON, Del., April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical centers offering surgical weight loss programs have increased dramatically over the past few years, and it's more important than ever to know which ones produce the best results.

Members of WellPoint's affiliated health plans undergoing weight loss surgery at facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery(R) had fewer complications and dramatically lower infection rates than those treated at non-designated centers, according to a study completed by HealthCore, WellPoint's health outcomes research subsidiary.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association created the Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery program in 2006 to identify and promote use of medical centers with the best outcomes for bariatric surgical procedures.

Blue Distinction centers had 28 percent fewer surgical complications and 60 percent fewer inpatient and outpatient infections than non-designated facilities in the 30-day period following surgery, according to the HealthCore study, which compared health records of 4,479 patients undergoing bariatric procedures in 14 states in 2007.

Open gastric bypass surgeries had the greatest risk of complications--19 percent for non-designated centers and 12 percent for designated centers in the 30-day period following surgery. Complications include conditions such as hemorrhage, internal bleeding and infections.

"This population-based study shows how important it is for consumers to be well informed when they are choosing where to get their surgery," said Dr. Lisa Latts, WellPoint vice president of programs for clinical excellence. "Because the number of facilities offering this service has increased so dramatically, we want to make sure consumers know where they are most likely to have the best outcome."

The number of facilities performing weight loss surgery for members of WellPoint's affiliated health plans soared--by 43 percent--from 848 in 2006 to 1,216 in 2007.

Costs during the follow-up period were also lower for patients treated at designated centers, with the greatest difference observed for open gastric bypass procedures, according to the HealthCore study.

"The average follow-up costs for open gastric bypass 30 days after surgery were 47 percent lower for Blue Distinction Centers as compared to other centers," said Andrea DeVries, research operations director for HealthCore. "This corresponds to the finding that Blue Distinction Centers had fewer complications."

In other trending information on WellPoint affiliated health plans' members, HealthCore noted that women are more likely to get the surgery, making up 78 percent of all those undergoing bariatric surgery in 2007. The rate of weight loss surgeries increased by 12 percent from 2006 to 2007, pushed by an increase in the number of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band procedures. That also changed the ratio of inpatient to outpatient procedures, with outpatient surgeries rising from 10 percent of all procedures in 2006 to 20 percent in 2007.

"Several studies have determined that overall weight loss and how quickly a patient loses weight differ based on the weight loss procedure performed," Latts said. "Patients should make the decision about the procedure that's best for them in consultation with their physician."

Obesity is widely recognized as a major contributor to health risks. Bariatric surgery is considered a tool to help severely obese patients lose weight and is typically used in conjunction with a program of nutritional and exercise counseling.

About the Blue Distinction program
Participating providers for Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery® are given recognition for offering high quality services and an incentive to maintain or improve quality outcomes for patients. Healthcare providers that apply and meet the criteria are awarded the designation of Blue Distinction. Healthcare providers not meeting criteria are given feedback regarding recommended areas for improvement.

Working in collaboration with expert physicians and medical organizations, a survey tool was created requesting data on structure, process, and outcome measures such as procedure volume, mortality, care team, and patient follow-up care. The Blue Distinction designation process is transparent, and the measures are publicly available at http://www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction, along with how to find Blue Distinction Centers nationwide.

About the study
The study compared 30-day, 90-day and 6-month outcomes for 4,479 patients undergoing bariatric procedures in 2007. The study included WellPoint affiliated health plans' members in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin and Virginia. In total, 437 facilities were included in the study with 2,310 members treated at designated centers and 2,169 treated at non-designated centers. The study included the following procedures: laparoscopic band, laparoscopic gastroenterostomy, open gastroenterostomy, open gastric bypass, and laparoscopic gastroplasty.

The trending information about facility increases, inpatient and outpatient procedures, and increase in surgeries was based on data from overall affiliated health plan membership from 2006 to 2007.

About HealthCore
HealthCore, based in Wilmington, Del., is the clinical outcomes research subsidiary of WellPoint. HealthCore has a team of highly experienced researchers including physicians, biostatisticians, pharmacists, epidemiologists, health economists and other scientists who study the "real world" safety and effectiveness of drugs, medical devices and care management interventions. HealthCore offers insight on how to best use this data and communicates these findings to health care decision-makers to support evidence-based medicine, product development decisions, safety monitoring, coverage decisions, process improvement and overall cost-effective health care. For more information, go to www.healthcore.com.

RELATED NEWS on Bariatrics:

Costs for bariatric surgery decline

April 29, 2009 — 12:20pm ET | By Anne Zieger
Here's a sign that bariatric surgery as a discipline is maturing: The average rate of post-surgical and other complications for patients undergoing bariatric surgery--and thus, the cost of their care--has fallen 21 percent between 2002 and 2006, according to a new study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Complication rates dropped from 24 percent to about 15 percent, with much of the reduction coming from a fall in the post-surgical infection rate.

For the complete story, click here.

International Medical Travel Association Announces Development of Guidelines to Ensure Integrity, Accountability, Sustainability for Global Medical Travel Industry

IMTA officially endorses Healthcare Travel Congress
www.healthcaretravel-singapore.com
Singapore, June 28-30, 2009

Washington, D.C. /Singapore – April 15, 2009 – The International Medical Travel Association (IMTA; www.intlmta.org), a leading not-for-profit industry association for medical travel and healthcare globalization, today unveils its plan to develop guidelines around four core issues: liability, quality, standardized reporting metrics, and continuity of care. IMTA current and prospective members will meet at the Healthcare Travel Congress in Singapore, June 28-30, 2009 (www.healthcaretravel-singapore.com)an opportunity to further expand IMTA membership and take meaningful steps in the development of best practices that bring credibility to this growing industry.

“The IMTA is the only global association that brings together hospitals, providers and other medical travel stakeholders in a collective movement to develop and promote policies, best practices and best products around these issues,” says Ruben Toral, president of IMTA and CEO of Mednet Asia Ltd. “We expect to build membership by focusing on providers -- the foundation of the medical travel industry -- whose support is critical to the IMTA’s credibility and financial health. Now more than ever, this nascent industry needs a unified voice that exemplifies integrity and works toward industry guidelines.”

With the expanded involvement of providers worldwide that are committed to building an economically sustainable, quality-oriented medical travel industry, the IMTA expects to play an even greater role in promoting patient safety and protecting individual well-being.

“The IMTA is raising the bar on the development of globally recognized, quality standards, creating guidelines that advance industry self-regulation,” adds Toral. “As this organization achieves financial health and stability, we can accelerate the process and move the industry forward.”

About The IMTA
The International Medical Travel Association is a global organization of stakeholders in the international medical travel industry, representing leading healthcare providers, medical travel facilitators and related industry service providers worldwide. IMTA supports the development of international industry standards and best practices that promote and advance medical quality, safety, and transparency for the international patient, and that preserve and protect the doctor-patient relationship. IMTA, www.intlmta.org, is a not-for-profit association funded by membership dues and programs.

European Medical Tourism Alliance formed
Source: www.treatmentabroad.com

The European Medical Tourism Alliance (EuMTA) is a recently formed not-for-profit organization that intends to represent the interests of agencies, clinics, and hospitals in the European medical tourism industry. A Hungarian, Balázs Stumpf-Biró is the founder and executive director.

It feels that while Asia and America have had much publicity as medical tourism locations, the much larger European trade has been unfairly overshadowed. EuMTA seeks to show that the medical tourist can get high quality, low cost treatment in a safe and friendly environment in Europe. Another aim is to encourage European hospitals and clinics to achieve international accreditation.

It intends to represent the interests of stakeholders in the medical tourism industry, bring awareness to Europeans of the existence in Europe of high quality medical alternatives, improve patient mobility, and promote free choice of medical provider.

Monthly Research by Revahealth.com Reveals Fall in Medical Tourism from the U.K.
© Business Wire 2009

The number of Britons looking for health treatment abroad dropped by over 40 percent in the last six months, according to RevaHealth.com, the search engine that lets people find and compare clinics anywhere. The news comes despite the fact that patients can still make huge savings on treatments like cosmetic dental and plastic surgery procedures abroad.  
A tummy tuck in Turkey costs as little as £1,201, whereas the U.K. average is £3,878, a savings of nearly 70 percent. Similarly, dental veneers in Poland can cost just £238, but the U.K. average is £630, giving patients a potential saving of over 60 percent.

RevaHealth.com makes it easy for patients to save time and money by letting them compare local prices with prices abroad in their own currency.

RevaHealth.com also found that while the numbers leaving the United Kingdom for treatment have fallen by almost 20 percent in the last month alone, medical tourism into the United Kingdom is on the rise, especially among patients from Ireland. For example, the number of Irish citizens looking for dentists in Northern Ireland more than doubled from February to March.

Medical Tourism continues to be popular in other parts of the world. For example, many Americans continue to travel south to Mexico, keen to take advantage of great value cosmetic treatments. Breast implant procedures, costing an average of $6,500 (£4,360) in the United States are available for as little as $2,500 (£1,676), a savings of over 60 percent.

Caelen King, CEO of RevaHealth.com, says, “While putting off cosmetic dental and plastic surgery procedures might seem like the prudent thing to do in a bad economy, there are still lots of money saving options open to savvy customers. Due to the downturn in the economy, many clinics abroad are lowering their prices, making the potential savings even greater. Countries like Hungary, Turkey, and even Thailand offer U.K. patients high-quality treatments like tooth whitening, breast implants, and liposuction for less.”

About Revahealth.com
RevaHealth.com is a health care search engine that helps users find and compare health clinics worldwide. With information about 60,000 clinics in the U.K. and Ireland, and thousands more in 50 countries around the world, Revahealth.com helps people take control of their health care choices and find the most suitable clinic and treatment for their needs.

Panel to establish plan for global healthcare
Specialists seek best strategy for $10B in funding

The Boston Globe -- WASHINGTON - A high-level commission will develop a blueprint this year for how to get the most out of record levels of global health aid, enlisting lawmakers, pharmaceutical executives, and a wide array of specialists to recommend ways the U.S. government can better coordinate what organizers say is now a fragmented approach to helping the world's most vulnerable people.
For the rest of this story click here.

Alpine Center Introduces Health Tourism Studies

Alpine Center and healthCare cybernetics (hCc) have joined forces to introduce Health Tourism Studies to students from 30 different countries at the campus of this Swiss Business School for Hotel & Tourism Management Education. Health Tourism is a collective term for services related to health that involves some travel. These services are grouped under eight segments: medical, sental, spa (and thalassotherapy), wellness, sports, culinary, accessible, and assisted residential tourism. Although a relatively new phenomenon, well over 100 countries already offer or are planning to offer Health Tourism as a tourism product. Executive education and research are paramount to making a successful and sustainable product of this new tourism sector.

healthCare cybernetics (hCc) is an international “think and do tank” whose Health Tourism Enterprise Practice is associated with several of the industry concepts and innovations introduced and adopted world-wide.

The Health Tourism module, which will be launched this coming April at Alpine Center, will be taught by Constantine Constantinides, M.D., Ph.D. (hCc’s chief executive).

Alpine Center will also be hosting the International Health Tourism Research Institute whose mission includes conducting industry and market research by academic staff members and supervised students.

Research results and findings will be published in both academic and industry journals and will also be taken into consideration in the design and implementation of “industry-shaping” and “industry-changing” strategies.

Turkey and Turkish Airlines Promote Medical Tourism at Chicago Conference

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Turkish American Chamber of Commerce and Industry Midwest (TACCI-Midwest) held a Medical Tourism Conference, sponsored by Turkish Airlines Inc., aimed at promoting Turkey’s role in providing healthcare for patients coming from the United States. The conference included speeches, presentations as well as special performances by Masters of Kanun and Classical Kemenche, which were used as medical therapies incorporating Turkish classical music. Among the 200 in attendance at the Union League Club of Chicago were Karen Timmons, president and CEO of Joint Commission International (JCI), Renee Marie Stephano, founder and editor of Medical Tourism Magazine, Joel Shalowitz, M.D., director of Health Industry Management at the Kellogg School of Management, Rep. Bob Biggins, R-Ill., and executives from Turkish Accredited Hospitals.

The goal of the conference was to highlight the role that Turkey can play in the emerging medical tourism market. As a stable democracy in a strategically important location, the country is capable of offering patients a convenient option for quality, affordable healthcare. Rep. Robert Wexler, D–Fla., expressed his thoughts in a letter to attendees by noting that he is “a strong supporter of close Turkish-U.S. relations and believes that enhanced cultural and economic ties are both desirable and necessary for reinforcing the two nation’s long standing strategic relations.” Turkish Consular General, U. Kenan Ipek, expanded on these thoughts by announcing to attendees that “President Obama’s recent visit to Turkey emphasizes strategic importance of mutual ties between both countries hope to further strengthen through a variety of efforts, including medical partnerships.” Medical tourism spending, which is currently estimated at $60B is expected to grow exponentially in coming years. Turkey has a 2 percent share of the current market and plans to expand its share to 10 percent in coming years. Various speakers at the conference noted that medical services in Turkey can be performed by quality providers at 10 percent of the cost of U.S. medical services. This cost advantage is comparable to that of India, a country that already accounts for 14 percent of the global medical tourism market.

The conference was sponsored by Turkish Airlines, with Chairman of the Board Candan Karlitekin, M.D., in attendance. During his message, he stressed that “Turkish Airlines is committed to supporting medical tourism efforts in response to its customers evolving needs and as a result of its desire to further expand the airline’s presence in the United States.” The airline already has daily direct services to Istanbul from New York and will expand its five-day-a-week frequency from Chicago to daily service starting May 18, 2009. Turkish Airlines has already announced a 25 percent discount off listed fares for a medical patient and companion in possession of a note from a doctor or an acceptance letter to a Turkish medical facility. Turkish Airlines has also agreed to expand the baggage limit from 23 kilograms to 32 kilograms for these passengers.

For more information about medical tourism in Turkey or about Turkish Airlines, please visit www.medicaltourisminturkey.org or www.thy.com.

DESTINATION USA: IBS Treatment Center, Stephen Wangen, ND

Stephen Wangen, M.D., Founder
Chief Medical Officer
IBS Treatment Center

Continuing our series on U.S.-based medical destinations, this week we feature the Seattle-based IBS Treatment Center. Founded by Stephen Wangen, M.D., the center is the only clinic of its kind in the United States. However it draws patients from around the world.

We spoke with Dr. Wangen about his organization, their approach to care, and how they currently draw patients.

Medical Travel Today (MTT): I read that you're the first clinic in the nation to focus solely on the condition. Do other clinics exist elsewhere in the world?

Dr. Stephen Wangen (SW): Not really. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an entity that unfortunately doesn't get the kind of respect it deserves.

Essentially, there are two ways in which IBS is typically viewed.
The first is that it's a bogus diagnosis; essentially a placeholder that physicians use when they don't know what exactly is going on. They call it IBS. If you lump a patient into the IBS diagnosis they can issue that standard of care. And for that standard of care, the doctor gets paid or reimbursed.

The other approach is the "it's all in your head" one. Historically, IBS was viewed as a woman's problem and a psychological one at that. Doctors felt that women with too much time were paying too much attention to their bowel movements and giving themselves fits, such as diarrhea or constipation. It was a very condescending attitude that, unfortunately, still exists today.

Adding to the problem is the fact that some of the research being done focuses on the brain-gut connection. They say that stress is causing IBS. And while that's interesting in some way, in other ways it's not because it offers no solution. Plus if you say that stress causes IBS, why is it we don't see more of it in individuals in high stress situations, such as those on the front lines of the military. The theory just sort of falls apart at that level.
What we do know is that there are many things that can cause IBS that are not super-simple or inexpensive to test for.

The standard parasite testing that's used doesn't detect a wide variety of relatively common parasites. If you don't look for them you won't find them.
In fact the standard of care recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association for a patient who presents with discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation -- and no “red flag” symptoms -- is to do no testing and diagnose as IBS.

For the vast majority of people with IBS, if it's left alone for a year, it doesn’t change or worsen. The truth is no one's going to die from it so it's not pushed. Part of the Association's recommendation is built on understanding the realities of the financial situation.

On the other hand, there's lots of great research taking place. Much of it's being done in Europe where there are state-run health systems and high interest in keeping people healthy. Most of the current food allergy research is being done there with a little also taking place in China and the United States.

MTT: Is there such a thing as a "typical" treatment"? If so, what's the nature of it, length of stay, etc.?

SW: The only thing typical is that every patient is different. No two patients are the same but the protocol is the same. The doctor examines them, looks at their history, previous testing, and comes up with a list of potential causes. Testing is then done, and treatment is based on those causes found by the testing.

The most common causes include food allergies and bacterial imbalance. We all have trillions of bacteria in our bodies, busy digesting food. There are good bacteria and bad bacteria. If the balance tilts the wrong way, it's a problem.

Parasites and yeast are also a common issue. Most of the time the body deals with micro-organisms just fine. In some cases there are no symptoms and the body tends to kill invaders off over weeks or months but the immune system is being challenged. If in this time the invader gets a foothold it can stay around for a while and cause issues.

MTT: How many patients do you treat annually and how is that number trending?

SW: We treat hundreds of patients annually. This number has been trending slightly upwards over the past few years. We did see some apparent impact of the recent financial slow-down but not a lot.

MTT: What's your current patient profile and what's the average distance they travel for care?

SW: We do have some demographic data from about six months ago. At that time 70 percent of our patients were female. Of the remaining 30 percent about half were influenced by a female to seek us out.

The women we treat are between 25 to 65 years of age, hold a Bachelor's degree or better, and 30 percent or so have a Master’s degree or Ph.D.

But honestly, I think that profile has more to do with our business model than anything. Because we're an independent clinic and don't contract with any insurance companies, patients have to pay out-of-pocket for our services. Usually they get reimbursed for at least part of their expenses, but this presents a barrier to some.

As for where they are coming from, 55 percent of patients are local, meaning they come from the Greater Puget Sound area. The other 45 percent come from anywhere. That could be any of over 30 states, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

There's a good non-stop flight from London and a recent patient took advantage of that. We also see a lot of people from California taking advantage of non-stop dailies with same-day turnaround.

MTT: How many patients are you currently treating from abroad and how is that number trending?

SW: We currently have a few patients from abroad who are still active patients. The way it work is that a patient comes to us and we do our testing and exam. On the second visit we share the results. For foreign patients we do that visit by phone or Skype. Then they try their treatment plan for a few weeks and report how it's working. Since most say it's going fantastic, it's often the last we hear from them.

MTT: Are you attracting competition?

No. Our main competition is the continued idea that there is no treatment for IBS. There are a few doctors in the greater Seattle area who are intelligent about it and test for the same things we test for, but they haven't branded themselves or focused on IBS the way we have.

MTT: How are you attracting patients to your facility – both domestic and abroad?

Our Web site is by far our biggest recruiting tool. We designed it to give lots of information, and that's really what the best prospective patient needs. We want a patient's decision to come see us to be a rational, informed decision. Not something we lure them into doing with ridiculous promises.

Some people find us through my books, The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Solution and Healthier Without Wheat.

MTT: Are you partnering with any organizations to broaden your reach?

SW: Not at the moment, but I think we would consider partnering with a medical travel facilitator.

Currently 15 to 20 percent of the U.S. population suffers from IBS. One would presume the number holds the same for Mexico and Canada.

The number for Western Europe is slightly less as they tend to eat better and exercise more. They enjoy better health plus they have a nationalized health care system that tends to acknowledge and treat IBS.

If we could assist more of those patients, it would be good for everyone.

About Stephen Wangen
Dr. Stephen Wangen is a state licensed and board certified physician. After graduating with honors with a pre-med degree from Pacific Lutheran University he received his doctoral degree in naturopathic medicine from the internationally renowned Bastyr University. He specializes in digestive disorders and food allergies and has first-hand experience with food allergies, having been diagnosed with a gluten intolerance (wheat allergy) in 1996 as well as a dairy allergy.

Due to a long history of success in treating common digestive disorders and the tremendous need for a clinic focused on the treatment of digestive disorders and irritable bowel syndrome, he founded the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment Center in 2005, where he serves as the chief medical officer.

In addition to the IBS Treatment Center, Dr. Wangen founded the Center for Food Allergies. His extensive clinical research into the relationship between food allergies and health has led to groundbreaking work on many conditions. He continues to investigate these issues as the research director of the Innate Health Foundation, a nonprofit agency dedicated to the advancement of health and healthcare.

Dr. Wangen also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Gluten Intolerant Group of North America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for people with gluten intolerance. His enthusiasm for quality healthcare is the result of a lifelong interest in human potential.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Swine Flu Scare Cancels Medical Tourism Conference in Monterrey
April 29, 2009 – DOTmed.com

The Latin American Medical Tourism and Health Congress scheduled to take place April 27-29, in Monterrey, Mexico was canceled due to the Swine Flu warnings. "The Conference was canceled before it started," says Renee-Marie Stephano, COO of the Medical Tourism Association and Editor of the Medical Tourism Magazine. "It was a terrible but necessary move to make, but we had to protect the safety of our delegates."

Costa Rican Medical Care Announces Health Care Seminar
"More than 100,000 medical tourists, most of them Americans, are expected to travel to Costa Rica over the next five years solely for the benefit of less expensive medical services," says the Costa Rican Ministry of Tourism.

Lake Geneva, Wis. (PRWEB) March 15, 2009 -- Costa Rican Medical Care (CRMC), a division of HSA Clearing Corp, will be sponsoring a health care seminar in San Jose, Costa Rica, May 12 and 13, 2009.

Health care costs in the United States have exploded in the past few years, but the same procedures are very affordable in Costa Rica. Many people and/or employers who have to pay out of pocket don't realize they have other options that can keep them healthy and save money at the same time. Working with the finest private hospitals and physicians in Costa Rica, CRMC will help people save hundreds if not thousands of dollars on certain medical care procedures.

"The propose of this seminar is for insurance company executives, employee benefit mangers, health insurance agents, third-party administrators, and other interested parties to experience first-hand the hospitals and physicians and meet some of their staff. Once people see the quality of the healthcare Costa Rica has to offer, they will be comfortable working with us and recommending our services to their clients," says Tim Morales, president of HSA Clearing Corp. "The only way to bring down health care costs in this country is to show people what prices are elsewhere and let them compare."

A Costa Rican Ministry of Tourism representative adds, "More than 100,000 medical tourists, most of them Americans, are expected to travel to Costa Rica over the next five years solely for the benefit of less expensive medical services."

Seminar Price
Only $899.00 and includes:
Four nights at the Best Western Irazu Hotel and Casino. Check in Monday, May 11, 2009. Check out Friday, May 15, 2009. Breakfast included daily. Air fare not included.

First 50 people to sign up receive a $100 discount - pay only $799. Bring a spouse, friend, or co-worker to share your room for an additional $125 added to the four-night price.

Who Should Attend?
Employee Benefit Advisors
HR Managers
Insurance Executives
Health Agents
TPAs
HSA Providers
Self Insured Firms

For more information on attending this event, visit www.costaricanmedicalcare.com or call HSA Clearing Corp at 262-348-1300.

Patients Beyond Borders Author Josef Woodman to Deliver Plenary Session at CISTM 2009

Chapel Hill, N.C. (PRWEB) March 23, 2009 -- Josef Woodman, president and CEO of Healthy Travel Media, has been selected to be a featured expert panelist at the 11th Conference of the International Society of Travel Medicine (CISTM). The conference, which historically attracts up to 2,000 delegates from 50 countries, will be held in Budapest, Hungary, May 24-28, 2009. Plenary sessions throughout the 4-day event will highlight issues of global healthcare and medical tourism, with noted speakers and industry leaders from around the world.

Woodman's plenary session, entitled "Globalized Healthcare and Medical Tourism: Definition, Scope, Impact, and Players" is slated for Monday, May 25, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Woodman will address new trends in medical tourism vis-à-vis globalized healthcare, including emergent issues related to insurers and employers, liability/malpractice, quality-assurance metrics, continuity of care, and telemedicine.

As the author of Patients Beyond Borders, Woodman spent more than three years touring 100 medical facilities in 14 countries, researching contemporary medical tourism. The co-founder of MyDailyHealth and Ventana Communications, with a pioneering background in health, wellness, and Web technology, Woodman has compiled a wealth of information about global health travel, telemedicine, and new developments in consumer and institutional medical care. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Global Healthcare Summit, and as program co-chairman of the Global Healthcare Congress 2009. He has lectured at Harvard Medical School and the UCLA School of Public Health. Woodman has emerged as an outspoken advocate of global consumer healthcare and medical travel.

About International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM)
Founded in 1991, the mission of the ISTM is the promotion of healthy and safe medical travel. The organization advocates and facilitates education, service, and research activities in the field of travel medicine. Its current roster of more than 2,300 members in 75 countries includes physicians, nurses, and other health professionals from academia, government, and the private sector. For more information about ISTM, please visit: http://www.istm.org.

The society's 11th Annual Conference will bring together 2,000 members and special delegates to cover a range of topics from "Globalized Health Care and Medical Tourism" to "The Risks and Rewards of Travel Medicine" and "Aviation Emergencies in the Air." Additional information on the conference can be found at http://www.abstractserver.com/cistm11/welcome.htm.

Date Set for Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress: June 28-30, 2009

Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress 2008 is a groundbreaking platform bringing together macro level decision makers on healthcare policy with payees of medical travel, specialized medical suppliers, travel providers, medical facilities and representatives from major medical tourism destinations all under one roof making this exhibition and congress truly representative of the total international medical travel industry.

Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress 2008, under the guiding theme of “the Globalisation of Healthcare”, brings together the entire cluster involved in medical travel at one specific event that is dedicated to the development of this growing sector. Medical Travel professionals to interact on a variety of business platforms:

A world-class conference streaming across multiple sectors
Exclusive networking opportunities made possible through innovative corporate match making
Global exhibition, showcasing all segments of this exciting industry

For more information please visit: http://healthcaretravel-singapore.com/

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau to Sponsor the 2009 World Medical Health Tourism Conference in Phuket

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is set to sponsor the World Medical Health Tourism Conference: A New Way Forward, which will be held in Phuket, Thailand, September 2009.

TCEB’s participation and sponsorship in this internationally diverse networking event will aim to promote Thailand on an international scale as a medical tourism destination and a preferred venue for international meeting, incentive, convention, and exhibition (MICE) events.

The whole of Phuket Island is getting behind the conference, which will cater to more than 1,200 delegates. Local supporters range from local community groups, tourism operators, and many of the major hoteliers and resort owners, namely Woraburi Phuket Resort, Millennium Resort Patong, The Moevenpick Resort, Karon Beach Resort of Kata Group, Aquamarine Resort, Cape Panwa Hotel, and Andaman Seaview Hotel group.
Phuket, dubbed as the medical tourism hub in Asia, is the ideal location to hold the conference because of its infrastructure, capacity to host a massive number of international guests, and the availability of cutting-edge technology and internationally trained medical experts manning their world-class medical facilities.

Sometime within the next month the floor plan or layout for exhibitors at the venue, Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, will be published online and application forms will be available for the exhibitors to download from the Web site. Many pre-conference and post-conference activities have been planned for the conference, which early estimates expect to bring a windfall to Phuket of about $10 million over the two-week period. Interested parties are advised to visit the conference website: www.sosmedicaltourism.com for more information.

Alternatively, for more information call + (66)76-289-800, to request a printable registration brochure by email sosmedical@sosmedicaltourism.com or sosmedical@ymail.com

International Medical Travel Association’s Contribution to “Healthcare Travel Congress” Provides Platform for Global Network and Robust Alliances

June 29-30, 2009, Fairmont Hotel, Singapore -- www.healthcaretravel-singapore.com
Washington, D.C./Singapore – April 15, 2009 – The International Medical Travel Association (IMTA; www.intlmta.org), a leading not-for-profit industry association for medical travel and healthcare globalization, has partnered with Informa Life Sciences in order to hold an opening strategy meeting for IMTA members as part of the “Healthcare Travel Congress” (www.healthcaretravel-singapore.com), June 29-30, 2009, Fairmont Hotel, Singapore. This event provides a global business platform for providers, medical travel professionals, and other stakeholders to network and establish new partnerships with key decision makers from around the world.

“This is a robust opportunity for all stakeholders to expand their networks, take a true leadership position in the globalization of healthcare, and drive credibility for the industry,” says Ruben Toral, president of IMTA and CEO of Mednet Asia Ltd. “By working together on a global basis, this association will be able to address key core issues – liability, continuity of care, and quality. We expect to impact worldwide medical travel and drive further adoption.”

The Congress features more than 30 speakers from leading hospitals, clinics, government, accreditation bodies, and healthcare facilitators, plus more than 10 leading healthcare travel case studies. Interactive panel discussions between key players in the healthcare travel value chain, dedicated streams on healthcare marketing and patient care, interactive workshops on legal liabilities and healthcare marketing, and a dedicated healthcare travel exhibition are designed to inform and entertain attendees.

The Congress features more than 30 CEOs and industry luminaries, including:

Tan Ser Kiat, Group CEO, Singhealth, Singapore
Tyrone Goh, M.D., executive director, National Healthcare Group, Singapore
Brent Phillips, international administrator, Mayo Clinic, United States
Kamaljeet Singh Gill, chief marketing officer, Corporate Marketing (Global) Parkway Group Healthcare, Pte Ltd, Singapore
Ayesha Abdullah, M.D., CEO, Dubai Healthcare City, United Arab Emirates
Surapong Ambhanwong, M.D., chief medical and international business officer, Phyathai Hospitals Group, Thailand
Vishal Bali, CEO, Wockhardt Hospitals Group, India
Jorge Cortes, M.D., Rodriguez medical director, Hospital Clinica Biblica, Costa Rica
Anil Maini, president, Corporate Strategy, Apollo Hospitals Group, India
Josef Woodman, author, Patients Without Borders, United States
Jason Yap, M.D., director of Marketing, Raffles Medical Group, Singapore
Wu Ming Yen, CEO, Taiwan Task Force for Medical Travel, Taiwan
Nellie Yeo, consultant, Joint Commission International and chief quality officer, National Healthcare Group, Singapore
Claudia Mika, M.D., president, Telemedicine for the Mobile Society (TEMOS), Germany
Ming-Keng Toh, M.D., head of Medical Services, Asia Medical Protection Society, United Kingdom
Steve Green, M.D., director, Trent Acceditation, United Kingdom
Ruben Toral, president, International Medical Travel Association, Thailand, and founder, Mednet Asia
Zahid Hamid, managing director, Euromedical Tours, United Kingdom
John Linss, CEO, Medicaview International, United States
Wouter Hoeberechts, CEO, Worldmed Assist, United States
Philipe Barrault, M.D., group managing director, Asia International SOS, Singapore
Sanjiv Malik, secretary, Health Media Centre, India

The Congress will also feature:

Travel Day -- June 29, 2009: An introduction to healthcare travel designed specifically for travel agents, hotels, and medical spas
Health Insurance Conference -- June 29-30, 2009
Consumer Healthcare Summit -- June 28, 2009
Healthcare Travel Exhibition -- June 28-30, 2009, featuring Patrick Marsek, managing director of Med Retreat (U.S.), and Kenneth Mays, director of marketing, Bumrungrad International (Thailand).

Additionally, the Congress will host the first 2009 International Medical Travel Association Strategy Meeting. Membership in the organization is required for attendance which can be arranged at www.intlmta.org.

“With consumers, employers, health plans, and other payers looking beyond their own borders for better value, medical travel is a growth industry,” Toral adds. “Not only is medical travel a cost effective option, but in many cases it is also a better one, especially for the uninsured and the underinsured living in the United States.”

About the IMTA
The International Medical Travel Association is a global organization of stakeholders in the international medical travel industry, representing leading healthcare providers, medical travel facilitators and related industry service providers worldwide. IMTA supports the development of international industry standards and best practices that promote and advance medical quality, safety, and transparency for the international patient, and that preserve and protect the doctor-patient relationship. IMTA, www.intlmta.org, is a not-for-profit association funded by membership dues and programs.

Informa Life Sciences
The Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress in Singapore is part of a global series organized by Informa Life Sciences, the world’s leader in providing quality exhibitions, conferences and publications for the life science and healthcare industry. The Healthcare Travel Exhibition and Congress is recognized as the global business platform for medical travel professionals to network and establish new partnerships and is held annually in Asia and the Middle East.

Informa Life Sciences lead the market in providing quality, expert-led conferences; delivering the expert knowledge our clients need to excel in their professional roles and guaranteeing a competitive advantage for their organizations. Our diverse portfolio includes Healthcare, Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices and Diagnostics and internationally renowned events include Healthcare Travel, Arab Health, Hospital Build and Aesthetics Asia.

Date Set for Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress in Dubai: October 27-29, 2009

With the healthcare travel industry poised to play an important part in Dubai's growth strategy, the Institute for International Research (IIR) Middle East, the organizers of the first medical tourism conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which concluded in Dubai, recently have reported high levels of interest from a potentially huge international market.

"Research unveiled at the event indicated a global market of around two million medical travelers a year and an industry constrained by hospital capacity and lack of consumer familiarity with medical travel," says Sietske Meerloo, marketing manager at IIR Middle East and organizer of Healthcare Travel Exhibition & Congress.
IIR Middle East is also the organizer of the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, the region's premier event for Middle East healthcare that takes place in Dubai 27-29, October, 2009.

“Large numbers of hospitals and clinics around the world are attempting to tailor their health services to cater to medical tourists," Meerloo added. "Several major insurance companies offer a travel component in their policies, and governments are looking closely at policies to take account of the trend."

The health care event was officially opened by Haidar Al Yousuf, M.D., transition director at the Dubai Health Authority, who highlighted the importance the Authority is placing on the future of medical tourism.

"As we look to develop our domestic health strategy, we also want to develop a joint strategy with our colleagues in the Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), for the future of health tourism in Dubai," says Dr. Al Yousuf. "The health care sector in Dubai will become an increasingly attractive place for international health care investors, providers, services, facilities, and other health care professionals."

PlanetHospital, a California-based leader in medical tourism, used the event as a platform to announce the official opening of its Jeddah Saudi Arabia office to serve inbound and outbound medical tourists from the Arabian Gulf region.

"The Gulf has the potential to drive growth in medical tourism," says Mohammed Alarifi, managing director for the new operation. "It is not only a destination from where patients seek medical care abroad but is also becoming a medical tourism destination itself thanks to major hospital developments throughout the region."

The American Hospital Dubai also had high visibility at the event. There was "a lot of exchange of experience among colleagues from around the world," says Naser Saleh, director of marketing and sales. “On the conference side, the sessions were very informative."

Gary Miller, CEO of Health Travel TV, says the event had been important for them. "We have a unique product, and we’re the only broadcast media here dedicated to this area. I’m coming back to Arab Health in January."

Organized in association with the International Medical Travel Association, the Healthcare Travel Exhibition and Congress was supported by the UAE Ministry of Health and the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi. Platinum sponsors were Singapore Medicine. Gold sponsors were the American Hospital Dubai and Dubai Health Authority.

For details about Arab Health events, please visit: www.arabhealthonline.com

SITUATIONS WANTED:

International Patient Development in your Country – Medical Tourism

With present economic down turn I would like to offer my skills and global experience to develop much needed healthcare business.
I am sure my experience in medical tourism will provide original strategy as I come from the other side of the world.

Now is the perfect time to participate in global healthcare which is the world's second largest industry.

I would like to know if I can bring my successful career to work for your organisation to develop international business.

For further information visit www.surgeryexpress.com or contact me at as@surgeryexpress.com

JOBS:

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To submit your job posting or a description of your desired position to ahaar@cpronline.com. Please keep text to 100 words or less.