THIS WEEK IN MEDICAL TRAVEL TODAY
Volume 4, Issue 26
by Amanda Haar, Editor

Greetings,

In our last issue we touched briefly on the potential impact a destination country's political climate can have on a consumer's decision to travel there for care. In this issue we explore a new tool from Transparent Borders designed to help consumers and others make destination decisions based on specific factors associated with various countries, cities and regions, including political unrest, quality and safety, legal and regulatory issues and even pollution. Called the Healthcare Climate Calculator™, this new assessment tool could prove very useful in helping employers and insurance companies understand the myriad of options available.

I also wanted to make note of some recent discussion board postings regarding an alleged clause in the current Medical Tourism Association (MTA) membership contract. It was suggested the contract had a clause that would prevent members from engaging with publications that compete with the Association's magazine. Naturally this was a source of great concern for me as we rely on reader contributions and interviews to keep our content robust and relevant for all. I contacted the MTA and was assured that no such clause exists in their current contract.

That said, I welcome and encourage all readers to share their views, opinions and ideas for stories so that in 2011, our fifth year of publication, we continue to provide meaningful content that informs, enlightens and leads to better business for us all.

All the best for the coming year.

Cheers,

Amanda Haar, Editor
ahaar@cpronline.com

CORRECTION

Editor's Note: In last week's issue we included a story entitled Domestic Medical Tourism Becoming Very Popular with Employers. In the story, David Goldstein, president of Health Options Worldwide, was quoted saying, "Several insurers like Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, WellPoint, Health Net of California, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina and UnitedHealth are adding domestic medical tourism options or launching pilot programs to test effectiveness."

David Boucher of BlueCrossBlue Shield of South Carolina reached out to let us know of an error in that statement. Boucher writes:

"…the story states that BlueCross BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina has added domestic medical tourism options for members or is launching pilot programs to test effectiveness. This is inaccurate.

Companion Global Healthcare Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BlueCross BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, is a full-service international medical tourism facilitator that works with employers and individuals, but Companion Global is not involved with domestic medical tourism."

We apologize for the error and thank Mr. Boucher for alerting us to it.

SPOTLIGHT: Lisa Beichl, Transparent Borders LLC

Medical Travel Today (MTT): Tell us about yourself and what you do.

Lisa Beichl Transparent Borders LLC

Lisa Beichl (LB): I am a health insurance specialist. I and started my career in the finance division of a large U.S. health insurance company. I then moved to Germany to work in the international market, and spent about eight years studying health insurance and health economics in many different countries — from the insurance and reinsurance perspectives. So when I returned to the United States a few years ago, I was looking at different options — trying to assess the landscape and the impact of international health economics on U.S. markets. I began getting involved in the medical tourism sector (I really don’t like that term and find it a bit confusing!). I like to refer to this area as “Cross Border” health care because I think there are ways of looking at the health economics of different markets to understand where there are risks that you might not even see.

My firm is Transparent Borders and our tools are under the umbrella of a “Health Climate Calculator™.” We are not a facilitator organization and don’t provide that type of service. Primarily, we create tools that help individuals, or companies, understand and assess the risks associated with cross border health care. They are designed for anyone, anywhere who can select an index country (this is the country that best represents your health care baseline), language and what is important in terms of health care delivery preferences. The tool matches up their preferences with the markets and venues that most closely meet their requirements.

MTT: Are the tools for individuals or companies?

LB: The platform is designed for companies that are interested in understanding the preferences of its market. So it could be licensed by a large organization that has multi-national employees in different countries. It could also be a tool for the airline industry to gauge interest in the cross border travel market. I have talked to a few airlines about this concept. They are seeking greater understanding about transporting these types of patients – people who may not be in stretchers — but still need special attention. The tools we offer give these groups more understanding of who is looking for these services and why.

MTT: Would your clients be self-funded groups?

LB: It could be a self-funded group. What’s interesting is that you can set the search parameters based upon your strategy. For example, if a self-funded group was really only interested in sending its members for hip or knee surgeries, they could just select venues for those treatments. The risks for those procedures are very different than the risks for a bone marrow transplant.

The tool pinpoints exactly what is important to the individuals and lets them look at different delivery markets and associated risks. The goal is to reduce the fear of the individuals who are thinking about medical travel as an option, and to give them an idea of where the risks lie.

As an example, if you have an individual who really cares about human rights, the tool will give them the chance to say, “I really want to go to countries or venues where human rights are supported in the same way that I’d like them to be supported.” This information, in turn, lets the self-funded group understand the preferences of the individuals who are seeking care abroad or within the U.S.

MTT: Would there be an area where they can assess the risk of going to a country where there is violence or political unrest?

LB: Absolutely. That is one of the pillars of the Health Climate Calculator™ that is in the process of being automated. Today, it is a manual matching -- you go and select the treatment you are looking for and then that triggers the different matrix of the issues.

For example, if you indicate that you are asthmatic or are under the treatment of a doctor for asthma that would trigger the “pollution” indicator. So, if high pollution exists in some countries, they will be removed from your profile.

Another critical aspect is a transition of care plan. At the outset, we ask if the patient has a doctor at home who provides care on a regular basis. The answer is always “yes” or “no.” The next question is, “Does this doctor know that you’re thinking about this?” Many physicians tell their patients that they are hearing horror stories from people who receive care from another venue. They often set off an alarm with prospective medical travelers, saying that when these patients return home, they need some follow-up care resulting from complications that have emerged. If you are proactive, you can reduce this risk.

So what we are trying to say is this: There are risks involved…. transition of care is a risk… and we want to make sure individuals are aware of identified risks, and how to help mitigate those risks when planning a cross border health care event; there can also be advantages.

MTT: How many destinations are included in your matrix and what are the destinations?

LB: Eighty-one countries — including South America, Central America, the Middle East, Europe, Scandinavian countries and others. You may be residing in Germany or Switzerland and you’re thinking about accessing care in a different location for whatever reason. We have you select an index country so that your risks and preferences can be compared. The goal is to identify potential risks to prepare you for what’s ahead.

MTT: For the people who use your index or access, can you give us an idea of how many people have actually taken advantage of this?

LB: The automated version is still in development, but we’ve applied it manually based upon company requests. If companies were thinking about introducing a medical tourism option or a program of cross border health care benefits, they need to determine which countries really match their criteria.

The idea behind the automated Health Climate Calculator™ is to transfer the concept to an individual-based tool offered through groups; it lets select groups understand the preferences of its constituents. It can be put on the company’s website, so a company can learn: Who is worried about language barriers? Maybe we have to change our plan? Maybe we have to put more safeguards in place and respond a little more effectively than we are today?

The goal is to take what we’ve used on a company-level basis and apply it to the individuals. This will really create a global health care consumer.

MTT: It’s a very intriguing approach. Is there is anything in the market that is comparable?

LB: I haven’t seen anything like it. It has been a complex process to create this tool set – and that is why the automation process is taking a little longer than anticipated. Also, we are not creating these indicators ourselves. We are looking at a lot of different think tanks… we are talking about how to assess the many different risks that exist. These include risks to personal safety or even blood supply. We evaluate and calculate your risk level compared to your index country.

MTT: Do you have a website where people can learn more about this?

LB: Sure, they can go to: www.globalhealthquality.com

MTT: Where do you see this industry going?

LB: When it began, it was designed to be something of a luxury commodity. Today, it has turned out to be a critical component for markets like the U.S. and also for developing markets including Africa where people travel for medical care that may not be available locally.

I like to compare it to the adoption of cell phones in areas where they don’t have the ability to use landlines. So, cell phones (initially designed as a luxury good) have become critical in many developing countries. I think about the medical travel market in the same way. There are a lot of intriguing opportunities out there, but it is really hard to know how the market is going to develop

I spoke at a conference a couple of weeks ago in North Carolina and had the opportunity to interact with a few companies. There is one small manufacturing plant in the southern part of the U.S. that was intent upon keeping their health premiums low. They were going to send patients to one hospital in India, but they didn’t want to use a facilitator because they thought it was too expensive. So, they organized the whole thing themselves. I found this surprising. While it’s really hard to say what is going to emerge from all this, I do think that we are learning lessons as companies apply and reapply these options.

MTT: Does your tool serve the domestic market as well as the international marketplace?

LB: Yes, it depends upon what is important to the customer. For example, if there are individuals in a country where cost is not an issue but they are looking for the best aggressive treatments for a certain illness, the tool can be used to locate those destinations. It depends what the individual indicates when he or she fills out their preferences, screen by screen. Is low cost a big decision factor for the person? If no, then it will open up a whole new area; if the answer is yes, it may open up a niche market within the United States.

MTT: In your opinion, what do you think will be the trigger point for employers and health plans to offer medical travel as a benefit option?

LB: One of the interesting changes with the advent of health care reform is that over the next few years smaller sized companies can self-insure. I think as smaller companies are moving into the area of self-insuring, they will be looking for low cost options -- but they don’t want to run risks with their patient base. I would think that as more companies enter into self-insurance arrangements, and introduce health savings accounts or similar products, this will push the marketing of medical travel a little further. People are going to be more cost conscience than they once were.

MTT: Do you think that all of the reports forecasting this tremendous rise in the number of medical travelers are pie in the sky?

LB: I think we just don’t know and that’s why this Health Climate Calculator™ is critical. It is designed to collect more information from people and generate data regarding who is thinking about medical travel and why?

What we have available now is just dated information and a limited understanding of people’s preferences about where they are contemplating traveling to for medical care. With our solution, we send them an email at the end of the process to see if they decide to take this trip. They then have the option to rate the experience.

Currently, there is no database for a central source of information, and I think the Health Climate Calculator™ could at least be a proxy for that data. In the short term, it can begin to collect information and identify who is thinking about medical travel, why, and what their concerns are.

One of the studies I read said something like this: “If you ask 10 people if they want to go abroad for health care, they would likely say no.” Of course they would say “no.”

But if you say to them, “What’s really important to you? If someone was going to give you $5,000 or if you had to pay $5,000 for surgery, would that change your decision?” If those types of questions are not asked, you may not identify a market shift.

It’s hard to say if the industry analysts and their estimates are correct because I’m not certain we’re talking to the right people or asking the right questions.

MTT: Do you see your tool as an add-on to the facilitators’ bag of tricks?

LB: Well, that would be in Phase 2. Right now, Phase 1 would be letting people know what is involved and the associated risks

A great example would be hospital innovation, which happens to be important to me. If I am selecting a destination, I want to go to a country where hospital innovation and efficiency are critical components of the health care delivery system. That’s going to shoot a couple of countries right out of the running. I will be left with countries that are really meeting my specific criteria. Assessing all this information is complicated and would take a tremendous amount of time. The information that is available is staggering. The Health Climate Calculator™ collects data and organizes it for me.

I recently read that a week’s worth of the New York Times is the equivalent of a lifetime worth of knowledge for someone living in the 18th century. Think about how much time they could spend thinking about things. We don’t have that luxury. It is very difficult to keep up with everything that occurs within your industry, much less with the multiple issues surrounding a cross border health care event.

MTT: The Google Alerts help a lot! Is that what you mean?

LB: Yes they do! But you really have to prioritize what is important. Ask yourself: “Do I really need to read everything? Who can sort this data out for me so that I focus on what’s important to me?” The Health Climate Calculator™ provides information at an individual level.

The next step would be to create standards of care for cross border health care so that the facilitator or case manager can decide, “Okay, this person wants to have hip surgery, this person doesn’t fly, and so on.” These types of criteria in standards of care do not exist. There are some companies that have created their own, but that is where we see ourselves fitting into this space: providing objective pathways of what you would expect to evaluate when guiding someone on a cross border health care event. Phase 2 of the Health Climate Calculator™ would fit into the facilitator’s handbook.

MTT: Give us a specific example of other information that might be accessed.

LB: Here’s an example: I worked on a medical tourism project in Jordan on behalf of the U.S. government. Jordanian hospitals had variable rates for health care, specifically cardiac. I was talking to a cardiologist and asked why their costs were so much higher than a facility down the street. He said, “We don’t use stents from India because they are not regulated. We only use stents from Germany because they are regulated. So, that’s three times the cost for all our cardiac equipment, and better long-term medical outcomes.”

So, if there is a difference like this in medical device sourcing, how does someone know if the stent or piece of equipment being inserted into you is something that can be managed when you get back to your home venue? This is one issue that is addressed in the Health Climate Calculator™.

Having worked for a lot of these large insurance companies, I am not sure that they are evaluating at this level. Our goal is to alert the individuals to risks so that they can ask questions and manage the risks. In this example above, if you are going to have a medical device inserted, here are some questions you may want to ask. The goal is to break down these walls and give people information so that they are much more comfortable in making this decision.

MTT: What is the projected cost of accessing the calculator?

LB: It is not expensive. We believe that the goal is to get this information into the hands of the groups who are starting to launch these projects. If individuals don’t understand the risks they are going to encounter, they will be relying on the “black box” of an insurer or Third Party Administrator or whoever it is that is recommending these international providers.

About Lisa Beichl
Lisa Beichl is a specialist in international health insurance (public and private) and related medical delivery issues. She received her M.B.A. in Finance from Saint Joseph's University in Pennsylvania and held finance and medical cost containment positions in the United States with major insurers (Cigna, Keystone Healthplan East).

Her concentration in non-U.S. markets began in Germany with United Healthcare where she consulted on metrics development with a large German public health fund developing a Disease Management Program, and later worked on improving metrics with a Third Party Administrator (TPA) operating in the Middle East. Later, she held leadership positions in Switzerland with Swiss Re Life and Health, and in Germany with Allianz and Munich Re, focused on health insurance/reinsurance strategy and operational development in Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As an independent consultant, she worked on international strategic development projects, as well as working as a consultant on behalf of USAID in Nigeria, Jordan and the Republic of Georgia.

Lisa has published articles on the impact of managed care projects internationally and maintains a strong interest in balancing public and private sector perspectives to ensure the long-term viability of quality programs internationally.

She can be reached via email at lisa.beichl@globalhealthquality.com
or via Skype: lisa.beichl

About Transparent Borders
Transparent Borders is firmly committed to providing groups, governments and individuals the most informative, user-friendly and effective analysis of objective and reliable Cross-Border Medical Tourism information in the industry to enable effective individual, group or government international health care decisions. Our diversified experiences with global economic data, Medical (Health) Tourism data and advanced health care analytics helps to bring clarity to the complex and overwhelming flow of medical tourism data being generated by medical, health care and governmental sources around the world.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Health Ministry to Probe Israel Medical Tourism Industry Following Haaretz Exposé
Haaretz.com, By Dan Even

Health Ministry Director General Dr. Ronny Gamzo appointed an investigation committee to probe the medical tourism industry in Israel in response to a Haaretz investigation into the matter.

The Haaretz probe revealed that medical tourists to Israel enjoy medical conditions Israelis can only dream of, including very short waiting times for procedures, the right to choose their own doctor and private rooms. And these benefits may well be coming at the expense of Israeli patients' care.

"The issue of medical tourism is complicated and the question of how to wisely balance the industry's advantages and disadvantages should be examined," Gamzo said. "The committee will check what the right balance is, and at the same time examine a way to increase resources that would allow the development of the medical tourism industry that doesn't come at the expense of Israeli patients."

Currently, Israel gets some 30,000 medical tourists a year, mostly from the former Soviet Union. The Health Ministry estimates that they bring the health system some NIS 200 million a year, of which more than NIS 100 million goes to government hospitals. Outside experts put the total much higher, at almost NIS 500 million.

The six committee members appointed by Gamzo, including hospital officials, public officials and academics, will deliver the probe results within a month.

Bumrungrad International Hospital to Release Patients Beyond Borders ® Focus On™

Top Asian medical destination to offer digital publication for medical travelers

Chapel Hill, NC – December 7, 2010: Patients Beyond Borders, TM the best-selling consumer reference guide for medical tourism, is pleased to announce the December 2010 release of FOCUS ON: Bumrungrad International Hospital, profiling the renowned Asian destination that has treated more international patients than any other.

Located in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand, this award-winning health care campus boasts many of Thailand’s top doctors, including physicians trained at Johns Hopkins, the Cleveland Clinic, Stanford, MD Anderson, and the Mayo Clinic. Over 200 have been U.S. board-certified.

Established in 1980, Bumrungrad’s main facility now measures one million square feet and houses a 554-bed tertiary-care hospital, advanced imaging department, ISO-certified laboratory, clinical research center and medical heliport. The hospital offers 30 specialty centers and has the resources and capacity to meet all patient needs on one campus, within days rather than weeks. During the past decade, more than three million patients from 190 countries have flown to Bumrungrad for its combination of medical quality, efficiency, value and Thai hospitality, making it one of the world’s most popular destinations for medical travelers.

“With costs averaging 50 to 80 percent less than comparable treatments in the U.S. and with a 90 percent satisfaction ranking in recent Gallup polls, it is easy to see why so many healthcare consumers are making the trek to Thailand,” says Josef Woodman, author of Patients Beyond Borders. “I have personally been a patient at Bumrungrad International, and the experience is comparable to the best health care and service to be found in North America or Europe.”

Bumrungrad was the first hospital in Asia to receive Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation (in 2002) and was reaccredited in 2005 and 2008. International medical coordinators, multilingual customer service staff, airport reception services and a variety of ethnic food options are among the innovations Bumrungrad offers the international patient.

Patients Beyond Borders FOCUS ON: Bumrungrad International will provide health care consumers worldwide in-depth information on the hospital’s top specialties and doctors, achievements, accreditation, signature services, patient case studies and travel information.

“We are gratified to be partnering with Patients Beyond Borders to produce this new digital-format publication,” says Kenneth Mays, senior director of Hospital Marketing and Business Development for Bumrungrad International. “Patients Beyond Borders is the bible for medical travelers, so it’s only natural that we should collaborate on this important resource for international patients who want to make smart and informed health care decisions.”

Produced by the research and editorial team of Patients Beyond Borders, the FOCUS ON: series features a 32-page, full-color digital brochure and eBook highlighting the world's leading, internationally accredited hospitals and specialty centers in a fully searchable, dynamic, consumer-friendly format. Published under the Patients Beyond Borders brand, the series offers health care consumers detailed information on specialties, procedures, costs and travel planning from the most recognized, trusted information source in international medical travel.

FOCUS ON: Bumrungrad International will be accessible from a variety of sources, including the Patients Beyond Borders website, Bumrungrad’s website, Kindle, GoogleEditions and other eBook readers, iPhone and other mobile devices, medical, business, reference libraries worldwide and all popular social networks.

About Healthy Travel Media

Healthy Travel Media, an independent imprint based in Chapel Hill, NC, publishes books, eBooks, video, online, mobile and social networking information and applications on medical, health and wellness travel. Its flagship international title, Patients Beyond Borders, now in its Second Edition, is the world’s leading consumer reference guide for medical tourism and is filled with authoritative, accessible advice. Country editions, city editions, and individual facility editions help health care consumers make informed choices toward successful medical travel.

Ma Announces Fund for Medical Tourism Support
Taiwan Today, by  Audrey Wang

The government will set up an international medical development fund aimed at promoting Taiwan’s medical services to the global community, said ROC President Ma Ying-jeou.

Ma’s remarks came during a visit to the state-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu County. He met with ITRI President Shyu Jyuo-min and Chairman Tsay Ching-yuan and received briefings on the organization’s latest innovations.

“In recent years, the country has received about 90,000 visits annually from foreign tourists seeking medical check-ups and health care services,” Ma said. “The establishment of the medical fund is expected to position Taiwan as a top medical tourism destination and help the country bring home more business opportunities from Asian countries, which currently stand at NT$145 billion (US$4.72 billion) per year.”

The president said he has also called for the formation of a Cabinet-level office in charge of internationalizing Taiwan’s medical services, which will be led by Ministers without Portfolio.

According to unnamed officials, there are 31 domestic medical institutes providing services to medical tourists, creating an output of roughly US$100 million per year, far behind the figures for neighboring countries such as Singapore and Thailand.

Although the government has yet to hammer out details concerning the fund’s operations and amount of capital, officials said it could be established as a venture-capital fund backed by the National Development Fund and money from the private sector.

The main purpose of the fund will be to market the nation’s medical industry and boost its image abroad, according to officials. (THN)

Write to Audrey Wang at audrey@mail.gio.gov.tw

Deploy a Blue Ocean Strategy to Profit from Health Travel
by Maria K. Todd, MHA, Ph.D.

In previous posts, I covered why and how global competition from medical tourism is sure to grow, and then followed up with what U.S. hospitals can do to position their competitive response.

Today, I go further and offer additional points to consider for creating an effective strategy for overall revenue integration, marketing, promotional efforts and realistic estimates for volumes and utilization.

Hospitals and physicians must be vigilant of the language in their managed care contracts. Many contracts include subtle "most favored nations" provisions that the hospital and/or its physicians may have inadvertently overlooked during negotiations that could cause problems in advertising packages with high pricing transparency (a necessary competitive element).

To read more click here.

Green4Care.com Offers Earth- and Human-Friendly Solution for Disposing of Obsolete Medical Equipment

Editor's Note: At the end of the year we often find ourselves taking stock of what we have, what we need, and what we want. One thing many health care facilities find themselves having but necessarily needing is obsolete medical equipment. What they want is a way to cost-effectively dispose of it. If that sounds like your organization, well then Green4Care might just be an unexpected but welcome holiday gift.

Based in Paris, Green4Care offers health care facilities the means to dispose of used or reformed equipments at no cost with a promise to extend the life of the equipment when possible. Green4Care commits to redistribute a share of sales and revalorization profits to organizations for a sustainable development and charities.

If you're interested in learning more about Green4Care works, click here.

Hospital Angeles Offers Special $5,000 All-Inclusive LAP BAND Medical Travel Holiday Program

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB)—Hospital Angeles is offering special pricing on LAP-BAND and Gastric Plication all-inclusive medical travel packages for American patients.

To read more click here.

2nd International Temos Conference in CologneDraws Participants from 25 Different Countries

The 2nd International Temos Conference “Healthcare Abroad & Health Tourism,” which took place in Cologne,Germany, November 14-16, 2010, drew participants from more than 25 different countries who discussed the potentials and challenges of international patient treatment. Delegates from business, politics and research, e.g. German Health Ministry, European Union, European Space Agency, UNO, ADAC, almeda, ERV, Techniker Krankenkasse, MD Medicus, international SOS, Eurocross, Asklepios Group, HealthRegion CologneBonn, Gulf Medical University Dubai, Johns Hopkins Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital Manila and many others used the conference for business and negotiations.  

Temos officially welcomed the new Temos certified and re-certified partner hospitals of 2010 and contracted new partners from Turkey, Croatia, France, Africa and Germany.

                                                      
The 3rd International Temos Conference themed “HEALTHCARE ABROAD AND HEALTH TOURISM” will be held in Cologne, Germany, November 20-23, 2010.

If you are interested in joining the Conference as exhibitor or sponsor, please get in touch with us via email info@temos-international.com < mailto:info@temos-international.com > or our conference service phone +49-(0)2204-426480.  

 UPCOMING EVENTS

The First Health Tourism Online Interactive Exhibition and Jobs Fair

January 1-31, 2011 - Preview

February 1 - April 30, 2011 – Interactive

healthCare cybernetics (hCc) has teamed up with IMC Business Global (the leading organizer of mega virtual exhibitions) to stage the first-ever Online Health Tourism Exhibition and Health Tourism Jobs Fair.

This markedly innovative and path-breaking undertaking will last for a total of four months (preview for one month and interactive for three months).

Exhibition Induction Site: www.healthtourismexhibition.com

Exhibition Platform Site: www.businessglobal.com

Exhibitors will be entitled to heavily subsidized participation of:

• World Health Tourism Congress

• Health Tourism Integration Conference

• Health Tourism Investment Forum

Overcoming inconvenience, expense, inaccessibility, and time constraints, the online Exhibition and Jobs Fair are concepts whose time for implementation is now right. It will be bringing together the providers of services and products from the eight Health-related Tourism Segments, under the same virtual roof. It does not require much imagination or explanation to grasp the inherent advantages of a Virtual Exhibition.

The visiting prospective buyers/payers and consumers will experience an unprecedented convenience – and miss out on none of the benefits associated with physical exhibitions.

Prospective Exhibitors (from the eight Health Tourism Segments)

• Health Tourism Destinations
• Providers of Services
• Providers of Products
• Industry Representative Bodies
• National Tourism Organizations

It is also expected that Stakeholder Groups – which would conventionally visit an Exhibition as Buyers/Payers – will sign up as Exhibitors (targeting both Consumers and Providers of Services).

These include:

• Health Travel Insurers

• Health Tourism Facilitators

• Tour Operators / Travel Organizers

Visitors

• Consumers

• Payers

• Investors

• Job Seekers (see Virtual HT Jobs Fair)

The Scope of Health Tourism

Health Tourism is a broad sector which, in view of its diversity, is additionally regarded in terms of eight segments:

• Medical Tourism

• Dental Tourism

• Spa (and Thalassotherapy) Tourism

• Wellness (and Fitness) Tourism (includes “Workplace Wellness Programs Abroad”)

• Sports Tourism

• Culinary Tourism

• Accessible Tourism

• Assisted Residential Tourism (Assisted Living Abroad)

Constantine Constantinides

Tel.: (+30) 69 45 85 76 42

constantinides@healthcarecybernetics.com

Exhibition Induction Site: www.healthtourismexhibition.com

Exhibition Site: www.businessglobal.com

2nd Annual Medical Tourism Research Conference Slated for February 23-25

The Center for Medical Tourism Research (CMTR- also see www.medicaltourismresearch.org) will be holding the 2nd Annual Medical Tourism Research Conference in Washington, D.C. on February 23rd to 25th, 2011.

The CMTR examines business, clinical, economic, ethical, legal, marketing, operational, policy, social justice, and societal impacts of the Medical Tourism/Travel industry worldwide.

The conference is open to all interested stakeholders in this emerging global industry.

KeyNote Speaker: I. Glenn Cohen, Harvard Law School

Conference Fees: $299- due Nov. 30th, 2010

Student Conference Fees: $199

Location: Hyatt Regency Crystal City

For more information visit: www.medicaltourismresearch.org

4301 Broadway, CPO #460
San Antonio, Texas 78209
Phone: +1 210 805-5825
Email: vequist@uiwtx.edu

Destination Health Set to Return to London Olympia April 15-16, 2011

As Europe's largest buyers of medical tourism services, demand from U.K. patients who are planning to travel abroad for treatment is growing every year. The show is expected to attract thousands of people from all walks of life who are actively planning to travel abroad for treatment. In addition, visitors will also include health and medical professionals who are looking to establish business partnerships with health care providers from around the world.

Patients visiting Destination Health are interested in the following treatments:

• Dental Treatments

• Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery

• IVF & Infertility Treatments

• Medical Spa & Wellness

• Elective Surgery

• Orthopedic

• Bariatric Surgery

• Cancel Treatment

• Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation

• Eye Surgery

• Heart Surgery

• Ayurveda Treatments

Exhibiting at Destination Health provides you with direct access to thousands of potential patients who are looking to travel abroad for various types of medical treatments - allowing you to promote your services to people who are eager and willing to spend money on their needs.

Complete the online Exhibitor Enquiry Form or contact:

Nav Mann Event Director , Destination Health

Tel: + 44 (0)208 230 0066 Fax: + 44 (0)208 230 0067

E: navmann@destinationhealth.co.uk

W: www.destinationhealth.co.uk

European Medical Travel Conference 2011 Set for April 27th to 29th in Barcelona  

Encouraged by partners and sponsors, EMTC will once again bring together prominent speakers, important stakeholders, trendsetting thinkers and successful market players for its 2011 conference in Barcelona, Spain.   Offering improved networking opportunities, this is a chance to see what the Spanish market has to offer for travelling patients. All healthcare providers in Spain are encouraged to participate. It will be a milestone event for the Mediterranean Medical Travel.

The focus of the conference will include:

- Medical travel: destinations and international centers
- Telemedicine and patient mobility
- International markets and mechanics
- EU regulations and insurance
- Medical wellness, spa resorts and rehabilitation
- Specialist medicine and case management

To learn more or to submit your speaker application  or register as an exhibitor, click here.

Costa Rica Will Host the Latin American Medical Tourism Congress

• The Medical TravelInternational Business Summit will be held on May 2-4, 2011.
• Foreign companies are choosing Costa Rica to seek medical treatment for their employees.
• Tourists prefer Costa Rica due to the quality and cost of its medical services.
  

Besides coming to Costa Rica to visit its beaches and volcanoes, tourists take advantage of this opportunity to seek odontological and esthetic treatments, or the so-called electives such as cardiology, orthopedics, urology, and preventive medicine.

This is called Medica l Tourism, one of the fastest-growing market niches at an international level. In 2009, Costa Rica welcomed 30,000 visitors who came with this purpose.

The value of these medical services attract foreign companies seeking options for their employees, mostly from American companies because the same services can very expensive there.

Therefore, for the second time, the country will host the most important Latin American Medical and Health Summit. The Medical TravelInternational Business Summit will be held on May 2-4 in San José and Guanacaste and will be attended by 10 countries in the region.

The purpose is to provide Costa Rica and Latin America with leading destinations for medical trips. It will be an opportunity to develop new business between medical and tourism providers and corporate buyers such as insurance companies, medical and tourism associations, and governmental bodies. 

“The ICT, after declaring health tourism of public interest, is encouraging the growth of this new niche, strengthening resources and skills that Costa Rica has developed over years of investment in the health sector and tourism infrastructure. This congress will allow insurance companies, health and tourism companies as well as foreign consumers to be aware of the offering in this field," said the Minister of Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavides.

In the country, the Congress will be supported by the Council for the International Promotion of Costa Rican Medicine, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Health, and medical and tourism organizations.

“For the second time, Costa Rica will become an international showcase for the growing industry of medical trips. Thanks to its excellent hospital infrastructure, highly qualified professionals, personalized care, post-surgical care at specialized facilities, and a world-known natural and tourism environment, the country is proposed as the solution to growing problems in terms of costs and waiting lists faced by the health systems from the most developed countries," said MD. Jorge Cortés, President of PROMED.

The congress will hold conferences and workshops about Medical Tourism covering topics such as service quality and patient safety, risk minimization, and benefit plant management.

Participants will be able to take tours to the clinics and hospitals to verify the quality of their facilities and medical equipment and services. They will also travel to Guanacaste, where they will visit the natural beauties of this province and participate in workshops at the Hilton Papagayo Hotel.

In San José, at the Convention Center at the Ramada Herradura Hotel there will 75 speakers; 500 participants (200 foreigners) are expected to attend, from hospitals, clinics, hotels, and recovery centers. Canada, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama have already confirmed their attendance.

During the Medical Travel International Business Summit Medical Travel, Costa Rica will have the opportunity to get closer to strategic markets for the growth of the medical tourism sector, including the United States, Canada, and Europe.

The first medical congress on Medical Tourism in Costa Rica was held in April 2009 with the attendance of more than 450 participants.

For further information and registration, visit our website at  www.themedicaltravelsummit.com or write to our e-mail info@themedicaltravelsummit.com.

Also contact María Fernanda Fernández, journalist, phone number 88 69 66 17, e-mail Mfernanda.fm@gmail.com, or Massimo Manzi, PROMED Executive Director, phone number 22 01 52 63, e-mail director@promedcostarica.com

Global Reproductive and Fertility Tourism Congress and Expo

All aspects of fertility and medical treatment abroad will be addressed at the Global Reproductive and Fertility Tourism Congress and Expo to be held July 12-15, 2011 in Barcelona Spain.

Doctors will be talking about the latest advances in fertility care. Attorneys will be discussing the legal aspects involved within health tourism globally. Representatives from insurance companies and tourism agencies will also attend. The expo is a globally promoted event specific to tourism as it applies to reproductive infertility health.
Medical clinics specializing in reproductive medicine, agencies, and intended parents are all invited.

The organizers of the event plan on hosting more than 1000 attendees and representatives along with distinguished governmental guests. The event will be held at the Gran Hotel Princesa Sofia, a five-star luxury hotel in downtown Barcelona.

Costs of fertility treatments are causing some American women to consider traveling abroad for procedures. Along with the allure of exotic destinations, traveling abroad may cost thousands of dollars less than they would at home. Pamela Madsen, executive director and founder of the American Fertility Association estimates the average cost for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the U.S. to be approximately $12,000 per cycle. Some women have to go through several cycles.

Problems that experts are cautioning American women against include a decreased success rate compared to a U.S. procedure and egg donors not giving complete informed consent, which was the case recently at one Romanian clinic.

SITUATIONS WANTED

My goal is to obtain employment or internship in health care related industries; with a long-term goal of owning my own medical tourism company. Based on my prior work experiences, academic knowledge with a degree in International Business (Spanish Intensive) and similar career interest I believe I’d be best suited for positions, such as: business administration, research and development, consulting and/or management.

What I can offer is:

• Guaranteed hard-work driven by dedication to professional excellence. I am a first-generation college graduate from the University of St. Thomas, College of Business because of my persistent determination for continual personal and professional growth against serious adversity. The majority of my B.A. in Business Administration pursuit was spent simultaneously working full-time. For that reason, I have accumulated more than 3 years of professional work experience in the non-profit, financial and insurance sectors. Each profession was equally enriching where I was able to demonstrate my leadership capabilities, provide effective intercultural and cross-functional communication, gained familiarity and applied college course-work in the areas of wealth management, business, and insurance to the real world.
• Extensive knowledge of the processes, organizations, and decision-making inherent in today’s domestic and international business environments with a strong core foundation of knowledge and analytical skills in economics, cooperate strategies, accounting, finance, mathematics, statistics, intercultural communication and international law, marketing and management.
• Work-force diversity in both cultural heritage and extensive international exposure, which includes one year in a study-abroad program in Madrid, Spain, where I traveled throughout Europe, parts of the Middle East, and Africa. These experiences have challenged my personal boundaries to improve my sense of patience, effectiveness in communication, cultural inquisitiveness, humility, self-confidence, rapid versatility, ability to learn, and appreciation for the health of our global community.

For more details, I'd be happy to send you my most current resume.
Leyah Cole
Lccole@stthomas.edu

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