| > | | | | to the facility dining room which more resembled a |
| Here's a look at the kinds of top quality care one can | | | | world class restaurant than a hospital cafeteria. |
| expect when travelling abroad for their medical needs. | | | | Because of the ongoing communication prior to the |
| You'll quickly toss out your '3rd World' prejudices once | | | | arrival of the patient, dietary workers are already |
| you find out the kinds of professional medical | | | | aware of food allergies, likes and dislikes. Throughout |
| treatment being offered abroad. | | | | the stay, the scene is repeated , as waitstaff bring |
| Copyright (c) 2008 If you have received medical | | | | food that will nourish both the body and the soul and |
| services in a developed country, you are well used to | | | | enhance the recovery process. |
| feeling like you are no more than a chart number. From | | | | During the time preceding the medical procedure, the |
| the time you get to a waiting room for the first | | | | ever attentive support staff and doctors meet with the |
| doctor's visit, you have probably had the distinct | | | | patient to review the medical records, tests and |
| impression that no one is noticing more than your | | | | information. All questions are answered thoroughly and |
| insurance card in your wallet. | | | | time is taken to put the patient at ease. If there is a |
| Medical tourism facilities offer the patient attentive care | | | | traveling companion, that person is included in the entire |
| from the moment they enter the country! There are | | | | process. |
| hundreds of testimonial cases of patients who have | | | | When the time of the procedure is at hand, again the |
| received treatment at facilities all over the world, and | | | | patient is treated attentively and with compassion. |
| each one touts the level of attentiveness they have | | | | Translators are nearby at all times, to ensure that |
| received. Countries have intentionally designed their | | | | there are no gaps in communication. The traveling |
| facilities to cater to the tourist, and to make them feel | | | | companion is kept comfortable and informed |
| pampered. | | | | throughout the wait time. Once the procedure is |
| From the first contact from a potential patient, the | | | | completed, both the patient and the traveling |
| staff in foreign facilities aim to make the patient feel | | | | companion are given a full account of the outcome of |
| comfortable and at ease. Fluent translators are | | | | the procedure and clear instructions as to the |
| provided to ensure that there are no gaps in | | | | recovery process. |
| communication. Communication itself takes the priority | | | | Most facilities offer the initial recovery time to be spent |
| place. There is usually a constant flow between the | | | | in close proximity with fully trained and qualified support |
| patient, insurance companies, homeland doctors and | | | | staff and nurses nearby. Several medical tourists have |
| the facility abroad that will be doing the treatment. The | | | | reported that they were comforted to know that as |
| high level of communication ensures that all records | | | | soon as they rang the bell, someone appeared, to |
| are transmitted and received prior to the travel | | | | attend to them. In the United States, understaffed |
| occurring, and that all details are finalized. | | | | facilities result in a bell going unanswered for nearly an |
| Many medical tourism facilities greet the patient upon | | | | hour and in rare instances, longer than that! |
| arrival at the train station or airport. Several medical | | | | There are options available for many tourists, regarding |
| tourists have reported that they have been given | | | | the final phase of their recovery time. Many facilities |
| transportation to their accommodations, making the | | | | offer the patient a choice of staying on in the facility or |
| entrance to the country much easier. There has been | | | | going to a nearby recovery facility. These recovery |
| no need to try to read maps or to find someone who | | | | facilities are often located on beautiful beaches, or in |
| speaks the same language so that directions could be | | | | view of a choice tourist destination. Once the patient is |
| obtained. | | | | feeling better, he is able to take advantage of the |
| Upon arrival at the medical facility, medical tourists are | | | | "vacation" portion of his medical tourism package. |
| pleased to find out that the hospital rivals a five star | | | | Granted, most will not feel the same as they would if |
| resort. The facility has been constructed with an | | | | they had not just undergone a medical procedure, but |
| attention to detail. It is open and airy, friendly and inviting. | | | | the reality is that the recovery is enhanced by the |
| The stark white and green walls of the hospitals in the | | | | vacation environment. Throughout the final recovery |
| homeland have been replaced with color and beautiful | | | | phase, there are trained staff available to attend to |
| art displays. There are plants everywhere. Many | | | | every need. Follow-up doctor's visits are also done, to |
| facilities offer indoor swimming pools and fitness | | | | ensure that the necessary recovery is being made |
| centers. Each room or suite of rooms has been | | | | with no complications. |
| meticulously decorated to appeal to the most hard to | | | | The bottom line is that countries specializing in medical |
| please tourists. Fresh flowers and fruit are waiting on | | | | tourism can offer a patient what developed countries |
| the tables, plump pillows are plentiful and comfortable | | | | cannot, and that is the attentive and often individualized |
| furniture is scattered around the room. There are | | | | care that all patients desire. The doctors and staff at |
| books, magazines and instructions in the patients' | | | | the foreign facilities create an atmosphere that |
| language, neatly piled on end tables and a translator | | | | resembles a vacation package resort, to make it best |
| standing by. | | | | possible experience that one might have, considering |
| After a short rest, many report that they were shown | | | | that the purpose is to have a medical procedure done. |