Travelers and explorers love to pick their destinations based on culture, food, music and more. Have you ever selected your next vacation based on the best beaches? Perhaps you picked it for the oldest monuments or the most rugged hikes.
How often do you consider the healthcare where you are going, taking into account which hospitals you will be able to access? Do you evaluate the level of care you could potentially receive? These are more important if you plan to stay in a place for an extended period.
Have you ever done a hospital tour just to see how the nurse’s scrubs vary from country to country? Realistically, many people travel for health reasons, and with the growing cost of health care this is not surprising. In 2009, 43 percent of Americans said they would travel to receive healthcare procedures if they could save 50 percent of the cost of similar care in the United States. Whether a hospital or beach is your destination, it is important to be aware of your healthcare options. Listed by specialty, each of the hospitals below offers exceptional patient care.
It’s amazing to consider how other countries excel in certain areas of medical expertise.
Burns
The Prince Court Medical Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia offers a sophisticated burn unit that can treat burn victims quickly and effectively. Additionally, they offer an In Vitro Fertility department with multiple fetal monitoring systems. Patient care for International travelers’ is coordinated by a senior manager at the hospital to ensure care needs are met.
Orthopedic
The Fortis Hospital in Bangalore, India offers a variety of orthopedic procedures. These include hip resurfacing and replacement.
Spine
As its name would suggest, the Wooridul Spine Hospital in Seoul, Korea specializes in treating the spine. As a world leader in its specialty, its doctors focus on minimally invasive treatments and cutting edge surgery when necessary.
Electronically Operated
The Bumrungrad International hospital in Bangkok, Thailand has created a state-of-the-art electronic environment. From medical records to pharmacy prescriptions and lab results, the hospital has moved as much of its communications to computers and smart pads as possible.
Heart Bypass
The Asia Heart Institute in Mumbai, India is one of the few hospitals worldwide performing nearly 100 percent bypass heart surgeries. Additionally, it has one of the lowest mortality rates due to surgery in the world (just 0.26 percent for bypass surgeries and 0.8 percent overall).
Breaking Language Barriers
At the Asklepios Klinik Barmbeck in Hamburg, Germany, visiting tourists can receive a medical tourism handbook in Arabic, Russian and English. Additionally, the hospital partners with Germany’s cutting edge medical technology companies. This allows them to test the latest medical equipment before it is introduced to the worldwide market.
Beautiful Setting
For treatment and beautiful surroundings, the Hospital Punta Pacifica in Panama City, Panama sits along the Pacific Ocean. As a Johns Hopkins Medicine International affiliate, it is recognized as one of the most cutting edge hospitals in Central and South America.
While healthcare and traveling can be a dicey topic that poses serious concerns for some, it doesn’t have to be. With a little forethought, your destination can include high quality healthcare. A good Mai Tai wouldn’t hurt, either.
