Medical Tourism Podcast educates on medical travel(aka medical tourism, medical outsourcing, health tourism, medical trip etc). It provides details on the medical travel services that Medical Tourism Corporation facilitates.

 

 Medical Tourism Podcast [12:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Apart from educating on the benefits of using a medical tourism company, it describes the criteria used by Medical Tourism Corporation to add hospital overseas for medical care. Medical Tourism Corporation facilitates medical care at international low-cost specialty hospitals, clinics and surgery centers. These global medical institutes have expert doctors, surgeons, specialists and physicians, saving you about 60~80% of the cost. Countries include Mexico, India, Costa Rica, and Thailand.

Medical Tourism Corporation team visited Hospital Angeles in Tijuana, Mexico. This hospital is part of the largest private hospital chain in Mexico. Procedures offered to medical tourists at this Mexican hospital are Gall bladder Removal, Inguinal Hernial, Umbilical Hernia, Incisional Hernia, Lap Band Inamed, Lap Band J&J, Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Arthoscophy, Arthoscophy (Outpatient), Knee Replacement, Hip Replacement and Hip Resurfacing.

Video of Hospital Angeles, Tijuana

Pictures of Hospital Angeles, Tijuana

It took us less than 25 minutes to drive from the San Diego airport to the hospital. Hospital Angeles, Tijuana, is a world-class hospital designed especially to provide state-of-the-art medical care to international patients. The hospital boasts one of the best doctors in its field, supported by an able staff and latest medical technology equipment.

.

The 118-bed hospital has 97 private rooms and is located in an upscale area. It is the first fully integrated hospital in Baja California, meaning it offers complete medical services in-house (outpatient clinic, emergency room, pharmacy, intensive care unit, intermediate ICU, neonatal ICU, intermediate neonatal ICU, X-ray, tomography, MRI, nuclear medicine, fluoroscopy, angiography, fully-equipped laboratory, helicopter landing zone, and medical offices where 135 board-certified doctors practice). More than 50% of the current patients there are from United States.

The hospital is self-contained with its own cafeteria, a pharmacy, ATM, chapel and more, thus providing you everything that you may need during your stay. This is also a major reason why it’s such a popular medical tourism destination in Mexico.

And if you crave for good old American fast food, McDonald’s & Peter Piper Pizza are walking distance from the hospital. And then there is a Cine Mark across the Hospital, too. Not sure if it shows any English movies, though! For people missing a discount club shopping, Sam’s club is around the corner!

Hotel Marriott and a few luxury Mexican Hotels are closeby. These are used rarely by the hospital patients, as the patient and one accompanying guest are accommodated in the hospital.

The hallways, waiting rooms, corridor and patient rooms and suites are kept sparking clean and give an impression of a five-star hotel and not a hospital. The walls are decorated with brightly colored abstract art by Tijuana painters. A lot of work, thought and attention to detail have gone in the interior design to make the aura uplifting and the hospital patient-friendly.

The signs are in English and Spanish; many of the staff speak English. For US patients, a dedicated English-speaking staff member is assigned.

The hospital takes special care of its doctors to ensure they are relaxed and are at their best when serving the patients. There is an exclusive hospital club area for doctors that includes a relaxing lounge, exercise gym, jacuzzi, swimming pool, sauna and more.

Medical Tourism Corporation facilitates medical trips to some of the world’s leading hospitals including Hospital Angeles, Tijuana.

This is the second of a ten-article series that examines why health care and health insurance costs are higher in the United States.

Ever had medical procedure done in the USA? If yes, did you know what your real medical treatment bill was going to be? Did you know that even after the medical care was completed and you were discharged?

Chances are you did not, especially if you are insured by your employer! Don’t be embarrassed…

The US system of medical care is such that the patient in most cases does not know what the hospital or the doctors are being paid for providing the service. The patient usually only knows the co-payment or co-insurance amount. Depending upon the type of insurance plan, this amount could be just a fraction of the total amount, a fixed amount or maybe zero. This results in the end consumer (the patient, in this case) not getting an incentive or option to be a “smart shopper” for medical care. This adds to the inefficiencies in the system and many times the patient ends up getting medical service at higher prices in spite of there being more economical options.

For example, the charge for visiting Emergency might be $200 and the charge for a regular physician visit may be $100 to the insurance company. Many people when deciding to visit one over the other don’t have the charge in mind (as they don’t know it or financially its the same for them). They choose the convenient option. In such cases, non-emergency patients also end up visiting the ER and inflating the charge for the insurance company.

Another example is the case where there are more cost-effective treatment and surgery options available at overseas hospitals. Treatment at many international hospitals results in 60 to 90% savings on USA costs. Insurance companies can reduce the medical cost to them by allowing patients the option of overseas medical treatment. This is by providing the patient first the option, then adding an incentive to to visit overseas where there is more affordable medical treatment. With Medical Tourism becoming a global phenomenon, this is a very viable option that insurance companies, especially self-insured companies need to look into to reduce costs (and ultimately passing the savings to the consumers).

To summarize, smart insurance plans with smart options that would involve the end consumer is one of the things that can help in reducing health insurance and medical costs. Another thing that can be done is the education of the insured on the impact of their health care choices.