Medical Travel - 3 Simple Steps to Getting Quality Orthopedic Care

With healthcare costs skyrocketing, more and more Americans - both insured and uninsured - are looking for quality care outside of the U.S. State-of-the-art hospitals abroad offer the latest cutting-edge procedures performed in the U.S. including orthopedic procedures such as knee or hip replacement surgery. International hospitals also offer U.S. patients the benefit of providing procedures not yet available in the U.S., such as and lumbar dynamic stabilization procedure for the spine, a non-invasive alternative to the common, more drastic and less effective spinal fusion.
Before trusting one's health to hospitals or hip replacement surgeons abroad or locally, it's a wise idea to research all options and ensure the care provided meets the highest standards of medical treatment available.
Following three steps will help ensure that medical travelers receive the best care when shopping for quality orthopedic care away from home.
Step One: Ask for a Quote
Even when placing priority on quality medical care abroad, it is still important to plan both treatment and travel within a budget. Experienced professionals can provide a quote that is customized to the medical traveler's unique needs.
There are a number of reputable medical travel agencies for medical travelers to choose from, however, more and more international hospitals are beginning to offer medical travel coordination services so that the patient and insurance company can address all issues and questions related to the procedure with 'one stop shopping'. Hospitals providing medical travel services will package the surgeon's fees, anesthesia and other hospital fees, hospital stay, lab tests into quote, adding hotel and airline separately so the patient enjoys full transparency of the breakdown of the costs. After narrowing the selection of hospitals, the next step is to provide one's medical history and records for the most accurate quote. Some hip replacement surgeons may require a consultation, depending on the complexity of the individual's needs, but should arrange these consultations for free.
This first step will provide a clear expectation of what the surgery and hospital care will cost, with no unpleasant surprises. That's why it's smart to have a full team of trustworthy professionals looking out for the medical traveler's best interests, and delivering peace of mind.
Step Two: Medical Travel Coordination
The first step in planning for medical travel is deciding on one of the hip replacement surgeons and having a phone consultation with the surgeon. A full discussion of your case should occur, including information about the prostethetics, the length of the procedure, pre-surgery instructions and full detailing of what to expect during the recovery period. After the surgeon has reviewed one's medical records and approved the medical traveler for surgery, the next step is to meet with a travel coordinator who will simplify the tedious tasks of arranging travel, lodging, and any other additional costs or accommodations needed during travel.
The travel coordinator should provide an itinerary that includes a detailed schedule, travel information, important contact numbers, and other pertinent details. All transportation should be arranged upon arrival, so treatment can begin as soon as possible. Reputable companies arrange the travel itineraries for all travelling companions, as well.
Step Three: Surgery and Quality After Care
In some cases, hip replacement surgeons may require a follow-up consultation before the medical traveler is released to travel home. If that's the case, the medical travel company should have access to low prices on hotel rooms close to the hospital where the traveler can stay in the interim.
Following hip replacement surgery, a surgeon will recommend using compression stockings to prevent blood clots. This requires special attention when the individual is returning home. Special arrangements may need to be made for the travel post surgery, another overwhelming task made easier when working with a dedicated and professional medical travel hospital or agency.
The difference is quite simple: when trusting one's health to a hip replacement surgeon, there is a lot of stress and emotion involved. It is often difficult and to choose a quality hip replacement surgeon in a foreign country while also trying to plan the travel details.
However, a good company will prioritize the unique needs of a medical traveler before, during, and after surgery. Professionals work on the individual's behalf, taking into consideration specific medical needs, to find the best hip replacement surgeon, arrange consultations and medical procedures, as well as providing quotes of cost for medical travel and even making arrangements for a less stressful experience.

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Medical Travel - bisogno di prendere precauzioni

There are fewer regulations, regarding health in India, applicable to foreign tourists. These regulations are more of the nature of prevention than anything else.
* Website WHO for international travellers.
* WHO India
Yellow fever
Any person (including infants) arriving by air or sea without a certificate may be detained incommunicado for up to 6 days if arriving within six days of leaving an infected area or in an area so in transit or came from an aircraft that has been in an infected area and has not been disinfected in accordance with the rules of Indian aircraft (public health), or those recommended by the who. Several countries in Central Africa and South America and are considered to be infected, ask at the Indian mission concerned for an updated list. When reporting a case of yellow fever from any country, that country is considered by the Government of India as infected with yellow fever and is added to the list above.
Malaria
Malaria risk exists throughout the year in the whole country except the States of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim. Certificate is not required, but a course of anti-malaria pills is recommended for all travellers to India.
Protect yourself from insects remained well befor ... areas, the use of repellents (applied sparingly at intervals of 4 hours) and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
Cholera
Proceeding towards countries that impose restrictions on arrivals from India or from an infected area in India because of cholera travelers are required to have a certificate. In any case, it is advisable to an inoculation against cholera.
General tips
* Drink only bottled or boiled water or carbonated (sparkling) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make the water safer by filtering it through an "absolute 1 micron or less" filter and adding iodine tablets to filtered water. "Absolute 1-micron Filters" are found in food stores Camping/outdoor.
* Buy water from respectable to guard against stomach in the bottle. Some of the best-known brands are Bisleri, Kinley, Aqua Fina, Himalayas, etc. Make sure that the seal of the bottle is intact.
* Beware of spicy dishes, especially at the start of your tour. Avoid eating food from street stalls. Eat unpeeled fruits and avoid fresh salads, especially in small hotels. If you are forced to eat food at some place that you have doubts, please ensure that your food is served hot.
* Always use a repellent, if you find yourself in an area prone to mosquito. But remember, not every place is infested by mosquitoes and low temperatures in winter (when most tourists come to India) kill most of the bugs in the hills and Plains of the North.
* If traveling in scorching heat, remember to drink enough water, use hats, sunglasses and UV lotion. Do not venture out of the mid-day Sun.
* Pharmacies or chemists are available in every small town and village and you can buy drugs. If you need to see a doctor for a specific condition, ask for help from your hotel (most have doctors on call) or your tour operator. The cost of visiting a doctor is quite low (less than a dollar) compared to Western countries.
Health Kit
In India, most modern medicines are available in drugstores counters, but it is wise to travel with an escort. If any prescription drugs are needed, make enough for the whole length of the journey. It is recommended that you bring a small kit should include a health remedy for upset stomachs, some antiseptic cream, mosquito repellent cream, lotion tanning/uv, etc.
Warning: this document is not a comprehensive guide for medical travelers in this region. Consult with your doctor for specific information related to your needs and your medical history; the recommendations may differ for pregnant women, children and people who have chronic diseases.
This article is brought to you by the website of India medical tourismwhich is a provider of medical services for tourists coming to India.

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Medical Travel - Do's and Don'ts

Medical travel has been a rapidly growing trend in the healthcare industry. With the ever increasing cost of medical treatment and the long waiting time in the developed nations, more and more people are willing to cross the borders to get treated.
Some of the major factors influencing the growth of medical tourism are:
1. Lower cost of treatment
2. Highly skilled doctors
3. No wait time
4. State of the art technology
5. Modern facilities
Even though there are many advantages to medical tourism, there are some concerns as well. In this article, I will discuss some basic points that medical tourists should keep in mind before finalizing their trip, to prevent from getting scammed.
The most important thing to begin with, when considering medical travel, is "RESEARCH". Here are some of the things to check online or with your known ones who have gone through this process.
1. Reputation of your medical tourism company - Many medical tourists take assistance from medical travel companies. Though this turns out a bit more expensive then going at it alone, it does saves you from a lot of hassles.
Hiring the right medical travel agency is key, and for that you should do a through check on the company. The Internet is a good place to see what people are saying about a particular company. Read reviews, if possible email people who have hired them earlier and get their feedback. Understand what you should be looking out for and learn from experience.
Do not choose a medical tourism company just on the bases of price. Reputation is what's important.
2. Reputation of the Doctor and Hospital - Don't leave this decision for the medical tourism company to make. Medical tourism companies are affiliated with some and not all the doctors and hospitals in the country of your interest. Do through research on doctors and choose the one that best suites your needs.
If you leave this decision for the medical travel companies, they just might choose a doctor that best suites their needs and not yours.
3. Before leaving the country, understand what is being offered to you and have that in writing and not promises. Understand everything from hotel stay to travel arrangements. Factor everything in and make sure there aren't any additional costs or taxes that you will have to make payments for. Understand what kind of arrangements will be made during an emergency or if anything untoward happens.
If you are going to be traveling within the country, make sure that the price you are paying for the entire package includes travel and lodging for that too.
4. Price for treatment - By checking a few local websites of doctors, you can get a really good idea of how much locals are charged for a particular treatment. Many a times medical tourists are charged a premium as their willingness to pay is higher. You can negotiate on price, if high, and know that quality will not be hampered.
In short, have a clear understanding of all the aspects of traveling for your medical treatment. Do through research and learn from others mistakes. Make up your own mind as to what you need and prevent from getting influenced.
With millions of people traveling to get operated for procedures like dental treatment, plastic surgery, orthopaedics, IVF treatment etc. medical travel has become safe and acceptable. But still, be cautious and do your research before taking a final decision.

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Medical Travel - How to Plan For the Return Home

After having surgery in Mexico, the last thing a patient should be worrying about is the logistics of your recovery. The key to successful health travel is planning. The patient needs to know exactly where he or she will be every step of the way before ever getting on the plane. Post-operation logistics, hotel or hospital stay arrangements should all be taken care of. But with a little bit of planning, the entire trip can be stress-free, allowing the patient to focus on healing.
After Mexico Medical Procedures
Whether the patient is having a minor procedure or something more major, he or she might not have considered what will happen afterward. If the patient is only scheduled for a simple procedure such as dental work, there might be no need to plan anything after the initial appointment. The dentist might be able to send the patient home the same day without any concerns.
However, most people who choose medical travel are looking to have more major procedures performed. For many of these procedures, patients need to stay in the area to be monitored for several days after, and some of them may even require patients to be in the hospital for monitoring. All patients should check with their physician before the procedure, and make sure they know how long they'll need to stay in the country afterward.
If the patient is planning a trip without the aid of a company, hotel fare can be steep. A good health travel coordinator can get significant discounts, allowing patients to stay in the area at a much lower cost. Nonetheless, medical travel is still much cheaper than domestic procedures, even if patients end up paying full price for hotel accommodations. Obviously, if the patient is going to be staying in a hospital, he or she will have to discuss the rate in combination with other individual procedures. Patients should be careful to choose a good hospital - it is vital to get good care before, during, and after each procedure. Again, a good medical travel company can help here, because they will know what the best hospitals are without having to do extra research.
Heading Home After Medical Travel
The most important thing to consider after health travel is the state of a patient's medical records. If the procedure has been at all major, the patient will need to get a full record of the procedure to the doctor who will be following up care at home. If the patient worked with a company thus far, it is very likely that they will be helping to establish care during your time at home, and they will almost certainly be able to facilitate the prompt and thorough transfer of all relevant medical records. If a patient is not working with a company, it is often wise to set up a record transfer before ever going in for the procedure. Especially if a patient expects to be traveling alone, without family or friends able to interface with the hospital during the recovery period, planning as much in advance as possible is a tremendous help.
The Importance of Aftercare
Once the patient have returned home and given all medical records to the local physician, he or she should make sure that all instructions given by the surgeon are followed as closely as possible. Patients should never hesitate to ask any questions they might have, and should absolutely contact their regular doctor or the surgeons who performed the Mexico medical procedures in question if any parts of the instructions are unclear. Almost every surgery available through health travel requires certain careful steps after the work is completed, from avoiding certain situations to changing lifestyle to taking certain medications. If the patient doesn't follow these steps exactly, it can seriously undermine the healing process.
Finally, the patient should ensure that his or her family, friends, and coworkers are prepared for an absence. If having major Mexico medical procedures performed, there is a potential for a long recovery time simply because of the complexity of the surgery. No matter whether the patient chose to have the surgery locally or chose to have it done in Mexico, he or she would still be out for a while, and close associates need to know that. Most employers will be understanding and work with patients to plan time off, allowing for the time needed to truly heal.
Many patients find that family and friends may be more difficult to schedule, as some of them may want to come visit, and may have difficulty imagining being able to visit if the patient is abroad. But with proper planning and a little attention to logistics, everything can be arranged before the patient leaves, assuring a calm and relaxing recovery period that will maximize each individual's ability to heal and get the most benefit from surgery.

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Medical Travel Is Here To Stay

I'm not someone who supports outsourcing most things to other countries. It's not that I'm against other countries sharing the wealth, so to speak. My reasons are twofold.

One, I see many jobs performed in America going to other places, and I see how it's hurt our economy. American companies create products elsewhere, then bring them back here to sell for the same money as before, but make bigger profits because they can pay foreign workers less.

Two, because the work isn't any better than what Americans can do, and is sometimes more deficient and doesn't fully follow the rules. Two things I can point to are Dell customer service and the medical billing company that threatened to post the private records of American citizens in a dispute with the American company that had contracted them to handle the billing. We may have HIPAA privacy laws in the United States, but there's nothing the American government could have done to this Indian company.

With that said, I have to change my tune when it comes to having medical services done in other countries to save money. It's hard to complain against an individual or company deciding that it makes sense to try to save money on major health care procedures for their employees. If a company can spend only $20,000 to send one of their employees to India or Mexico for a heart procedure that would cost $100,000 in the states at a minimum, while knowing that the medical facilities are high quality, then that's a smart and intelligent move that frankly I can't go against.

Last year I did research for an article concerning Mexico medical travel and that research showed that not only could patients save anywhere between 100% and 500% for medical procedures, including elective surgeries (laser eye surgery, plastic surgery, etc), but there were full medical packages at resort style hospital / hotels that fully integrated all the costs to save even more money.

The same goes for India, where the preponderance of very well American-trained physicians have set up extensive and specialized medical practices that offer nothing but the best as far as medical procedures are concerned. And the costs can be even less than doing them in Mexico, though getting there might cost a little bit more. But there are more physicians in India, so the concept of having to wait for quality paid medical care is nonexistent.

This is important news to know about as health care costs keep going up. Not only employers, but some insurance companies are realizing that they need to find ways to keep costs down since, at some point, there has to be a cap on the cost of insurance premiums.

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