MEDICAL TOURISM GUIDEBOOK. (First couple pages) IFORWARD am a - TopicsExpress

MEDICAL TOURISM GUIDEBOOK. (First couple pages) IFORWARD am a registered nurse working in the medical tourism field. This guide is based on many of my previous experiences and includes the good, the bad, and the ugly about medical tourism. Most medical tourism disasters stem from poor planning. This is especially true with self-guided travelers. A successful medical trip takes a lot of work. This guide is meant only as starting point. I am sometimes contacted by those who are in trouble in some foreign land during a medical trip. I know of many unfortunate cases where, if people had just been aware of some of the things in this document, they would have been enjoying a positive outcome rather than a troublesome and disappointing trip. I much prefer helping a client manage a plan that goes well, rather than helping them put out fires resulting from a trip gone bad. Hopefully, this little guide will help you ask the right questions to make your medical tourism project a success. I wish you much success with your trip and hope this guide helps you in some way. This is only a guide. Please obtain additional professional advice before your trip. Although this guide is meant to be informative and educational, it is not meant to be a replacement for the use of a qualified and professional medical tourism facilitator. I wish you the best of health and an enjoyable experience with your international medical trip. Sincerely, Jeff Mirra, RN, MCSE ---------------------------------- Ok, let’s begin. For a growing number of Americans, having their medical procedures performed outside the U.S. is their best option. Adding an international element to a medical procedure adds a lot of extra things that should be considered. Since it’s your health, happiness, finances, and possibly even your life, on the line here, you really want to prepare yourself to be successful. Even a small misunderstanding, or trivial delay, can create a chain reaction that can ruin the entire trip. Success requires an intricate and perfectly executed choreography between all the expert providers of your care and travel. Fortunately, there are a growing number of professionals available to help “facilitate” these trips. The cause of most “ruined” trips is simply due to poor preparation. Whether doing it yourself, or using a professional medical tourism facilitator, your best chance for a safe and positive outcome to your trip requires that you be extremely well prepared. I am almost certain that you will never regret one minute you spend crossing your T’s and dotting your I’s for this very important trip. Research – Failure to plan, is planning to fail Evaluate yourself first – Is a medical tourism trip your thing? Figure out if you are a good candidate for a medical trip. Define your condition and desired medical procedures and evaluate your options for being treated near home first. Most travelers go overseas to receive medical care for financial reasons. No insurance, high deductibles, elective procedures, and self-funded insurance programs are all common reasons for international medical travel. In addition, many breakthrough treatments, not yet FDA approved, are being performed in such areas as fertility and cancer. Whatever your reason, be sure you are personally up to the task of traveling to a foreign land for a medical procedure. It is not for everybody, and you don’t want to overwhelm yourself. Fortunately, there are many people out there that can help you make your trip safe, successful, and as stress free as possible. They’re called “Medical Tourism Facilitators” and come in a wide variety of sizes, flavors, and capabilities. Much more about these folks later.