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"This is a very valuable website"
- Dr. Paul Gahlinger
Author, Medical Tourism Travel Guide
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Find Private Clinics: Abroad
In North America, we have had the good fortune to be able to access health care where we live. Neither Canadians nor Americans have needed to know or learn about health services in other parts of the world. Things are changing and we find it increasingly difficult to get health care at home. For Canadians, the challenge is getting access as the waiting lines can be years long. For Americans, the challenges are insurance coverage and the high cost of care.
International health care is emerging to meet the needs of people all over the world. World class medical care is available at reasonable cost for those who are prepared to invest the time and energy in finding out about these facilities. There is a great deal of verifiable information on the availability, quality and cost of health care away from home. The following resources are a good start.
US News & World Report
This is an American news magazine. It regularly features rankings of the best hospitals and best childrens hospitals in the United States.
You can access these special reports and rankings by going to their website, www.usnews.com Click on Health and you will find a list of health topics such as best hospitals. If you choose Special Reports from that list, you can choose Consumer Guide to Medical Travel. There you can click on World Hospital Finder and you will see 42 hospitals around the world that are accredited by the respected Joint Commision International. Included with the hospitals is a listing of their specialties.
The May 12, 2008 edition offers a cover story on medical tourism. Filled with fact and personal stories, it presents the current reality of international medical tourism. Written for the American audience, it is no less useful for Canadians considering international health care options. It may be available at your local library.
One of the best and most recent sources of information on accessing health care abroad is a book called "Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody’s Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Tourism" by Josef Woodman (Available at www.amazon.ca). This book describes all medical tourism destinations. Written for an American audience, this guide is no less informative for Canadians. Examples of helpful points are:
- Key questions to ask
- Why a medical broker or medical travel planner is essential
- The six thousand dollar rule
Another recent book is "The Medical Tourism Travel Guide" by Dr. Paul Gahlinger (Available at www.amazon.ca ). Separate chapters are devoted to specific treatments or conditions. For example, there is a chapter on joint replacement. Another focuses on cancer, transplants, and stem cell therapy. Published in 2008, this book offers advice on preparation for medical travel as well as the listings and descriptions of hospitals and clinics in nearly fifty countries around the world.
Joint Commission International accredited organizations
The JCI is an internationally respected health care accrediting organization. For a listing of JCI accredited hospitals world wide, see their listing below.
http://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/23218/iortiz/
Accreditation Canada
Accreditation Canada has recently expanded to focus on international accreditation. This is their website http://www.cchsa.ca/Default.aspx
For more information, go to Medical Tourism