By Steven Lash

As reported in the recent Financial Times article, “Travel Sickness,” the rising costs of healthcare in developed countries is having a positive effect on countries like Mexico, Thailand and India where medical care is available at a fraction of the cost. According to a recent report by Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, medical tourism is likely to expand at 35 percent a year by 2012. This means an economic boost and advanced infrastructure for developing countries.

The number of internationally accredited medical facilities is growing rapidly. There are now more than 200 international hospitals which have received accreditation by Joint Commission International, the international arm of the U.S. accreditation body for domestic hospitals in the U.S. Foreign governments are investing in world-class facilities to complement the influx of Western medical tourists and tourism bureaus are reaping the benefits of Westerners combining medical procedures with exotic vacations. Ideally, this will have a trickle down to improved health systems for those countries’ citizens, as stated in the Financial Times article.

International accreditation benefits everyone. It raises healthcare standards and increases competition, which raises the bar even in the public sector. In South Korea, for example, the government has launched a public-private initiative designed to do just this. The Council for Korea Medicine Overseas Promotion was established in 2007 to develop world-class healthcare infrastructure and to promote Korean healthcare to international patients.

Domestically, U.S. health insurers are buying into the growing trend of medical tourism, as well. Blue Cross of South Carolina, for example, has brought hospitals in Europe, Asia and Latin America into its network of coverage. State governments have also taken notice of the financial opportunities medical tourism provides. Although the bills have not yet passed, both West Virginia and Colorado have proposed legislation that would provide incentives to insurers that include medical tourism in their plans.

To make medical tourism a seamless, high-quality and convenient healthcare option for more and more U.S. patients, employers and payors, companies like Satori World Medical have entered the marketplace to offer a “one-stop-shop” for medical travel. Through such programs, all services and procedures for the patient are arranged by a reputable medical travel partner to ensure that all aspects of the patient’s care and travel are properly handled, from helping the individual select his or her surgeon and hospital abroad and transferring his or her medical records to the destination hospital, to handling all travel details, such as flights, hotel, ground transportation, etc.

Companies, such as Satori World Medical, also offer fully integrated medical travel plans that employers can add to their existing employee benefit offerings at no cost, whatsoever, because the savings are achieved through utilization. Additionally, with the Satori World Medical program, for instance, the participating patient directly receives a portion of the savings as well – anywhere from $5,000-$10,000 per procedure is deposited into an employer-funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). This offers everyone a compelling reason to participate in medical travel – the employer, payor and the individual receiving care.

As reinforced by this Financial Times article, as medical costs in mature markets continue to soar, medical tourism will continue to rapidly evolve in developed and developing nations, alike.

In this blog post, we will be highlighting one of our hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey – Acıbadem Healthcare Group. “Turkey’s leading healthcare institution Acıbadem Healthcare Group, provides extensive healthcare services with state-of-art medical technology since 1991. Acıbadem, operates with over 8,000 employees of which 1,580 are physicians, in 9 General Hospitals, 8 Medical Centers, 1 Laboratory and Genetic Diagnostic Center.”

- http://www.acibademinternational.com/

A quick highlight of this hospital’s achievements:

• First and only Healthcare Group in the private healthcare sector to acquire ‘Gamma Knife‘ known as Golden Standard for brain tumour surgeries
• First Healthcare Group to enter into a cooperation with Massachusetts General Hospital who is developing special software programs for advanced MR technology
• PACS Systems are available all through the facilities
• First digital radiology and paperless hospital in Turkey
• First Healthcare Group recently approved by the Ministry of Education to open its own academic health sciences university
• First and only Healthcare Group to own health and life private insurance company called “Acıbadem Insurance”
• First and only Healthcare Group to receive “the most well – known brand” award in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in private healthcare according to AC Nielsen Research Report.
• First and only Healthcare Group to be within the top 50 largest companies in the last 3 years
• First and only Healthcare Group that owns ‘Project Management Company’ offering services such as planning, 
implementation, supervision and consultancy
• First Health Group to establish its healthcare chain of hospitals, outpatient clinics and medical centers within Turkey
• Acıbadem Healthcare Group has the highest number of teaching physicians according to a research done by “Turkish Time”
• Acıbadem Healthcare Group including International Hospital facilities serves 23% of all the private medical services in the country.

 Click to view the Acibadem Brochure PDF

By Kevin Poling, Director of Travel of Satori World Medical

Satori World Medical offers many choices in destinations to receive medical care. Whether you are traveling internationally for a shoulder or knee replacement or even a cosmetic procedure, such as a facelift, you and your companion can take some extra time on your trip to enjoy the amenities of your hotel and experience the rich cultural areas in which our International Centers of Excellence are located.

The fifth of the destination cities of the Satori Global Network™ I am highlighting is Monterrey, the capitol of the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon.

Your ‘to do list’ while in Monterrey:

- Visit the Serengeti Safari wild animal park
- Experience the rich cultural heritage by taking a tour of the city
- Experience live music at the Municipal Palace: Open air concerts every Sunday evening
- Shop for jewelry or arts & crafts at the local markets
- Visit the Planetario Alfa art museum, science exhibits, and IMAX theater

Transportation

Monterrey is connected to its neighboring cities and the United States by many highways and a few freight lines. Transportation in while in Monterrey is quick, either via taxi or the Rapid Transit System called the Metrorrey. The Metrorrey currently has two lines and covers a wide area of the city. There are also a few old fashioned trolleys rolling around the city.

Tours

Speaking of Trolleys, why not catch one for a first hand glimpse of what the city has to offer? There are many trolley tours available, and tourists can usually catch them right outside their hotels. If you enjoy a cold beer now and again, check out the Tecate Group beer garden in the center of the city for some cold, fresh Carta Blanca, for free! There are many tours in the city that cover the main areas of interest, including the Gran Plaza, which offers weekly open air concerts, and plenty of cultural activities throughout the year.

Shopping

Travelers from the United States will quickly notice some familiar store chains, which can make it easy to pick up an item that was forgotten at home, without having to search far and wide. There are also almost a dozen large shopping malls throughout Monterrey, with department stores, cinemas, and food courts. Here, many tourists can find great prices on the same items they could find at home, all while shopping through familiar stores and brands. Monterrey has many souvenir and art stores which feature everything from postcards, to rugs, pottery, and beautiful handmade glass items.

Culture

Monterrey is home to many art museums, both contemporary and historical. Also of note are the many history museums, which include artifacts from Monterrey, and offer a deep look inside the history of Mexico. There are planty of interesting displays, from old treasures, to breathtaking glass art.

Monterrey is a city in which music holds a high importance. There are many places throughout the city that feature live music, of all types. Barrio Antiguo is the center of all of Monterrey’s nightlife, and tourists can easily find one of the many venues, featuring jazz, salsa, Nortena – as well as many big name entertainers that pass through the area. You’ll never know what famous concerts you might see in Monterrey!

Dining

Monterrey’s most traditional dish is cabrito, which is kid goat cooked whole over burning embers. It is based on the cuisine of the Jewish founders of the city. There are a number of other traditional dishes with this influence, and also a noticeable absense of pork dishes. Carne asada is a well known favorite, and is largely popular among Monterrey families. This is often served with grilled onions or baked potatoes.

Once again, travelers from the United States will feel very comfortable with the familiar chain restaurants which can be found throughout the cities, but why not try something new? The local restaurants (even the fancy ones), are very reasonably priced when compared to the U.S. Monterrey also offers a variety of international cuisine, with local flavor infused, for a very unique, and unforgettable taste.

View more of Satori World Medical’s popular destinations

References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterrey
[2] http://www.allaboutmonterrey.com/

By Kevin Poling, Director of Travel of Satori World Medical

Satori World Medical offers many choices in destinations to receive medical care. Whether you are traveling internationally for a shoulder or knee replacement or even a cosmetic procedure, such as a facelift, you and your companion can take some extra time on your trip to enjoy the amenities of your hotel and experience the rich cultural areas in which our International Centers of Excellence are located.

The fourth of the destination cities of the Satori Global Network™ I am highlighting is Singapore, an island located at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula.

Your ‘to do list’ while in Singapore:

• Visit the Orchard Road shopping disctrict
• If you are traveling in the summertime, go to the Singapore Food Festival
• Catch a concert or a show at Esplanade
• Go on a Night Safari at the world’s premier night zoo
• Relax at East Coast Park

Transportation

Singapore has a wonderful public transport system that has special pricing for those visiting the island. Tourists can purchase the Singapore Tourist Pass which provides unlimited travel. For a current ticket price of $8 per day, visitors can travel via Singapore’s buses and an extensive railway systems. Due to Singapore’s tropical climate, buses are air conditioned, and provide a comfortable ride. The railway systems are very fast, and provide 5 lines with over 80 stations.

Tours

Singapore has many attractions for tourists, and it’s easy to just explore the island yourself and find a day’s worth of adventures. However, for those who like to relax and watch the scenery, there are many great options available! For those wanting to spend time with a companion on their medical travel experience, there are numerous harbor and river cruises around the islands of Kusu, St. John’s, Sisters and Lazarus. Lunch, dinner, and tea is available on these tours of the waterways, and they are a great opportunity to relax and see new sights. For those feeling more adventurous and looking to catch a glimpse of the culture, trishaw tours are also available through Little India and Chinatown. Take a ride on three wheels and see some of Singapore’s hidden delights from a different prespective!

Shopping

Singapore is a mecca for shopping – and the avid buyer can find great deals on some of the world’s finest designer brands with just a bit of searching. Orchard Road is the main focus of the Singapore shopping experience. Here, shoppers can find anything from electronics to designer clothing, even rare antiques and imports, as well as very upmarket and custom tailored designer wear. Shopping in Singapore goes further than the main shopping districts though, deals can be found all around the city. Bargains can be found on useful every day items in the financial district, and all around the city and suburban areas there are lesser known shopping centers that offer some amazing items at even more amazing prices.

Culture

Singapore’s rich cultural heritage can be seen in many areas including Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam. Chinatown has recently been renovated, however some historic buildings and sites have been conserved. Chinatown is home to many shop houses, temples, mosques, and great places to eat, and gets quite festive around the Chinese New Year. Little India is a great place to shop for Indian goods and eat delicious Indian food. Traditional Indian goods such as spices, jewelry, silverware, and fabrics can all be found at great prices, and restaurants featuring fine North and South Indian Cuisine. The Kampong Glam is set in what used to be a fishing village and is just a few minutes southeast of Little India. Here, you can find the Istana Kampong Glam, which is ‘the Sultan’s Palace’, and also the Sultan Mosque. There are also a variety of merchants selling fine fabrics, Muslim merchandise, and foods.

Dining

Singapore’s unique blend of cuisine stems from the surrounding areas that have traded goods through this area since the early days of Eastern and Western trading. With heavy influences from both Chinese and Indian heritage, there are many different varieties and hybrids of some already classic food preparations. Singapore holds a high importance to eating, and eating well – you can find multiple course, fine meals 24 hours out of the day. In fact, the popular greeting in Singapore translates as “Have you eaten?”! Not only does the food have incredibly unique taste, and is available at all hours – but Singapore has extremely high standards for hygiene and preparation of food. You really can’t go wrong when dining in Singapore!

View more of Satori World Medical’s popular destinations

References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore
[2] http://www.newasia-singapore.com/

Brad H., a 63-year-old man from Palm Springs, California traveled to Bangkok, Thailand in September to undergo a facelift. Below is a recap of Brad’s medical travel experience:

I had heard about medical tourism through friends and the media, and I knew that people were traveling to exotic destinations to have medical procedures. When I heard about Satori World Medical in San Diego, I really felt like this was the best company for me.

I contacted Satori and spoke with Kevin Poling, the company’s Director of Customer Service. Kevin was very knowledgeable and helpful. Initially, I had some reservations about the care I would receive but after I spoke with Kevin, I felt assured I would have a positive experience.

I decided to go to Samitivej Hospital in Thailand for my facelift. I can’t say enough about Satori’s staff, their customer service was outstanding. They handled every aspect of my trip and medical procedure, making all my travel arrangements and transferring my medical records. The service and support I received really helped me understand and feel comfortable about the process and what to expect from the experience.

I traveled to Thailand in September. I was really impressed with the quality of the hospital. I had never before seen a hospital room with so many amenities. My room even had a flat screen TV. The service at the hospital was exceptional. The medical and nursing staff were very attentive and my surgeon was great. He took the time to explain my procedure and the recovery process. I had my facelift and saved over $7,000 on my procedure! Overall I had a great experience and I wouldn’t think twice about doing it again.