Greetings and Happy 2010!
I hope all our "Friends of Patients Beyond Borders" enjoyed a long and restful holiday season. Most of the colleagues and associates I spoke with were more than happy to wave 2009 goodbye, and look forward to the new year—and decade—ahead.
Looking back on medical tourism over the last five years, our community has grown at a dizzying pace, from a ragtag group of pioneers to an accepted part of the greater global healthcare landscape. To name but a few milestones:
- 300 JCI-accredited hospitals (fewer than two dozen existed in 2005)
- The phenomenal growth of consumer-driven outbound traffic
- Engagement of AMA and other leading medical associations
- Mountains of media attention from nearly every leading source
- Early activity from the largest health insurance companies
The list goes on; and one can only wonder what the next five years hold in store for us. Certainly the medical tourism growth drivers remain very much in place:
- Aging populations in developed regions (e.g., North America, Western and Central Europe) requiring quality, affordable medical care
- The rise of large middle-class populations where more than 200 million souls entering this class over the next five years in developing regions (e.g., China, India, Indonesia) will require quality care that doesn't yet exist in their homelands
- Continued deterioration and inaccessibility of healthcare systems in developed nations
- The ability of excellent hospitals throughout Asia and Latin America to compete handily with their established counterparts in the US and Europe—both in quality and affordability
For the next twelve months, look for the long-awaited arrival of cost-effective, performance-driven, online tools that connect healthcare consumers to international providers. We'll also begin to see an increase in international facilities focusing upon medical specialties, as hospitals learn to target their audiences in terms of demographics and regional needs.
We're always pleased to hear from you with any comments or questions. You can reach me at jwoodman@healthtraveler.net.
All best, Joe
Patients Beyond Borders: Thailand Edition Launches
Land of Smiles Releases Guidebook Showcasing Medical Services
Healthy Travel Media (HTM) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announce the release of Patients Beyond Borders: Thailand Edition, in English for worldwide distribution. Produced in collaboration with TAT, the 244-page guidebook features 32 pages of color and offers an in-depth overview of Thailand's international hospitals, selected health travel agents, nearby recovery and guest accommodations, spas, and area travel information. Continue reading
Patients Beyond Borders and Medeguide Develop a New Marketing Tool for International Hospitals
FOCUS ON: Series Profiles Leading International Hospitals Healthy Travel Media, publisher of the Patients Beyond Borders series, and Medeguide, an online international doctor directory, announced today the joint launch of the Patients Beyond Borders FOCUS ON: series. Produced by Patients Beyond Borders editors and marketed by Medeguide, FOCUS ON: is an easy-to-distribute digital publication with search capability, enabling hospitals to showcase their centers of excellence, signature services, facilities, doctors, leading-edge technology, and international patient resources.
Continue reading
Medical Tourism Hits Oprah.com
Patients Beyond Borders Referenced Throughout
In lockstep with the nation's focus on healthcare, Oprah Winfrey has for the first time spotlighted the subject of American patients traveling abroad for treatment, known as "medical tourism." Introduced on Oprah.com Monday, November 9th, the segment presents medical tourism as a growing and important new choice for patients seeking to save significantly on the costs of an otherwise unaffordable medical procedure. Continue reading
Patients Beyond Borders Cited in Deloitte's Medical Tourism Update and Implications Report
Patients Beyond Borders Considered "Neutral Overseer"
Patients Beyond Borders, the first comprehensive consumer reference guide for medical tourism, was recently cited in a report, Medical Tourism: Update and Implications, released by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. Utilizing information on international medical sites culled by Patients Beyond Borders, the report cites Patients Beyond Borders, alongside the Joint Commission International (JCI), as "neutral overseers" with important oversight. Continue reading
"Medical Tourism" to Grow as Thrift Prevails
TheStreet.com, 10 November 2009
"Post-recession thrift, health care reform and the aging baby boom generation will likely lead to a surge in overseas 'medical tourism.'" Continue reading
A Global Guide to Medical Tourism
Oprah.com, 9 November 2009
Oprah introduces her audience for the first time to medical tourism; Patients Beyond Borders author lends advice to patients considering travel overseas for medical care. Continue reading
Health Care Goes Global
Delta Sky Magazine, November 2009
"Medical tourism is growing in popularity thanks to low cost, high-quality care and alluring destinations. Here are four reasons to skip town—for your health."
Continue reading
FACTBOX: Five facts about medical tourism
Reuters, 28 October 2009
"Medical tourism is booming as health care costs in developed countries spiral upward. Here are five facts about the industry ..." Continue reading
Growing Trend of Medical Tourism
FOX Business, 17 September 2009
Patients Beyond Borders author discusses traveling overseas for medical procedures on FOX Business with Brian Sullivan and Dagen McDowell. Continue reading
From the Road
Images from Malaysia and Thailand
 Exterior view, Prince Court Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Concierge service at Prince Court Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Deluxe patient room, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Exterior view, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
PBB author with Wendy Sirisampath of Budget-Smart (the two collaborated on PBB: Thailand Edition), Bangkok, Thailand
Position Available
Sales Account Manager
Healthy Travel Media, publishers of Patients Beyond Borders, seeking to fill the position of Sales Account Manager immediately. The role of the Sales Account Manager will be to identify and maintain client relationships, close sales, and support project implementation for a variety of new and existing offerings.
Responsibilities include identifying and approaching potential clients, successfully closing accounts, and meeting quarterly and annual sales goals. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and will report to the company CEO. The candidate will be based in Southeast Asia (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok).
Requirements:
- Four-year university degree in international relations, business, marketing, or related field
- Five or more years account management experience in a health-related field; work with leading international hospitals and healthcare organizations strongly desired
- Demonstrated ability to identify new sales prospects and generate revenue
- Demonstrated knowledge of customer relationship management, including project implementation and continued follow up
- Experience working internationally
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- High level of comfort with productivity software, including MS Office, contact manager, document sharing, and Skype
- Willingness to learn and work with new technologies
- Willingness to travel (minimum 25%)
- Ability to work independently in an unsupervised setting, including a home office
- Ability to work collaboratively and cooperate with a geographically diverse team
- Fluent English language skills required
Interested candidates, please submit resume and cover letter to jobs@healthytravelmedia.com.
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Inside this Edition
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Author Appearances
Medical Tourism Conference 2010
March 12 - 13, 2010
Chicago, Illinois
Healthcare Tourism Congress 2010
April 12 - 13, 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Global Medicine and Wellness Conference
April 26 - 28, 2010
San José, Costa Rica
APHM International Healthcare Conference and Exhibition
July 13 - 15, 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Medical Tourism Brazil
August 25 - 28, 2010
São Paulo, Brazil
 Follow Josef Woodman on Twitter.
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In the Spotlight
Patient Case Study:
Nancy S., Durham, NC
In 2009, Nancy S. of Durham, North Carolina, faced a dilemma. Her x-rays showed severe degeneration of her hip joint with complete loss of joint space. "I was limping around with my hip joint bone-on-bone," she says.
Nancy needed a hip replacement, and she set out to find how much the surgery would cost. All-inclusive package prices are difficult to obtain in the US, but she did some research and learned that she might be facing charges totaling up to $90,000, not including physical therapy.
Lacking health insurance—and, at age 56, too young for Medicare—Nancy wondered if treatment overseas might be an option for her. Then a friend told her about Patients Beyond Borders. Following the advice in the book, she engaged the services of IndusHealth, a health travel agent, and arranged to travel to Bangalore, India, for her treatment. She chose a world-class hospital accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI) and affiliated with a reputable medical system in the US. In India, she underwent a total hip replacement with acetabular reconstruction. The surgery lasted two hours. She and a friend stayed in Bangalore for two weeks.
The surgery went smoothly, and Nancy has enjoyed a successful and rapid rehabilitation. Her hospital in India sent all her medical records, x-rays, and test results home with her so she could follow up with her local doctor if necessary. The hospital's physical therapy department provided her with an exercise regimen that she performs regularly. "I feel great, and I'm getting stronger every day," she says.
Most impressive to Nancy were the people she met in India. The international-guest-relations staff, nurses, doctors, physical therapists, housekeeping staff, food service workers, drivers, hotel personnel—all were, in Nancy's words, "respectful, helpful, pleasant, efficient, and kind." Nancy was impressed with the communication among hospital staff. "I wasn't asked the same questions repeatedly by various members of the team. They came into my room knowing what the person before them had already learned about my condition."
Nancy says she would travel for healthcare again. She's now enjoying renewed energy and mobility at a price she could afford. Her surgery in India, including all hospital costs, totaled $9,000. Her additional costs included travel expenses, one week of physical therapy, and a week in a hotel.
Nancy is glad she arranged her surgery through a health travel planning company. "It was reassuring to know that I had a central contact person every step of the way, from planning to returning home, should I have encountered any problems," she says.
But by far her best source of advice was Patients Beyond Borders. Nancy says:
The book was my guide through the process of considering, researching, deliberating, and deciding to go abroad for surgery.... Every section of the book was helpful, including its lists of questions to ask physicians and health travel planners; words of wisdom on choosing a companion for the trip; costs of various procedures in many countries; discussion of expectations before, during, and after health travel; country-specific information; lists of additional resources; and more. The book rarely left my side in the months I was considering health travel.
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Of Special Interest
Knowledge@Wharton on Bangkok's Bumrungrad Hospital: Expanding the Footprint of Offshore Health Care
Interviewed by Ravi Aron, a senior fellow with the William and Phyllis Mack Center for Technological Innovation at Wharton, Mack Banner, CEO of Bumrungrad International, discusses the growth and future of medical travel in the excerpt below. For the full interview, please be sure to visit Knowledge@Wharton.
Ravi Aron: Can you trace the origins of Bumrungrad Hospital? Why was it set up? What was the impact of the Asian financial crisis, how has the business model changed and where are you now?
Mack Banner: Our hospital is a private hospital. We're 29 years old this year. Our hospital is known for the current building that we're in, which was opened on January 1, 1997. It cost us $110 million to build and we borrowed $65 million of that in U.S. dollar-denominated debt. Unfortunately, in July of that year, the Asian financial crisis began in Bangkok and...the private sector demand for health care in Bangkok, in Thailand and pretty much around the region dried up.
That prompted us to start marketing to patients in the surrounding area. That really began our foray into caring for international patients. Over about 10 years, we became increasingly known for what's now called medical tourism. It was helped in a weird sort of way by the 9/11 crisis in 2001 after...the United States put visa restrictions on a lot of people from the Middle East, as did Europe. It was just harder to get into the U.S. for a while and that prompted a lot of Middle Eastern patients who had been going to the U.S....to seek alternatives. They came to Bangkok and to our hospital. We saw about 12,000 Middle Eastern patients in 2001 and last year we saw over 100,000. So several events over the last 10 years have elevated our hospital's profile in the international medical community to where we now see—out of [a total of] about 3,000 outpatients a day—about 1,200 who are non-Thai. If you come into our lobby, it's sort of like going to Terminal 3 at Heathrow airport [in London].
International patients make up about 42% of our patient volume, but about 55% of our revenue because the patients who come to us from international settings...come for a mix of procedures [though] a fair number of those are higher end procedures. They make up an important part of our overall patient base and we have developed services over the years to respond to their special requirements.
Read the full interview
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QuickTakes
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