If you are considering traveling abroad for medical treatment, what is commonly referred to as “medical tourism,” your doctor will most likely not support your decision and will advise you to remain in the U.S. Such advice is certainly to be expected. To begin with, your local doctors in the U.S. are concerned for your safety and well-being and do not have the same information that you have about the hospital and doctor that you will administer you care abroad.
However, if you have diligently researched and obtained all the pertinent information about the hospital and doctor that will be treating you abroad, you may want to schedule a brief appointment with your U.S. doctor to share and discuss all the information that you have gathered. After your doctor sees all the board certifications, credentials, and accreditations of your chosen doctor and hospital, he/she will most likely support your decision and even offer follow-up care, if needed, upon your return home.
Rest assured that the US is not the only country that has rigorous healthcare standards and strong patient rights. Joint Commission International (JCAHO within the US) accredits many hospitals throughout the world. If fact, you may be surprised to learn that your local hospital has lost accreditation due to poor quality standards. Check to see if your hospital is accredited by the JCAHO.
One of the most efficient and reliable ways of obtaining detailed information about foreign hospitals and doctors is to work with a reputable medical tourism facilitation agency, like MedRetreat. Such agencies will have long-established working relationships with their affiliate hospitals and can quickly connect you to their provider network.
MedRetreat - Medical Tourism 
Leave a Reply