It is estimated that this year in the United States this year, balliatric surgical procedures will be performed to treat obesity and morbid obesity. Roux-nY gastric bypass surgery, considered the gold standard of a weight loss operation, will be performed most often at a price of $ 40,000 or more per operation. Less invasive gastric striped paws and procedures of the gastric sleeve will be performed for about $ 20,000 per operation. More people prefer to travel outside the United States, so that these procedures take place at accredited sites, where quality and safety are guaranteed by international governing bodies, and costs are less than half.
Medical tourism: The process of “leaving home” for treatment and care abroad or elsewhere within the country is a phenomenon that has emerged in the healthcare industry. A study in 2008 shows that Americans are more than ever leaving their homes to receive medical care across national borders, trying to find cheaper medical care. Pay attention to these points, which are reported in the consumer survey "Deloitte 2008":
- Health care costs increase by eight percent per year — well above the Consumer Price Index (CPI), thus consuming corporate profits and disposable household income.
- The safety and quality of medical care available in many offshore conditions is no longer a problem: organizations, including the International Commission for Joint Work (JCI) and others, are accredited by these facilities.
Qualitative:
Getting safe and quality care is a major concern for consumers who consider outbound medical tourism as a treatment option. Consumers seeking treatment outside the borders of the United States should look for centers that were reviewed by the International Joint Commission (JCI), which was launched in 1999 after a growing demand for resources to effectively assess quality and safety. There are over 120 hospitals worldwide that are accredited through JCI. Patients should also look for programs that advertise these attributes:
- US trained doctors and care groups
- English language services
- Use of clinical information technology
- Use of evidence-based clinical guidelines
- Joining a reputable, high-ranking US provider organization
- Coordination before and after leaving
- The provision of adverse events requiring the provision of services not available at the facility
Security questions are answered in frequent reviews by JCI and other governing bodies to protect the safety and rights of the medical tourist. Security issues in the accreditation process include:
- Are accreditation certificates regularly updated?
- Is the hospital complying with all standard safety standards? Are consumables properly maintained?
- Are food and stationary products hygienic?
- Are employees fluent in English or are they translators competent to prevent any misunderstanding?
- How safe and secure is the environment on the provider's site?
- What are the precautions that should be taken for post-procedure care?
Packages and financing:
Packages often include, but are not limited to: hospital stays, hotel stays, ground transportation, blood and X-ray, surgery, anesthesiologist, surgeon’s fees, surgeon and # 39 fees, nurses, discharge medications, medical devices and collections . Transportation to the destination and back, and the cost of the traveling companion is not included in most packages. Many centers facilitate the financing of medical procedures that they offer through a third company not affiliated with a medical institution.
