If you need an elective or semi-elective surgery, your closest hospital may not be your only or best option. Surgical tourism, whether domestic or international, opens many possibilities if you need surgery, want to work with a specific specialist, or are looking to save money on medical care.
Surgical tourism is a term that is often interchanged with “medical tourism,” and is used to refer to anyone who travels outside their home country to receive medical treatment. This article, however, will focus only on surgical tourism, both within the United States and internationally.
Why Do People Choose Surgical Tourism?
As the term suggests, “surgical tourism” is for people who do not need immediate, lifesaving treatment. Some of the most common surgical tourism procedures include bariatric operations, cosmetic procedures, dental surgery, joint replacements, and heart surgeries.
People choose surgical tourism for a range of reasons, such as:
Working with a preferred surgeon. People who need specialized procedures may be willing to travel to a surgeon who is known for being the best in his or her field or pioneering a technique. In many cases, such surgeons are affiliated with a medical “center of excellence.” Depending on your insurance coverage, the cost of care at a center of excellence may be equivalent to the cost of treatment at your local hospital.
Insurance providers are willing to let patients select “centers of excellence” for treatment because their success rates, particularly for complicated procedures or treatments, are usually higher than at other facilities. In addition, some large employers have contracted with medical centers of excellence to provide care for employees at a bundled rate, and even cover the cost of travel and lodging.
Selecting a specialist for a new or innovative procedure. A parent whose child needs a complicated heart surgery may need to travel across the country to find a specialist who has a track record of success. Likewise, people who have rare cancers may want to seek out the specialist who is most familiar with their disease and how to treat it.
Minimizing medical bills. Certain procedures, such as hip replacements, dental surgery and cosmetic procedures, can be significantly less expensive at hospitals outside the United States. According to the American Journal of Medicine, 1.4 million Americans traveled outside the United States in 2017 to save money on a medical procedure. The total costs for procedures in some countries can be from 30 percent to 65 percent of what patients pay for the same procedures in the United States.
What Are Some of the Concerns with Surgical Tourism?
Surgical tourism, even within the United States, is not risk-free. According to Science News, up to 22 percent of people who have surgery experience complications and must be readmitted. Readmission to a different hospital than the one where the procedure is performed is associated with a 26 percent higher rate of death within 90 days.
For people traveling outside the United States, there are additional concerns. These include the training of the health care team, cleanliness of facilities,and language and cultural differences. If you are considering traveling outside the United States for surgery, take a minute to read the American College of Surgeons’ Statement on Medical and Surgical Tourism. It lists some of the risks involved and how to minimize them.
Surgical Tourism: Getting Home After Treatment
In many cases, people can travel home safely after surgical tourism by taking the proper precautions. They may need to stand up and stretch regularly, for example, to help prevent blood clots, or closely monitor their fluid intake.
However, if a surgery is followed by complications, the patient may require a higher level of care. A medical transport service, such as SentinelMED, can provide peace-of-mind and make sure the patient is safe and comfortable on his or her flight home.
SentinelMED provides medical escort, repatriation and transport services for patients who need assistance with long distance travel. Our medical escorts are physicians, physician assistants, nurses and paramedics who provide care and support during travel. Our escorts can meet a patient at the discharging facility, travel with him or her to the airport and administer supplemental oxygen and medicines needed during travel. On arrival at the destination, the escort will accompany the patient to a receiving health care facility or the home of a family member or friend who will provide care.
At SentinelMED, we understand the complexity of delivering exceptional care to the sick, elderly or injured patient who is away from home and in an unfamiliar environment. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about our services and staff.
