What’s Hospital Accreditation? Why should a medical tourist look for hospital accreditation? Are non-accredited hospital are non-reliable?
There is no doubt that medical tourism offers many benefits to the tourist. The benefits range from considerably cheaper healthcare cost, more treatment options to choose from to the significantly less waiting time for the healthcare services. However, like all good things, medical tourism also has downsides- the medical tourist may become exposed to different types of foreign diseases; the tourist may not be aware of the quality of care being provided; travel may be stressful for a patient who is recovering from major surgery; in case of any malpractice, the laws may not be favorable and the standards of patient care may vary from country to country. These issues have given rise to various international accreditation and regulatory bodies which provide regulatory services for both patients and health care professionals worldwide. These organizations ensure that the healthcare provided to the international patient is safe and of high quality. These accrediting organizations help hospitals in improving their healthcare standards to receive accreditation. The organizations also help the patients get best possible care at the lowest prices possible.
Accreditation means that the particular healthcare facility follows certain standards set for providing healthcare. Hospitals that are accredited, subject themselves to a comprehensive evaluation and make an effort to improve the healthcare factors that may directly or indirectly involve the quality of the care and safety of the patients.
Accreditation is an important factor that a medical tourist must consider when planning medical travel. Accreditation is the only way to know if the hospitals maintain appropriate standards of healthcare. Accreditation of the hospital indicates that the hospital maintains hygiene, uses latest state-of-the-art technology and the healthcare is provided by well-qualified and expert medical professionals. Accreditation check makes the assessment of a hospital easy which may be otherwise difficult, if getting medical care in a different country. It is necessary for a medical tourist to conduct a research on the facility and the doctors for accreditation and certification.
However, I must state that non-accredited organization might offer quality care as accredited organization if they are following enough quality protocols, they might be equally reliable, but as a medical tourist, if you are not aware about quality at destination look for accredited facilities.
Soon I will write about different type of accreditation it’s valuation, importance and differentiation.
Dr Prem Jagyasi
