Business networking in medical tourism has been growing steadily driven by the need for enhanced collaboration for a seamless and exceptional patient experience.80% of professionals feel networking is essential for success. Your network is your net worth. No matter what is your social standing, your network adds to your worth and credibility. This is even more true in medical tourism where the ‘trust’ factor plays out more than anything else.

You realize the value of networking only when you do it. The more you interact the more you realize it.Of all business activities, networking should be one of your top priorities. On getting a chance, make the best use of it.

This medical tourism guide shares useful tips and strategies for medical tourism business networking to help you broaden your vision and scale new heights.

Importance of Business Networking in Medical Tourism and How to do it? A Guide by Dr Prem Jagyasi

What is the prime objective of business networking?

It is building relationships. Medical tourism involves patients traveling from their home country to another for suitable treatments to alleviate their sufferings. They have to cross several touchpoints to achieve their objective. Building relationships through networking helps create a mutual support system to provide patients with hassle-free experiences at every touchpoint leading them through a great treatment and healing journey.

Patients from different countries can seek your support. It is not that you know everything about the patient and the best ways to help them out. Each patient is unique and so are their needs. In such unique situations, you can easily get information from your contacts in the network to better understand their needs and create a seamless journey for them.

A patient might be looking for a treatment not available in your facility or destination. Instead of bluntly replying no, you can reach out to your network and help him get the best feasible solution. Not only do you spare the patient from the trouble of knocking on different doors, but also improve your credibility. The patient will be delighted and will spontaneously spread good words about you and fetch referrals.

Why business networking in medical tourism is important?

Ask yourself, why people will buy your medical tourism services? Decision-making in medical tourism is very complex. People do not love to cross the border for treatments unless there is a dire need. Strong business networking in medical tourism can make things easier for them and providers creating a win-win situation. Let us see how.

Helps in building trust and credibility

As mentioned above, trust and reliability are key to success in the medical tourism business whether you deal with patients or healthcare facilities. One of the simplest ways to establish your trust is through your network.

Networking helps you to connect with healthcare providers, facilitators, and other stakeholders and experts whose reliable recommendations and testimonials can help you to get international medical tourists. Patients will be convinced about your services and choose you. As per a survey, 87% of patients or medical tourists are more likely to choose a healthcare provider based on good reviews and testimonials.

Makes you known to many, not few

You will love to expand your visibility. As your business picks up growth, this becomes a never-ending journey full of excitement. The importance of business networking in medical tourism lies here. You expand your reach beyond the close circle of influence.

Networking opens the gate to global connections allowing you broader access to markets. People come to know about you and your services. You sow the seeds of partnerships and collaborations amplifying the future growth potential of your business.

Harness the referrals

Referrals in medical tourism business act as catalysts, and they come from your network. Those who know you well will not hesitate in referring a patient. Facilitators, agencies, hospitals, and clinics depend a lot on trusted partners built over the years for referrals. When people come to know each other better, dependence sets in by default and that has far-reaching intangible benefits. This is a strong power of networking in medical tourism.

Gives access to insider knowledge

Knowledge is not only what you get from texts or your own insights. When you network in the world of medical tourism, you get the hang of the latest trends and breakthroughs. And you know what? You learn unique practices and strategies that didn’t strike you before! You see things from different perspectives. Here lies the importance of business networking in medical tourism.

You will find experts sharing their opinions and views in medical conferences, meets, and conclaves. These experts are conscious of the benefits of knowledge sharing, and they also look for more. All are learners on that platform. When you hear them, you get access to deeper knowledge enabling you to stay ahead of the curve by creating exceptional services.

Fosters meaningful collaboration

You need to coordinate with different providers to offer a great medical tourism experience to international patients. When you are into networking, you can pick up the right partners having similar values. You build your resources to create comprehensive packages and offer unparalleled value to international patients.

Builds Cultural Understanding

Not understanding cultural issues in medical tourism is a big barrier to your business. Patients won’t turn up if they find you are not culturally competent. Patients nurture a definite culture-oriented value system regarding medical treatments, which is their comfort level. Businesses with a better understanding of this part can create delightful patient experiences.

As you get deep into business networking in medical tourism, you meet people from diverse backgrounds. You gradually develop cultural understanding and empathy that help you cater to the unique cultural needs of medical tourists leading to enhanced patient satisfaction. They will be spontaneous in spreading positive word of mouth helping you build a strong reputation online and offline.

Have an edge over others

You might be wondering how it can be possible when your competitors might be doing the same. Business networking allows you to know your competitor from close quarters. You can find the gaps in their offerings which you can fill in with your product. It gives you opportunities to innovate. In medical tourism business networking events, it is not only that words fly, ideas fly too. You need to have that insight to tap it.

Opens New Revenue Streams

Business networking opens doors to newer revenue inflows. You can form strategic partnerships with healthcare tech companies, wellness resorts, and other associated service providers and increase your revenue with more curated offerings.

Builds stellar reputation

As you network, people will come to know of your services which will take youto a bigger circle. You let people know what you do and how it is helping patients in medical tourism. People will invite you to join in panel discussions and share your experience. You position yourself as a trusted authority, which translates to a greater reputation in the industry.

Creates a supportive ecosystem

A sense of community builds up with business networking. Interdependence is ingrained in human beings which gradually leads to building an intrinsic support system. Experts and professionals always help each other in various ways or seek advice. The camaraderie of this supportive ecosystem helps in tackling common challenges without any resource constraints, a win-win situation for all.

Promotes ethical and responsible practices

Medical tourism is largely an unregulated sector. Unscrupulous practices are still rampant leading to disastrous consequences. Patients’ expectations go awry. Networking creates opportunities for certification programs and associations that drive providers to adhere to international standards and regulations. This builds patient trust and confidence in the medical services available in other countries.

Builds International Healthcare Networks

Business networking helps healthcare and service providers all over the world broaden their outreach by creating robust healthcare networks or clusters. This is happening in medical tourism where leading destinations are partnering with other reputed providers to create a sustainable patient flow from different countries.

Encourages continuous professional development

When you meet experts and professionals, you always get into new learnings. Plus, business networking in medical tourism means you are likely to attend workshops, masterclasses, seminars, and training sessions that will help in your professional development. You remain updated about the latest advancements and trends in healthcare and customer behavior that help you realign your products for better patient experiences.

In this interconnected world of medical tourism, business networking will act as the catalyst for growth and transformation. Networking fosters innovation and empowers organizations and individuals in laying a strong foundation for the medical tourism industry.

What are the essential skills of business networking?

Anybody can network but to make it purposeful you need to have some essential skills. In the medical tourism business, networking is set to be beyond your home country. In most cases, business networking remains very passive except occasional exchange of greetings. Business networking thrives with innovation, sharing, and community support which is so relevant in this dynamic sector.

Here are a few skills that you help you in exceptional business networking in medical tourism.

Be authentic

Authenticity wins over other qualities. Be your natural self while interacting with others. Engage in casual conversations to set the ball rolling. Share your personal interests and drive the other person to do the same. If you put on a mask or force yourself to do something, the other person will be quick to recognize this and will not go further.

Carry your confidence

Confidence grabs attention. Confidence creates impression. This displays your authority while networking without any show-off.Else, you might feel lost in the crowd. Nobody will pay attention to you. It could be in-person informal chats or email communication, how you present yourself with confidence matters. People will love to be in touch with you.

Use 4Cs in communication

Effective business networking communication rests on these 4Cs of communication – Courteous, Clarity, Control, and Context. Courteous words build relations faster. Speak when your turn comes instead of snatching the mic.

Cloudy communication that does not convey things is not for business networking. If you get into a discussion, make sure you utter clear sentences easily understandable to others. Your clarity of words will make the other person/persons comfortable.

Have control of your words. It might be difficult for the other person to absorb if you keep on talking too many things at a time. Give space for the other person to speak. Be in the context, do not jump into some other topic or speak irrelevantly just for the sake of interaction.

Public Speaking

This is not mandatory but helps a lot in medical tourism business networking. Medical tourism is an emerging sector that people know very little about it even after studying so many things. If you are good at public speaking, people in the trade will always be keen to listen to you for new insights. They will participate in your events and workshops and contribute to your network building.

Patience and persistence

Networking in medical tourism is not as frequent as in other businesses. Here, your patience and persistence will play out. While patience helps you build rapport and trust in contacts, persistence empowers you to fight obstacles and find opportunities to build a robust network that becomes a valuable asset. Networks build over time. If you are a medical tourism startup, you will have to be patient enough to get an appreciable number of contacts in your network.

Curiosity

Curiosity is a big driver of interaction. Show genuine interest in knowing other professionals, and experts. Study how different medical tourism business models could be. You will try to figure out what challenges they have faced and how it can help you. People will love to share their knowledge and viewpoints.

You will be surprised to find how your curious mind can catch new ideas during an interaction. It might be an instant solution to a problem that didn’t strike you before. Curiosity also sets you apart as someone who is genuinely interested in others’ success. This lifts your image and people will show more interest in networking with you.

Nurture empathy

Empathetic people tend to network better. When you understand others’ problems and show your feelings, you easily get into their comfort zone. If you can go further by helping their problem, you are sure to add a few more valuables contact to your network.

Be consistent

Successful networking should be ongoing. You should not be away from it even if it seems overwhelming at times. You need not do too much at a time but be consistent in participating in various activities both offline and online. Plan a networking calendar.

Problem-solving ability

A person good at problem-solving automatically builds good connections. People and businesses will realize the benefits of being connected with you. They will take more initiatives to carry on with the relationship.

Proper self-grooming

Pay attention to your grooming. Maintain a neat and tidy appearance. Follow a dress code if specified. Simple is the new sophistication. This will make others feel comfortable about you. They are more likely to remember you and have trust in you.No need to overdo things to look glamorous.

Brand showcasing

You are into business networking with a purpose. Unless you showcase your brand, how will others know about you? Explaining what you do in the medical tourism business and how it helps patients need skillful articulation. Neither you should show off nor underplay your work and achievements. Timing is very important. Select a proper time to talk about your brand.

Be consistent in promotion

Networking in medical tourism is not only about participating in events and conferences. Use digital channels to expand your network. Let people know about your recent activities and achievements. Create impactful social media posts to drive engagement.

Tips on how to start business networking in medical tourism

All being said about the importance and skills of business networking in medical tourism, you need to start from somewhere. No one will come to you on their own unless you step out to find them. Here are a few simple steps:

Create a strong online presence

If you are a budding medical tourism startup business all set to take a plunge, this would be the first step to start business networking. Create a good website and social media profiles to forge connections with professionals, organizations, and communities. Post regularly about your ideas, thoughts, what you intend to do, and how. Seek opinions and views.

Share your business card online

This is the basic step in business networking where a good business card helps in setting connections. Create a soft copy of your business card that you can share easily through social media platforms. It minimizes the chances of getting your card misplaced which is common with hard copies.

Find referral partners

Reach out to travel agents, healthcare providers, and other agencies that cater to medical tourists. These should be the first connections in your medical tourism network. Going further, you can get into partnerships with these businesses.

Join Associations and Groups

Seek memberships in leading medical tourism and healthcare associations. Be active in these communities and engage with experts and professionals regularly. Add value through your participation which will help you establish more connections.

Identify key events

Look for trade events, road shows, and conferences on medical tourism and healthcare that can fulfill your objectives. These events are excellent opportunities to meet industry experts and build your network.

Use Online Platforms

Make the best use of online medical tourism groups and communities. Share your knowledge and expertise and reach out to individuals and organizations having similar goals and objectives.

Attend workshops and masterclasses

Enroll in good medical tourism workshops and masterclasses be it online or offline. Participate in webinars. Interact with experts and mentors about your learning experience in these workshops and webinars. In this way, you will make yourself visible in the network.

Few useful tips to improve business networking in medical tourism

After all the groundwork, you aim for a bigger network with more useful connections. Each person you interact with is a learning experience that takes you a few steps ahead. How to improve on it? Follow these useful tips.

Be a mindful listener

Mindful listening is the first step to building trust in networking relationships. Mindfulness makes you fully present in the moment. When you put your mind and body into hearing out others, people find confidence in you.

You are more aware of things that are happening around you and those likely to happen. It helps you get deeper insights into the latest medical tourism business trends and customer behavior. As many as 35 studies state listening as the top skill for business success.

Improve your social skills

Business networking is more than just a formal exchange of words and gestures. How you say is more important than what you say. Introduce yourself properly. Your mannerism gets noticed first. Other social skills like showing care and feelings improve the chances of building fruitful relationships.

Tell a great story while communicating your cause

Why a potential connection be interested in you unless they find something unique? Bland casual interaction doesn’t incite curiosity. Human brains are wired to enjoy stories. It need not be always success stories. Stories of struggle attract more minds. Tap your storytelling power to make your connections get curious about you.

Set your intention and goals

Are you looking for clients, referrals, or partnerships? Or do you want to increase your visibility by showcasing your offerings? Knowing this helps you to focus more on your efforts and make the best of networking opportunities.

Focus on win-win partnerships

After spending some time in networking, you need to narrow down your focus on win-win partnerships. By this time, you might have met numerous professionals and experts. You know what works and what does not. Focus on those strategies to churn out purposeful partnerships.

Maintain lean action-driven communication

Lean communication is often action-driven which might lead to striking a great partnership deal.Lean communication does not give room for diversion, you are always to the point. Whatever you look for, make sure it is specific, measurable, and leads to a time-bound outcome.

Add value to your network

Always try to add value to your network to make your brand more prominent. It might be offering some help, sharing knowledge and resources, or your expertise with your connections.

Strive to be a power connector

Instead of putting your purpose first always, try to build connections among your connections. Help your contacts reach out to others in your network. This makes your network stronger allowing you deeper access to information and help. Others will also feel valued to be a part of your network.

Focus on strategic networking

Everybody in your network is an asset. But as you grow in networking, you need to figure out how many strategic relationships you have in your network compared to other relationships. Find out who are in the closest circle and is of immense value to you. Allot your networking time and priorities accordingly.

Look for heterogeneity

Having like-minded people in your network is good, but that might not be as useful as you think. Make connections with people different from yourself. It is not that you will always have professionals from the medical tourism sector. Consider including professionals from the vast wellness and healthcare industry to broaden your vision and growth opportunities.

Business networking is an art. The more you practice the better you are at it. Business networking need not be transactional always. Neither you should aim to win others. In medical tourism, there can be numerous ways to help and support your connections, which helps build a bond.

Dr Prem offers great business networking opportunities in medical tourism

Dr Prem has an extensive network owing to his vast traveling experience in 65+ countries for medical tourism and wellness consultancy. Business networking is his forte. With an extensive experience in medical tourism consultancy and wellness consultancy spanning more than two decades, Dr Prem has emerged as a leading influencer and trusted resource.

He has been pivotal in connecting professionals, facilitating collaborations and partnerships helping in the growth of other businesses. Dr Prem’s expertise and insights fetched a massive social media following emerging as a valuable platform for learning, networking, and community-building. His genuine passion for interacting and connecting with new people and organizations has helped him evolve as an invaluable resource in medical tourism business networking.

If you are eager to enjoy networking in medical tourism to push the growth engine of your business, reach out to him at DrPrem.com. Get connected with global leaders, experts, and other professionals to learn and explore your growth opportunities.