{"id":270,"date":"2011-02-22T14:16:49","date_gmt":"2011-02-22T14:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drprem.com\/medical-tourism\/2011\/02\/22\/how-to-select-a-good-medical-tourism-facilitator-what-are-the-essential-roles-of-a-medical-tourism-facilitator\/"},"modified":"2020-07-24T12:31:19","modified_gmt":"2020-07-24T07:01:19","slug":"how-to-select-a-good-medical-tourism-facilitator-what-are-the-essential-roles-of-a-medical-tourism-facilitator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drprem.com\/medical-tourism\/how-to-select-a-good-medical-tourism-facilitator-what-are-the-essential-roles-of-a-medical-tourism-facilitator\/","title":{"rendered":"How to select a good medical tourism facilitator? What are its roles?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Medical tourism facilitators, which are those companies acting as one -stop enablers for medical tourism patients, should operate upon four essential and some optional\u00a0 functions in order to deliver the best patient experience possible. A patient should evaluate whether or not a facilitator stands true on the essential components listed below.<\/p>\n

Medical tourism facilitators<\/a> should understand medical services<\/h1>\n

Like any other industry, the consumer is King and it is of utmost importance that the facilitator understands what travellers want and accordingly what pitches to make to genuine providers. It is crucial to develop a sound patient-provider matrix. Since one can\u2019t rely only on online information which often tends to be misleading; facilitators therefore should act as reliable and sensitive consultants. You should ask certain questions when evaluating a facilitator\u2019s understanding of the medical tourism sector.<\/p>\n

Medical tourism facilitators should understand ethical and legal requirements<\/h1>\n

Awareness of ethical medical procedures<\/a>, medico-legal law and accreditation systems of the provider play an important role. Again, pre-and post-operative arrangements are of utmost importance. This requires that the medical tourism facilitators have a basic understanding of the medical subject so that they can confidently explain their offered services with all the technical details, thereby providing a better overall medical\/healthcare experience.<\/a><\/p>\n

Medical tourism facilitators should be knowledgeable of tourism and travel activities<\/h1>\n

A facilitator\u2019s understanding of the medical tourism industry should not only be limited to obvious activities such as travel booking, accommodation arrangements<\/a> and tourism exposure guidance, but should also include an understanding of environmental, cultural, political, security, and community factors regarding the destination. Development of customized benefits with special needs arrangements, interpreter provision and preparation for unexpected services in case of an unsuccessful medical treatment, are some of the critical factors to consider.\u00a0 You can ask facilitators about what support services they are willing to provide you with.<\/p>\n

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Medical tourism facilitators should offer concierge services<\/a><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A key component of a wholesome experience for travellers deals with destination management by third party providers. These specialized professionals take care of a medical tourist\u2019s entire trip right from their airport pick-up to booking hotel accommodation; from a hospital consultation visit and surgery to assistance in the post-op check up; and finally delivering the patient back to the airport.<\/p>\n

Optional services provided by medical tourism facilitators<\/h1>\n

1. Insurance communications<\/strong><\/p>\n

If the medical traveller is travelling with an international insurance policy or through an employer, he\/she may not be aware of any formalities required by providers and insurance companies. In such cases, a facilitator should pre-arrange all the necessary documentation to avoid any unnecessary delay in the treatment.<\/p>\n

2. Expecting the unexpected<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Medical services are not without complication; even after complete preparation, things could go wrong, and in some cases they will. In such cases a facilitator should make allowances for unexpected events which may include amongst others \u2013 long stay treatment, additional expenses, death related arrangements, etc.\u00a0 A medical tourism insurance policy could be helpful for the traveller.<\/p>\n

3. International accreditation<\/strong><\/p>\n

The presence of International certification for a medical facilitator<\/a> helps them to be better prepared in the field of healthcare protocols\u2014patient protocols, pre-operative and post-operative protocols, communication protocols and legal liabilities to protect organizations; in addition to receiving continuous education on latest trends in quality management practices. Accreditation, not only helps to improve the quality of service, it also instils confidence, trust and creates credibility for a facilitator in the eyes of patients. Placing the right processes and procedures in position can reduce the likelihood of errors occurring with foreign patients, and it certainly increases the chances of a positive outcome.<\/p>\n

Every accredited facilitator is a gain to the medical tourism industry, and should be truly recognized as intrinsic to its growth.<\/p>\n

4. Knowledge management<\/strong><\/p>\n

Medical tourism has a tremendous scope for involving ethical, cultural, and <\/a>legal issues;<\/a> the understanding of which can be gained with the aid of Knowledge Management Consultancy services by renowned, recognized and reputed consultants.<\/p>\n

One of the common ethical issues raised is the fact that a medical procedure at one destination might be deemed unethical at another. This is deepening the already existing inequalities in the global healthcare system.<\/p>\n

5. Cultural differences<\/strong><\/p>\n

Further, cultural differences between the countries must be understood to prevent any misinterpretations and provide services as expected by the medical tourists in their own countries.<\/p>\n

Why should a patient pay a medical tourism facilitator?<\/h1>\n

Many people avoid availing the services of a facilitator, as they cannot comprehend the need for this additional cost. The task of booking your tickets or paying the treatment charges of the hospital may seem easy enough to you but a medical tour entails a whole lot more than that. A facilitator offers their knowledge about the various destinations and facilities that you require. It needs a lot of expertise, which the facilitator brings to the table when planning medical travel.<\/p>

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In today\u2019s world of scarce resources, nothing is available at a cheap cost. You can avail treatments at reasonable rates according to your convenience but none can guarantee you positive results. If you want quality treatment then you have to adjust your budget accordingly. After all, it is better not to compromise on health and an experienced facilitator should be able to help you manage your budget effectively.<\/p>\n

Hence, if you have managed to find a good facilitator who can provide great comfort while helping you achieve a desirable outcome and a pleasant experience, you shouldn\u2019t mind paying them their dues.<\/p>\n

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Why should a patient use a medical tourism facilitator?<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Consider this; a family based in Connecticut wanted to get a coronary bypass done for their ailing grandfather. Great help was at hand with a great team of doctors and superbly appointed facilities, but there was just a minor issue of health insurance. The family scanned the Internet and came up with cheaper, but equally well -equipped options. Contact was established with the medical provider; travel arrangements were afoot. The family surfed some more in an effort to combine some fun by way of sight-seeing\u2014phew! This was going to be no easy task\u2014visas, legalities, pickups and drop offs, in-country, and in-city travel arrangements. In small strides, through a fully functional team of hands-on professionals \u2013 bingo!\u00a0 All arrangements along with a confirmed appointment with the most capable yet cost-effective service provider were accomplished almost effortlessly. This was the genesis of the medical tourism facilitator.<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What can a medical tourism facilitator do for a patient?<\/h1>\n

A medical tourism facilitator company is a one-stop-solution offering integrated knowledge of medical services, tourism & travel facilitation and concierge services to form a three-dimensional support system to the traveller. So with such responsibilities resting on them, the medical tourism facilitator plays an important function of bridging the gap between industry players and the consumer.<\/p>\n

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  1. One stop solution:\u00a0 A facilitator provides comprehensive support services including medical arrangements, travel and tourism arrangements, concierge solutions and communication.<\/li>\n
  2. Relationship management: A good facilitator can provide comprehensive relationship management in case the patient needs to communicate with insurance companies, governments or their employer\u2014bodies that sponsor medical tourism activities.<\/li>\n
  3. Know how: Facilitators are experts and they know how to handle situations related to medical tourism. They are experts in all aspects of medical tourism arrangement except providing medical services.<\/li>\n
  4. Negotiate better: A good facilitator negotiates better on your behalf, and therefore might be able to reduce the cost for you whenever needed. A patient might not be able to understand additional expenses charged by a hospital, so a good facilitator should be able to help.<\/li>\n
  5. Travel & logistics partner: A facilitator is an expert and partner for your travel and logistics requirements. They know what arrangements patients would ideally require, and could create customized arrangements based on your needs.<\/li>\n
  6. Representative: The facilitator could also be a formal representative on your behalf to communicate with your family and friends about your condition and status.<\/li>\n
  7. Continuity of care: This is one of the most important job responsibilities of a facilitator\u2014to make sure that your healthcare provider has prepared sufficient arrangements for your post-operative care during medical tourism.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Why should patients be careful when selecting a medical tourism facilitator?<\/h1>\n

    Let\u2019s touch upon the concerns shrouding the medical tourism industry.<\/p>\n

    Lack of government instated legal regulations has ensured that the sector has become an easy \u201cquick start\u201d.\u00a0 As a result, robust tribes of new facilitators are cropping up on the eighth continent\u2014the Internet\u2014and are raising major concerns for the growth of the medical tourism industry.<\/p>\n

    Dependence on the Internet as a source of information<\/a> has thrown the medical tourism industry against several hurdles due to the negative comments focused not on the benefits, but on the pitfalls. They are posted liberally on various blogs. Hence, the concept still remains largely unreliable or fraudulent.<\/p>\n

    Therefore, it is important to select a facilitator who can provide you with sound support on the above mentioned areas. There are associations and organizations that certify medical tourism facilitators, such as the Medical Tourism Association.<\/p>\n

    Certified facilitators are in general very useful as they provide all the necessary information about their in-house procedures to qualify for certification.<\/p>\n

    Special precautions for patients: Finding a good facilitator\/agency<\/h1>\n

    As mentioned above, finding a good medical tourism facilitator is one of the important tasks you need to perform. A facilitator with vast experience can organize your trip much better than you could have imagined. In short, a tour facilitator makes the touring experience much more pleasant and stress-free for you, leaving you free to look after other issues during your medical tour.<\/p>\n

    Special precautions for patients: Avoiding the online trap<\/h1>\n

    Nowadays, patients primarily adopt the Internet and web-based tools to gather information. A good facilitator would be always available at your service so that he can listen and understand your requirements completely. Availability can be enacted via e-mail or telephone or if you live nearby, then you can arrange a one-on-one meeting with your facilitator.<\/p>\n

    Special precautions for patients: Developing one-on-one communication programs<\/h1>\n

    Medical facilitators play a very important role in a medical tour as they have established links with different hospitals through which they can provide you with exciting packages. If an agent is experienced enough they will be able to provide you with expert advice in the further process. One must ensure that the agent is taking feedback and follow-ups through the telephone personally and not through e-mail. In this manner you can establish a one-on-one communication with the facilitator and speed up the travel process.<\/p>\n

    Special precautions for patients: What a patient should not discuss with a facilitator<\/h1>\n

    Although you should have a brief discussion with the facilitator so that he\/she can make out what your needs are and offer you productive options accordingly, several complex medical matters are best discussed with a doctor\/surgeon, as they will be the correct persons to impart accurate advice. In the event that something goes wrong with your treatment, it is better not to discuss the details of the legal matters between you and the hospital, with the facilitator.<\/p>\n

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