How do the privacy laws work when I choose medical travel?

For patients in the US, there are strict laws (HIPAA) that prohibit the release of medical records without permission of the patient. This prohibition extends to spouses and domestic partners etc. 

When you leave the US, and our jurisdiction, you enter another one. Local laws will prevail. There may be no privacy laws to enforce. Votes can be cast with the choice of a destination that values your privacy.  This is an indirect means of enforcement.

You can ask for a privacy clause to in your contract. The contract enforcement will likely be in the other country, where the services are rendered. A client who has their privacy compromised, would likely have to file their lawsuit in another country which can be very difficult.

Carefully choose your facilitator and website. Travel service placement providers may not be subject to HIPAA.  Choose a company that holds your privacy dearly. They should maintain your privacy whether the regulations apply or not. The release of patient conditions can be damaging to the patient, the company and the industry. It is bad patient care and bad business.

One health care worker released medical records to a tabloid. The person is now facing federal criminal (penalty and jail) and civil suits that far exceed the few thousand dollars she received for the release.

Jim McCormick, MD

Premiere Medical Travel

How do I know that this is the right choice for my medical needs?

The best answer lies within yourself. To be sure that medical travel is a viable route for your medical care, you must be very comfortable with several things before considering a facility. 

1. Do you know what procedure you need or can you designate a doctor to communicate your need(s) to the destination facility?
2. Do the facilities have high quality reputations that will meet your satisfaction?
3. Do you have access to someone that can explain the process and procedures to your satisfaction?
4. Are the facilities involved with international certification processes? If not, why not? Did the answer meet your satisfaction?
5. Are you comfortable with the culture (food, customs, habits etc. ) of the destination facility's country? 
6. Are you comfortable with the time frame involved for the travel there and back?
7. Are you comfortable with the time frame to recovery? 
8. Do you have a family member or significant other who can be with you during this trip?
9. Do you have any concerns that you are afraid to ask ?
10. Most importantly, are you uncomfortable with the idea of medical travel.

If you can not answer and resolve these questions with crystal clear clarity in your mind there are two options. One: find out more information to answer the questions and doubts to your satisfaction. Two: do not invest the time and money.

It is your health at stake and both your time and money to be invested by you as a medical traveler. The value to you as a consumer must be clear. Be very clear in your mind about how you move through this phase in your life. Quality organizations and providers can help to make this a seamless process if you are ready. But be ready and informed.

James McCormick MD

Premiere Medical Travel

Are there agencies that oversee the standards of care in countries providing medical travel?

The answers depends on the interpretation of the word oversee.

In the US, the Joint Commission International (JCI) that reviews international hospitals on an invitation basis. If the facility meets preset standards for patient care and safety, quality controls, lab and radiology processes, and other important benchmarks to ensure your care is comparable to the United States; then it is a certified. 

The Council of Trent Accreditation Scheme is a UK based not-for-profit organization that serves a similar function to the JCI. It appears to play a similar role in certifying a hospital or organization outside the UK has comparable care.

There is no enforcement ability per se, except removal of the certification. This can mean significant loss in patient volume. The impact of a loss of certification may not be as powerful an indicator to medical travelers who arrive from countries other than the United States. It is important to understand that these organizations can not impose their standards on destination hospitals. 

These organizations are working to ensure that quality is the lead benchmark indicator. The presence of their certification should be reassuring, but not a guarantee of perfection. They are essential and contribute tremendously to the global growth of the industry. 

Jim McCormick, MD

Premiere Medical Travel

 

The Philippines is going to grow by leaps and bounds. When I was there recently, the commitment to creating the necessary capacity and quality facilities was in plain site. St Luke's Hospital, Makati Medical Center, Asian Medical Center and the Tagaytay facilities were all undergoing renovations, additions or building completely new facilities. 

A recent post to the RSS newsfeed for medical travel also discussed the growth and investment in Cebu City. Similar efforts are underway in Subic Bay. 

This will be a significant area of opportunity for medical travel/tourism in the very near future.

Jim McCormick, MD

Premiere Medical Travel

Thailand

While visiting facilities in Thailand. Two colleagues underwent an impromptu evaluation, on a Sunday morning, without an appointment time. They were met with gracious happy receptionists and staff, were escorted to the exam area, dressed in light jogging suits (no exposed areas), then assessed for nearly 3 hours. 

They had a history and physical performed, an expansive array of blood work, EKG, Chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, and an exercise treadmill test. The price was unbeatable. More importantly they were very impressed with the high quality customer service experience and felt they had received a terrific value.

In my opinion, this is the cornerstone to grow this industry. It is not a competition for price point, but rather an option to receive the best value. As more facilities move into this space, the focus needs to move to value and customer service, not simply price. 

Jim McCormick, MD

Jim McCormick MD Premiere Medical Travel

Welcome to a leading edge site on medical travel and tourism. We encourage and welcome your input and participation. Our goal is to generate an educational and informative channel for the sharing of ideas, experiences, perspectives and information.

Best of Health

Jim McCormick, MD