When planning a surgery such as multifocal LASIK. Many people quickly learn that it is far more cost effective to seek treatment in another country. Researching a variety of hospitals in the country where you plan to travel is a smart way to ensure that you receive the highest quality care. Many useful tools are available online which can be used to research multifocal LASIK surgery hospitals abroad, without leaving the comfort of your home.
Start By Asking Questions
By using the internet, it's easy to explore the credentials and reputation of any hospital providing multifocal LASIK surgery. A hospital's website will typically contain basic information, but it's often not enough to make an informed decision. Look especially for customer feedback and the reputation of any vision clinic being considered, and always schedule a consultation over the phone to ask questions.
It's important to have a list of questions ready to ask when contacting a multifocal LASIK center, but these questions are essential:
a. How often does the hospital perform multifocal LASIK?
b. Is the staff fluent in English?
c. What is expected before, during, and after treatment?
d. Where did the surgeon receive medical training and what additional qualifications and accreditations does he or she hold?
e. Can you see testimonials from other medical travelers who have had the same surgery with the same surgeon? Better yet, can the hospital connect you with a former patient for a conversation?
f. Is the procedure offered the most technologically advanced available?
g. If unforeseen circumstances such as illness prevent you from receiving surgery, what is the refund policy?
h. What visa and passport requirements are there and how far in advance do those requirements need to be met?
Research Medical Accreditation
The first option in researching a hospital abroad is to see if the Joint Commission International (JCI) accredits it. This international commission has a stringent list of criteria that hospitals must meet to receive accreditation. Additionally, if a hospital does receive JCI accreditation, the facility is guaranteed to have its criteria reassessed every four years to make sure it is still in compliance.
Not all quality hospitals have JCI accreditation, but that is not necessarily a red flag that should prevent one from considering a provider. JCI accreditation is a years-long process, and many hospitals do not begin this undertaking until after the first few years of operations, after the requisite high tech equipment purchases and surgical staff investments have been made.
Most countries where medical travel is common have government oversight agencies that provides guidelines, oversight and compliance in health care. Often, these accreditation standards have significant overlap with the JCI requirements..
Hospitals themselves are another, additional source of accreditation for surgeons. High quality institutions such as Group Angeles, Mexico's largest private hospital network, will establish peer review boards that establish internal standards for ensuring that surgical staff are another source of accreditation is pro
In addition to accreditation of the hospital, a surgeon's medical training can build confidence. Many international hospitals and multifocal LASIK vision clinics strive to provide the latest advancements in health care, thus they attract highly sought after surgeons with excellent credentials. When narrowing down qualified surgeons, it's wise to ask what local, regional and national professional organizations they belong to or hold additional certifications to.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) symbol is also important when researching a provider. This ensures that a hospital or vision clinic recognizes internationally recognized standards for health care and follows these standards, but it doesn't hold the same weight as a hospital that has been accredited and received oversight from a health care organization.
Cost of Medical Travel for Multifocal LASIK Surgery
Once a qualified surgeon has been chosen to perform the operation, planning the realities of medical travel can be a hassle. For the best prices and the best service, it's smart to research and choose a medical travel company that will work on your behalf to customize a package, taking into consideration your individual needs, and can provide a detailed quote for the cost of medical travel, including treatment, lodging, travel, and special accommodations. A good medical travel company will help a patient narrow the options to include only the most high quality medical facilities offering multifocal LASIK surgery within the patient's established budget.
By researching health care provider's abroad, medical travelers can be assured that they will not only save money but will also put their health in the qualified hands of a surgeon in a state-of-the-art facility.
Paulo Yberri writes for Angeles Health International, a angeleshealth.com/medicaltravel.html medical travel company with a large network of quality treatment centers and clinics in Mexico, and a variety of specialists including angeleshealth.com/tijuana multifocal LASIK surgeons.
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