Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ryan Owens on June 24, 2009 at 10:21am

I'm not sure that I would say important as much as extremely useful. There are facilitators such as Global Surgery Network that hold that link between hospitals and clients and it does just that; creates a common protocol for transactions. However, most of this information isn't online. It has always been of great interest to me to do for medical tourism what Google Health is doing for the rest of the world. Bring all the clients information online so that they can have complete access to it and interact with it as they need. This would also make things a little easier in regards to the communication between the individual and their physician. There is only one major reserve and its major enough that it has kept Global Surgery Network from pursuing it further; the age of clients and physicians alike that brings a lack of understanding in regards to computers and the Internet. If it were guaranteed that each individual involved in medical tourism were as knowledgeable of these technologies as you and I and everyone else involved with Medical Tourism City, then there would be a sure fire answer; absolutely it should already exist. Until these technologies are common knowledge to everyone, a point in time that we may not live to see, then physical connections will have to remain the best source for clients.

Permalink Reply by Kalee Shah on July 3, 2009 at 2:05pm

Benosh,

I believe that is would be an extremely important tool for patients seeking to go abroad. I am new to the concept of medical tourism, and for someone that is not an expert in the field (like most of the patients going abroad) I would find this platform very useful. Otherwise, I would be very overwhelmed with all the information out there and I wouldn't really know if I was getting the best for me because I couldn't compare a lot of hospitals/doctors. Also, the internet is such a powerful resource, I believe that creating a platform like this would also help the growth of the industry.

Permalink Reply by Ashok Panda on December 11, 2009 at 4:46pm

We need to understand what percentage of patients travelling for medical causes are well versed with use of web applications.Are they basic users or advanced users ? Creating an application is certainly a welcome action and a step ahead in patient empowerment and make things easier for increase visibility of hospitals, but are the users trained in it or can they learn the use as huge number of people have learned the use the popular social networking sites ? Again use of social networking site for leisure and communication is not same as use of application for availing the services , so the state of mind differs. A person who seeks medical care would promptly need quick action or max may use online search engines to find a hospital or a provider or agency in a preferred location ask for a quote and finalize soon, but yes, if the patient is well informed about such applications and tools then it could be of benefit.

Permalink Reply by Roshan Shah on December 12, 2009 at 7:27am

Platform has to be important but not everyone is net savvy. For sure Doctors and Hospitals must get listed on a common platform and create a competitive marketplace. But it is going to be facilitators who will certainly be doing the hand holding for patients - mostly offline. Facilitators with a period of time will know how to use Common Platform and its data to give right information to patients.

Take a look at Kosansh.com and see where it is going. It also has Patient Vault and has HIPAA compliance and gives patients choice whether they want to remain anonymous or want to disclose their identity.

You may also want to try and attend http://medicaltourismbootcamp.kosansh.com event in 10th January 2010 in Ahmedabad, India.

Roshan

Permalink Reply by Karen Derewenko on December 15, 2009 at 4:00am

Most of the population 70+yrs are not computer savvy, 60+ yrs population, somewhat knowledge of computers and web surfing, social networking is not the greatest avenue for all purposes of advertising. We need to provide easy,compatible sites that clients may easily research their inquiries. As the over 50 age group population is more than likely to be clients to promote our services to, the easier the better for them and for the medical tourism business. Agreeing with Ryan 100 % regarding our importance in Medical Tourism, the human touch and voice is the most comfortable and should be readily available to the patient. Let us not forget the condition, emotional and physical liabilities they may have. Fancy websites will not make them feel more comfortable, it is the person that calls and asks, "How are you feeling, can I help with anything" Absolute trust must be gained and it may be difficult with the social interaction of a website. If promises are made on a site that can not be validated, that is unfair to the patient and to other facilitators.
We have to gain confidence whether it be through the power of the internet with all the attachments of HIPAA, OSHA,JAHCO, or JCI so that the patient is the most important and happiest. Happy patients make happy referrals.

Permalink Reply by Roshan Shah on December 15, 2009 at 5:55am

Absolutely. All the more reason for International Facilitators to keep themselves up to date on what is going in in what part of the world and guide their local patients by offering them tailor made health choices from network of hospitals/doctors.

Facilitators also should update non-biased patient ratings back on common platform.

Permalink Reply by Benosh Haris on January 20, 2010 at 2:51pm

Relevance of a common platform. Few random thoughts on the creation of i-globalcare
( www.iglobalcare.com Our platform for medical tourism) based on the comments posted…

Why – Internet is the best way to reach out to a global population where information, communication and transactional features can be provided.

Baby boomers are not tech savvy –Its about ease access to information and transaction. State of mind also is based on immediate requirements- So a requirement gets us all to learn at what ever age .More so for baby boomers, as they can sit in the comfort of their home and expend less energy , time than doing it the old fashioned way. Besides they have more time than most of us.

Social networking has feel good factor and learning attached to it but that will be nothing compared to the presenting complaint that hampers quality of life so there is a high chance that many would want to try out systems that connect them to care givers directly or through intermediaries who can go the extra mile for treatment.

Lets not undermine the value of the medical facilitator who would negotiate rate favorably based on multiple criteria. This is why we have created our systems as B2B.

Search engines just give you the comfort of identifying services. Present day information and transactional systems should give you options beyond that like having access to patient reported outcomes and experiences ..Communication with care givers.. negotiations.. second opinions..facility selection.. record submission.. treatment and travel planning.. g pre and post treatment instructions.. etc.. Few of the services that we offer.

More number of demand side entities who create deals with hospitals the better.. this will bring down costs based on multiple criteria. Idea is to make every body happy. Hospitals will start looking at volumes as will be the case with any buyers market. Patients are happy that they got the treatment done at a lower cost and the facilitator did his job to lower cost based on volumes, passed on part to the patient, facilitated the process and there grow into a formidable force. Our systems are built to do just that.

Human touch is what reassures a patient and makes him start his journey, many a time of more than 1000 miles but without access to relevant content, multiple global options and end to end service provision, human touch will not rule. Information in our system helps in objective assessments where as human touch is a subjective assessment. Both will have to go hand in hand to deliver results. We provide options to access objective information, help with processes, facilitate business and medical requirements and then helps human touch ( subjectivity) through our CRM systems and patient portals which reassures and helps in building confidence through communication and planning which is done either by the hospital or the referring entity.