This has been an interesting people-watching event. Unlike the events I'm sure a lot of us have attended where it turns out to be a networking event of people all doing the same type of business or selling
products to one another, I can say that I was impressed with the amount of what
I would call "Buyers" for the products that the exhibitors were
showcasing and the attendees most of which also had something valuable to add
to the mix.

Exhibit booths were visited by Human Resources (HR) reps, banking organizations,
and a large contingent of insurers and re-insurers, insurance underwriters and
leaders of large self-insured groups like teachers unions, etc. So in
this scenario one third party representative (TPR) would represent literally
hundreds of thousands of people who these representatives will influence to
travel offshore for medical care.

For many of the TPR buyers, I credit Tim Morales, President of CostaRicanMedicalcare.com
(CRMC), as many of these industry leaders were wearing tags that identified
them as having been invited by CRMC. That's not surprising because
Morales' and CRMC's Roy Ramthum, former health advisor to the White House, both
have a background in Health Savings Accounts (HSA's) to employer groups.

This was a very "intentional" crowd, with a lot of business
transacted. First-comers to Costa Rica took the time to arrive days early
(or are leaving days open after the convention) to visit the providers of
interest. And here's what is unique about these providers. You find
by visiting with them in their homes, as well as in their offices, that you are
being treated the same way as they treat medical tourists.

It is not unusual at all for a private practice doctor to invite you to their
home, go zip-lining with you, turn you on to their favorite restaurants and
pick up the tab. I'm serious. This is not just hospitality reserved
for buyers. I've been interviewing patients and that's the story I have
to share -- is that many Costa Rica providers are not just friendly but warm
and engaging people who will make a tremendously positive impression on
patients. I guess it's the job of facilitators, and consumer reviewers
like me to identify who those star providers are and make sure they get noticed
for the high-touch standard medical experience that they offer
people.

Costa Rica is going all out to position themselves as the best hosts to medical
tourists. In speaking with Maximiliano Ruiz, General Manager of the
Ramada Inn, Plaza Herradura, I learned that the Ramada Inn offers their medical
tourist guests free services that include pick up at the airport and daily
transportation to and from any medical appointments, and even has a private
entrance to a medical tourist lobby and a 24hr. nurse. Wow!

I met MTA's Jonathan Edelheit after hearing him speak on the panel of
distinguished industry experts. I've been attracted to Jonathan, as a
visionary, and following him peripherally for the last few years - and
delighted to see that the whole MTA crew seems a friendly group even at a
non-MTA event. I'd like to hear more from people like Travis Kraft, about
the perspective of the show from people who work often with MTA people.
Kraft, CEO of Passportmedical.com, for example, was a delight to get to know
and I observed how well he mixed and mingled with people from all aspects of
the medical tourism industry.