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About World Medical Resources
Medical Tourism Directory
The Medical Tourism and the Health Travel Industry is booming, and
now there's a medical travel directory that gives medical tourists the information they need to get the care they deserve. In addition to information and articles to educate you about healthcare travel, World Medical Resources' online medical travel directory gives you access to information about global hospitals , medical tourism physicians and medical travel planners so you can make the best decision for you.
International medical care facilities and providers are encouraged to contact WMR immediately to ensure their facility is listed on the most comprehensive medical tourism resource on the web.Our Destinations include listings for popular countries including: Costa Rica , Mexico , India , Singapore , Malaysia , Spain , Thailand , Argentina , Brazil , China , Dubai/UAE , Korea , El Salvador .
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Quality By Design
With the rising popularity of traveling to foreign countries for medical care, many in the US are raising concerns about the quality of healthcare that can be obtained abroad and how medical travelers can ensure the provider(s) they've chosen overseas are reputable. We know that medical providers in the US are often accredited, but what does accreditation really mean and how does it affect those of us who choose to get our medical care in another country?
The largest and most widely recognized of the many accreditation providers in the US is the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission International (JCI) also offers accreditation to medical providers internationally. While the steps and standards of accreditation may vary depending on the accreditation provider, the Joint Commission International, a nonprofit organization, has provided World Medical Resources with some general information to help you, the patient, understand the accreditation process and what it means to you.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a voluntary and continuous process that measures quality of care and patient safety. It is an external assessment intended to accurately evaluate (and improve) a medical provider's performance. That performance is then measured against standards established by an accrediting body based on certain legal and ethical benchmarks. Because accreditation is not provided by the government, but by third-party organizations like the Joint Commission and the Joint Commission International, it is valuable to patients and providers alike because of the objectivity of the company providing it. It is important to note that accreditation is only one component of maintaining patient safety.
Joint Commission Standards
The Joint Commission and the Joint Commission International have established comprehensive manuals of standards they use to judge the quality of care provided by a specific provider. For a medical facility to qualify for the basic core accreditation, they must prove that they comply with almost 200 exacting standards. There are hundreds of additional standards that could move the provider to higher best practices levels. Each standard has between one and five elements, so potentially, there may be over 1,000 separate criteria a provider could have to meet, depending upon its desired level of accreditation.
The purpose of the standards is twofold. They have been developed to both assess the quality of patient care from admission to discharge and measure the quality of all aspects of leadership and administration. The information obtained from the survey and onsite review can be used to improve care and cultivate values that place the patient's safety first.
There are eleven chapters in the manuals of standards for each type of provider:
. Access To and Continuity of Care
Joint Commission International
When a medical provider in the US applies for accreditation from the Joint Commission, that facility must demonstrate that they have enacted systems and processes to allow them to provide safe, high-quality care and that those systems are in compliance with the Joint Commission's standards. These standards are based on federal and state laws in place to protect patients and on the ethical standards that guide healthcare professionals. But how does JCI apply these standards overseas?
The laws regarding patient rights and medical guidelines and ethics in other countries do vary, and in some cases, those laws may be more stringent or more lax than the rules the in the US. Also, medical providers in the US may be subject to laws unrelated to the direct practice of medicine or patients rights. However, the minimum standard for achieving accreditation only changes if the laws of that country require a differing method or higher standard of compliance. So, if a hospital overseas is JCI Accredited, they have met at least the same minimum requirements as a hospital in the US, though legal, religious or cultural differences may have an impact on how they are required to demonstrate compliance.
Accreditation Process
The accreditation process is a lengthy one. From the time a facility applies for accreditation with the commission, it can take up to six months for the full survey to be conducted and up to two more months for a determination to be made. (And if JCI finds areas that require improvement, it may take longer.) Accreditation is also expensive, forcing some healthcare providers to either delay or forego accreditation altogether.
Once a medical facility has applied for accreditation, JCI sends one or more surveyors to evaluate the facility. In addition to reviewing the provider's systems and policies against their standards, the surveyors can randomly select a number of patients with various diagnoses and needs to either physically or virtually follow their healthcare experience from admission to discharge.
The commission has also set up a quality monitoring system that requires facilities to submit progress reports at either predetermined intervals or when a concern is brought to the attention of JCI during the three-year accreditation period. Organizations are also required to notify the commission when they make a significant change to administrative policies, structure or clinical services, at which time the commission will determine whether another onsite visit is required to ensure continued compliance with established standards. Adequate access to water (and the quality thereof), electricity or gas are addressed by the Facilities Management and Safety chapter of the standards manual for each program (see Joint Commission Standards above).
Accreditation vs. Research
While accreditation can be a useful tool in selecting a healthcare provider overseas, there are many other important considerations. According to Kenneth Powers, Media Relations Manager of the Joint Commission, "Accreditation shouldn't be the only factor you use in determining what facility you choose - whether you receive care in the US or abroad. Do your research. Make sure you speak directly to the individual(s) who will be responsible for your care. Ask for credentials and find out how much experience they have with the treatment or procedure you need." There may also be legal, cultural and communication issues, all of which should be addressed before you go overseas for care.
For instance:
1) The laws that govern and protect your rights, including the right to legal recourse, may not be the same as those in the US, and when receiving care in a foreign country, it is their laws that will govern. Make sure you understand the law regarding patient rights before you purchase a ticket.
2) Some types of medical procedures will require minor long-term follow-up care. Because most people won't be able to stay in a foreign country for more than a couple of weeks, it is advised that you plan any necessary follow-up care with a local provider before you leave.
3) Make sure you know how many people there are in each facility you'll use that speak - fluently and clearly - a language you can understand. This is important to prevent vital communications about your medical status or aftercare from becoming an issue.
Is It Safe To Get Healthcare Overseas?
As is usually the case, there are no simple answers. There is no reason to assume that a healthcare facility located outside the US is any less safe than one in the US based on its location alone. The quality of a healthcare facility in any country should be judged on the quality of care they provide and the systems they've put into place to guarantee that you receive that care. And although accreditation does ensure that a facility has met predetermined standards at the time of accreditation, a non-accredited facility may provide healthcare equal to or better than an accredited one. Accreditation by itself does not protect a patient from medical mistakes or uninvolved, disinterested or inexperienced healthcare personnel. When choosing a medical provider in the US or abroad, research and preparation are always the best ways to make certain you get the care you deserve.
The Joint Commission International is only one of the many accreditation companies available. Standards for accreditation vary by organization and country, and this article addresses only those used by JCI. For more information on JCI accreditation, visit www.jointcommissioninternational.org.
. Patient and Family Rights
. Assessment of Patients
. Care of Patients
. Patient and Family Education
. Prevention and Control of Infection
. Staff Qualifications and Education
. Governance, Leadership and Direction
. Facility Management and Safety
. Management of Information
. Quality Improvement and Patient Safety |
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