Medical Tourism Industry Growing
U.S. residents are increasingly seeking medical treatment abroad and the medical tourism industry is growing, according to a discussion on KPCC's "Patt Morrison" on Tuesday. U.S. residents' frustration with U.S. health plans, rising health care costs and slow regulatory procedures are contributing to the trend, according to KPCC.
Guests on the program included:
- Jeff Schult, author of "Beauty from Afar: A Medical Tourist's Guide to Affordable and Quality Cosmetic Care Outside the U.S.";
- Rick Thues, a U.S. resident who recently traveled to India for hip surgery;
- Karen Timmons, president and CEO of Joint Commission International, a U.S. organization that accredits hospitals and doctors worldwide (Morrison, "Patt Morrison," KPCC, 11/14).
Medical Outsourcing
In addition, KQED's "Health Dialogues" on Thursday is scheduled to include a discussion of the trend of U.S. residents seeking lower cost medical care abroad, as well as the global outsourcing of transcribing and processing U.S. patients' medical records.
Guests on the program are scheduled to include:
- Jonathan Breslau, partner at Radiological Associates of Sacramento Medical Group and secretary of the California Radiological Society;
- Anmol Mahal, president of the California Medical Association;
- Arnold Milstein, chief physician at Mercer Health & Benefits and medical director of the Pacific Business Group on Health;
- Curtis Schroeder, CEO of Bumrungrad International Hospital in Thailand; and
- Robert Wachter, chief of medical services at the UC-San Francisco Medical Center ("Health Dialogues," KQED, 11/16).