everything you want to know about medical tourism… but were afraid to ask. elizabeth ziemba, jd,...
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Everything You Want to Know About Medical Tourism…
But were afraid to ask.
Elizabeth Ziemba, JD, MPH, PresidentMedical Tourism Training, Inc.
5 Secrets about Medical Tourism
#1 - Market Size• No one knows
the size of the market…but lots of people estimate, guess, exaggerate, and fib.
GuEs(s)timates• USD 38.5-55 billion (Patients Beyond
Borders)*• USD 130 billion (KPMG)**• USD 50 – 60 billion (Frost and
Sullivan)***
* http://www.patientsbeyondborders.com/medical-tourism-statistics-facts**http://www.imtj.com/EasysiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=373334*** http://www.forbes.com/sites/reenitadas/2014/08/19/medical-tourism-gets-a-facelift-and-perhaps-a-pacemaker/
#2 – Horrible data collection
There is no universally accepted definition of a “Medical Tourist”.
What does the term include?Anything, everything and
nothing.
Cooperate and coordinate!
It’s Not That Complicated!
• Tourist• Health and Wellness Traveler• Medical Tourist• Medical Traveler• Residents overseas • Emergency
#3 – Statsophobia
Stats o pho bi a*: the (ir)rational fear of statistics that gives you brain freeze making you unable to think clearly.
*I completely made up this word but you get the idea.
#3 – Statsophobia
Banish the fear!Number of medical tourists to Thailand
in 2012:
Thai Ministry of Health: 2.53 million
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT): 858,000 or 700,000
http://www.imtj.com/news/?entryid82=430412#sthash.tTVfWGBA.dpuf
#4 – Fragmented, high failure rate
Growth: Time of struggling
Looking for:• Visionaries and true leadership• Structure…where there is little or none• Ethics…in the Wild West• Models that work• Creativity and innovation• Return on investment
#5 - Lots of sizzleBecause of Secrets 1-4…people are seduced by the sex-appeal of the sector and fall for the sizzle without looking for the steak.
Is she crazy?Why would anyone want to
work in medical tourism?Access
AffordabilityChallenges
Opportunity
#1 question asked
How do I become a facilitator?
What is a Facilitator?
“The term facilitator is used herein to cover the range of companies providing services that link patients and providers in different geographies, and therefore encompasses companies engaged in medical concierge, arranging medical packages for patients, and health-related travel services individually or in combination.”https://www.partners.org/Assets/Documents/International/IMTJ-Article.pdf
A Facilitator must have…
• Travel agent and concierge skills• Medical knowledge/clinical background• Understanding of medical laws• Cultural sensitivity• Bi-lingual or multi-lingual• A “people person”• Problem solver• Ethical
A Facilitator must have (Part 2)
• Knowledge of in-country services• Ability to assess clinical/physician quality• Reimbursement, insurance and payment• Business sense• Technologically savvy• And more!
Skill Sets Required
LogisticsCase
Management
Risk Business
Success
Speaking of Opportunities!
Being a facilitator is only one option…• Up sell services• Expand – concierge services• Collaborate and/or partner• Innovate• Jump in!
Learn more…
Patients Beyond Borders series, Josef WoodmanHealth, Tourism and Hospitality: Spa, wellness and medical travel, Melanie Smith and Laszlo PuczkoMedical Tourism Facilitator’s Handbook, Maria K. Todd.
Visit the “Resources” section at www.MedicalTourismTraining.com
Contact me
Elizabeth Ziemba, JD, MPH, PresidentMedical Tourism Training, Inc.
29 Touro StreetNewport, RI 02840 USA
+1 (857) 366 – [email protected]
www.MedicalTourismTraining.comSkype: medtourismtraining