Delhi along with Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida, makes the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Medical Tourism in Delhi

Being home to a number of prestigious institutes such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), and Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi has produced some big names in the field of healthcare. Medical tourism in Delhi is on the rise primarily due to low cost of medical treatments. The high quality of healthcare has also driven up medical tourism in Delhi.
Why Get a Medical Treatment in Delhi

Even after factoring in travel and lodging expenses, patients will be able to save substantially by undergoing medical treatment in Delhi.
The low cost of living in India, together with the inroads it has made in Information Technology and Communication, the benefits of which have been extended to the healthcare sector in India, has made it possible to dispense affordable healthcare in India at a fraction of the costs in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia.
There are numerous JCI and ISO accredited hospitals in the National Capital Region which observe high quality and safety standards. These hospitals feature state-of-the-art equipment and engage the latest technology for treating their patients.
Unlike the hospitals in the US or the UK, where undergoing a surgery means waiting for months before being able to get under the surgeon’s knife, hospitals in Delhi offer their services without keeping their patients in the wait.
International patients can often be squeamish about traveling to a foreign land on account of facing a language barrier. Patients contemplating Delhi can dispel their fears as doctors and staff in Delhi are English-speaking. Reputed hospitals in Delhi also engage language interpreters for a hassle-free healthcare experience for their non-English speaking clientele.
Being the culture capital of India too, Delhi is home to a number of art galleries and museums. It is the starting point of the “Golden Triangle” route, a favorite among those bitten by wanderlust but pressed on time.

Hospitals under the Network of Quality Surgery India in the National Capital Territory

One of the hospitals under the network of Quality Surgery India is a part of a leading hospital chain in India.

It was the first hospital in India to be accredited by the Joint Commission International and an ISO 9002 certification in India.
It holds the distinction of being rated as the “Best hospital in India” by the Week Magazine in 2008.
It also boasts of the largest sleep lab in Asia. It is a one-stop healthcare organization with nearly 52 specialties.
With nearly 652 beds, it is the fourth largest hospital in the world.
This hospital provides a wide array of medical services ranging from interventional cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, cosmetic surgery to biochemistry and many more.

Another hospital under our network in Gurgaon is spread over sprawling 43 acres and engages the services of nearly a thousand doctors.

Another highlight of this hospital is that it takes only a 15-minute drive from the international airport to reach this hospital.
It is a multi specialty hospital and engages state-of-the-art technology such as Da Vinci Robotic Systems, 3 dimensional and 4 dimensional ultra sound, Integrated Brachytherapy Unit and more.

A leading hospital in Gurgaon which was nominated with the coveted Asia Pacific hand Hygiene Excellence Award by the WHO is also under network. This state-of-the-art hospital is a 550 bed multi specialty medical facility running specialized programs on knee surgery, asthma, epilepsy, shoulder pain, etc.
Language

Official Languages of Delhi: English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi

English is widely spoken in Delhi. Most of the doctors and their staff in Delhi hospitals are English-speaking. As a part of the value addition plan for the recently held Commonwealth Games, the traffic policemen and Delhi Transportation Corporation drivers and conductors were given lessons in English for facilitating a good travel experience for the foreign visitors in Delhi.

Most of the reputable hospitals in the city engage the services of language interpreters to facilitate communication with non-English speaking patients.
Language Tips

Language: Hindi and Urdu

Hello – Namaste in Hindi and Salaam in Urdu

Thanks – Dhanyavaad in Hindi and Shukriya in Urdu

Good – Acha (Both Hindi and Urdu)

Bad – Bura (Both Hindi and Urdu)

Help – Mudud (Both Hindi and Urdu)

Price – Daam in Hindi and Keemat in Urdu

I – Mey (Both Hindi and Urdu)

Tomorrow – Kal (Both Hindi and Urdu)

Today – Aaj (Both Hindi and Urdu)

Yesterday – Kal (Both Hindi and Urdu)

Yes – Haa (Both Hindi and Urdu)

No – Nahi (Both Hindi and Urdu)

Where is ….? – ……. kaha hai? (Both Hindi and Urdu)

Food – Bhojan in Hindi and Khaana in Urdu

Water – Paani (Both Hindi and Urdu)
Climate of Delhi

Delhi experiences a hot and humid climate for most part of the year. It gets quite pleasant in October, November, February and March and are also ideal for visiting Delhi.

Summers (March to July): It can get extremely hot in May and June with the entire region reeling under heat waves. The maximum temperatures in Delhi when the summers are at their peak can touch 45oC (114oF). Average temperatures during summers are around 32 o C (90oF).

Monsoons (rainy season from July to September): Delhi does not receive very heavy rainfall. The average rainfall from July to September is 178 mm.

Monsoons retreat in October and November and these months are marked by a dip in the night temperatures.

Winters (November to February): During late December and early January, minimum temperatures can be as low as 3 to 4º C. The extreme chilly winds from the Himalayas can make the mercury dip to as low as -1 º C. The month of January is marked by dense fog engulfing the whole city thereby reducing visibility. It is advisable to avoid venturing out early in the morning and at night to avoid chances of getting involved in a mishap. Many domestic and international flights often get cancelled, much to the chagrin of the travelers.
Clothing

Carry light fabric clothes when visiting Delhi in summers. Since it can get quite muggy in monsoons, carry suitable clothes from July to mid September. Winters in Delhi can be quite chilly. So, it is advisable to carrying heavy woolen clothes in winters.
Time Zone

India is five hours and thirty minutes ahead of the Greenwich Meantime (GMT+5.5 hrs). The entire country operates under a single time zone.
Visa Requirements

Getting a visa to India can take a lot of time. It is recommended that intended visitors plan the entire trip at least 7-8 weeks in advance, keeping margin for the time taken for getting a visa issued. The Indian government has also started issuing special medical visas, though their issuance can take longer time than regular visas.

Please feel free to contact Quality Surgery India for any queries.
Internet Access

There are numerous cyber cafes all over Delhi providing broadband services, though the Internet speed can be lower than the speeds in the US and Canada.
Dialing Code for Delhi

Country code for India is +91. City area code for Delhi is 011. You will have to dial Country Exit Code+91-11-Telephone number. There are a number of telephone facilities called Public Call Offices or PCOs in all the marketplaces in Delhi. These offices facilitate domestic and international phone calls.

Important Telephone Numbers

Emergency/ Police – 100
Ambulance -102
Fire – 101
National number for Police/Fire and Ambulance – 108
Directory assistance – 197
Delhi Police Help-lines
Children – 1098
Women – 1091 and +91-11-24121234
Inform bout crime – 1090
Anti Stalking Cell – 1096, +91-11-27894455
Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation – Ph: +91-11-24647005, 24698431, 24618026
Tourist Central Reservation Office – Ph: +91-11-23365358, 23363607
Tourist City Information Service- Ph: +91-11-1280
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.

24 Hours DMRC Helpline No.: +91-11-155370

Delhi Transport Corporation -
Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) Kashmiri Gate – Phone No. +91-11-23868836, 23865181
Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) Sarai Kale Khan, Phone No. +91-11-24358092
Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) Anand Vihar, Phone No. +91-11-2215243

New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport: +91-124-3376000

http://www.qualitysurgeryindia.com/delhi-as-a-tourist-destination/

Medical strategies are different from marketing campaigns. Medical Strategies are use to catch the attention of numerous medical tourist that needs complicated medication while marketing campaigns are intended for casual international health and wellness traveler.

The psychological profiles of international patients seeking medical procedures that are complex require marketing plans featuring competent, confidence building messages rather than the “fun in the sun” campaigns designed for medical travelers seeking low acuity treatments. Understanding the different between these two market segments is vital to achieving success in the medical tourism industry.

There are differences in motivational factors among individuals having an orthopedic or cardiac procedure compare to someone having a minor cosmetic on dental medication. Understanding their differences is essential for marketing campaign creations that will catch the attention of numerous health travelers.

More and more countries are now placing vast priority on medical tourism as their identify the importance to the industry. Competition on attracting international patients that needs serious medical treatment is

As more and more countries identify medical tourism as a national priority, competition for international patients who require complex care are a ripe target in that they purchase high cost, high margin medical care as well as staying in country for an extended period of time. These types of international visitors are a substantial value added to the local economy and are going to be the focus of more and better targeted marketing efforts, Marketing tips and other helpful hints will be provided as part of Mr. Stackpole’s presentation to help organizations secure the types of clients they seek.

Established in 1991, Stackpole & Associates provides marketing, market research, and business development solutions for providers, consumers, and customers in healthcare, senior living and human services. For the medical tourism industry, Stackpole & Associates can help businesses identify prospective clients globally with a focus on the US, UK and Canada, and then ensure that the products and services offered to those customers carry the right message in the right way. The company is an active member of the Medical Tourism Association.

Mmedsoolution Medical Tourism Resource

Dimebon Results Medical Trials

www.mmedsolution.com

Qatar, the 5th of October 2010: Dr. Surapong Ambhanwong (Phayathai Hospital Chief Medical & International Business Officer) explained that the passage of international patients was currently producing an estimated 920,000 travellers to the Kingdom of Thailand annually, making it the number one destination for medical tourists.

Speaking at the inaugural Medical Health and Wellness Roadshow in Doha, Qatar, Dr. Ambhanwong explained that the scope of procedures being undertaken in Thailand was wide, covering areas such as plastic surgery, joint replacement, cancer treatment, open heart surgery and dental care.

“Many also visit Thailand to seek professional advice for a better quality of life, through Thailand’s many alternative medical centres and hospitals, to help control and reduce the threat of diabetes, cholesterol, obesity and blood pressure,” he said.

The roadshow, organised in conjunction with the TAT, was aimed at promoting Thailand’s expertise and specialisation in providing cutting-edge medical care throughout the world and in particular focusing on the Gulf States.

The initiative will see representatives from Thailand’s leading hospitals and wellness centers visit the Middle East to meet directly with industry professionals and medical travel consultants as well as regional government administrators.

Present at the roadshow, TAT director Pramoth Supyen revealed that Middle Eastern travel to Thailand was constantly on the rise, whether seeking medical care or leisure travel. He stated that the TAT was now focusing its aims on further promoting tourism in the region based on the success of initial cooperation with region governments.

“Thailand proves an attractive option as a medical destination due to the country’s well established industry to provide high quality, cost effective treatment of international standards,” he said “the medical industry has proven itself with the added advantage of providing far superior nursing care, as well as the unique Thai approach and attention to personal care”.

source:

Many patients are however put off by the high prices in Europe and the US and are traveling to India to get the same treatment at vastly reduced cost of 60% or more. The benefits of doing this are huge; Price advantage is a major selling point. The slogan thus is, “First World treatment’ at Third World prices” the cost differential across the board is huge: only a tenth and sometimes even a sixteenth of the cost in the West! Cosmetic surgeries in Western countries cost three to four times as much as in India. If you have never considered India for Bariatric Surgery now is the time to start, as the advantages make total sense – and the surgery is comparable with any in Europe or the US. Price advantage is a major selling point.

What is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is a surgical procedure done to alter the stomach to treat severe obesity. Bariatric surgery is a term derived from the Greek words: weight and treatment’ Bariatric surgical procedures are major gastrointestinal operations that (a) seal off most of the stomach to reduce the amount of food one can eat, and (b) rearrange the small intestine to reduce the calories the bodies can absorb. There are several different types of Bariatric weight loss surgical procedures, but they are known collectively as ‘Bariatric surgery’.

Ideal Candidate for Bariatric Surgery:

Bariatric surgery candidates are those who have not been able to lose weight through traditional forms of treatment. If you have been struggling with chronic obesity for many years, you may be a good candidate. However, not everyone who wants to lose weight should undergo Bariatric surgery.

Benefits of Bariatric Surgery:

1. Rapid weight loss
immediately following surgery, most patients lose weight rapidly and continue to do so until 18 to 24 months after the procedure. However, some patients are unable to adjust their eating habits and fail to lose the desired weight. In all weight loss operations, successful results depend on the patient’s motivation and behavior modifications.

2. Improvement in obesity-related conditions
Weight reduction surgery has been reported to improve many conditions including sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. In one study, the blood sugar levels of most obese patients with diabetes returned to normal after surgery.

3. Improved mood
many patients report less depression and other improved aspects of psychosocial functioning.

4. Improved quality of life
most patients have more energy and can be more active.

5. Most patients lose at least 50% of excess body weight.

6. Most people with hypertension and/or diabetes no longer need medications.

7. A return of normal periods for young women with abnormal or absent menses and improvement of
fertility.

8. Improved sexual function for many males.

9. Eliminates or slows the disabling effects of arthritis.

10. Improved self-esteem and more energy.

Risks involved in Bariatric Surgery:

The more extensive the bypass operation; the greater the risk for complications and nutrition deficiencies. Nevertheless, all surgical procedures have serious risks. Patients with extensive bypasses of the normal digestive process require not only close monitoring, but also life-long use of special foods and medications.

1. Vomiting
Vomiting may occur as a result of restrictive operations. The small stomach pouch being overly stretched by food particles that have not been chewed well causes it.

2. Pregnancy risks
Women of childbearing age must plan to avoid pregnancy for at least two years following the surgery and until their weight has stabilized. Rapid weight loss and nutrition deficiencies can harm a developing fetus.

3. Necessary follow-up operations
Two to five percent of patients who have weight loss operations require follow-up operations to correct complications. Abdominal hernias are the most common complications that require follow-up surgery. Less common complications include breakdown of the staple line and stretched stomach outlets.

Cost for Affordable Bariatric Surgery:

Bariatric surgery is one very popular form of Obesity surgery which putting things simply causes weight loss by making the stomach smaller. The cost of bariatric surgery is not cheap by any means. For an experience surgeon to perform the operation will cost at least $17,000 upwards to $30,000 to get the operation carried out in the US.

But lots of people are getting their surgery done in India for much cheaper. For example you can get an all-inclusive deal in India for quarter of an amount as compared to the USA. Indian hospitals have very well trained surgeons, as well as the US surgeons if not better. The price normally includes pick-up at the airport, hospital, band, physician fees, and pre-op workup. So, all that is needed is to add the cost of a flight.

Affordable Bariatric Surgery in India:

Bariatric Surgery is in high demand as in the US as 30% of its population is estimated to be overweight. Bariatric Surgery in India brings patients from US and Europe to the country. The demand for cheap and efficient healthcare is drawing medical tourists from western countries to India for their surgeries.

Desperate Americans, Canadians and British tourists lead the way for the growing medical tourism industry in India. Surgical procedures in India are charged at a mere fraction of the price for the same surgeries in the USA, making it much easier for uninsured families to manage expensive medical bills.

In fact, Indian doctors are considered to be among the best in the world and their high level of surgical expertise evolves from many years of training – after studying in India many doctors train and work in the UK. What’s more, healthcare facilities in India are the most cost-effective in the world with private hospitals offering treatment at a fraction of the price of those in the UK.

It is obvious that medical tourism is heading in the right direction with all the attention the media has been giving to it lately. India is hoping to expand its tourist industry – and every one appreciates the step. Medical tourism, where foreigners travel abroad in search of low cost, world-class medical treatment, is gaining popularity in countries like India.

Though the quality of health care for the poor in countries like India is undeniably low, private facilities offer advanced technology and procedures on par with hospitals in developed nations. One Indian hospital director maintains, “In a corporate hospital, once you are in a hospital it is almost impossible whether you are in India or your homecountry. “There is no doubt that the Indian medical industry’s main appeal is low-cost treatment.

Most estimates claim treatment costs in India start at around a tenth of the price of comparable treatment in America or Britain. Yet cost-savings may not be enough to foster a trade in medical tourism. Unfairly or not, most people in would not think of India as a land of good health. For more Info on Affordable Obesity Surgery in India visit us at www.excelsiorindianhealthcare.com/ or you can send us your queries at enquiry@excelsiorindianhealthcare.com. You can also call us at 0091- 779-812-2756.

source: pr-inside.com

This 2011 campaign will showcase Germany’s modern and cutting-edge facilities, luxury hotels, spas and spa-towns. This is intended to appeal to travellers who value active and affordable holidays linked with culture and indulgence. The campaign will highlight the top German medical clinics for international patients as well as the tourist attractions of the nearby towns and cities.

Currently about 400,000 tourists visit Germany annually for health related holidays, and this number is growing. This is in addition to the estimated 70,000 medical tourists using German clinics and hospitals that are renowned for their excellent quality and reasonable prices.

Germany’s healthy climate, healing waters, natural therapies and countless hotels, spas and health resorts offer programmes to refresh the mind and reinvigorate the body. The offerings include health and beauty care involving fun and physical and mental relaxation using a wide variety of therapies, massages and treatment methods. Around 300 mineral and mud spas, hydrotherapy resorts, climatic health resorts and seaside resorts in Germany offer a wide choice of preventive and therapeutic well-being treatments. Germany is a land of spas and thermal baths promoting health, beauty and well-being.

source: imtj.com

Few of the various reasons of these patients coming to India for getting the gastric bypass surgery in India are the cost which is very high and the long waiting list that keeps an individual on hold to set the surgery done at the time he/she may be desiring in their home country.

Because fewer calories are also absorbed, they will also likely experience a drop in her weight. The most common type of surgery is Roux-en-Y, a process in which surgical staples or a plastic band is used to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach. This pouch is then linked to the small intestine, allowing food to bypass the rest of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine.

Another type of gastric bypass surgery is what is called an open procedure. In this case, the surgery is conducted via a large incision in the abdomen. Laparoscopic surgery is a gastric bypass procedure in which a small incision is made using tiny instruments and a camera in order to seal part of the stomach.

There is a very selective screening process for individuals interested in this process. A panel of experts, made up of a physician, dietician, psychologist and surgeon, evaluate the candidate’s particular medical history, including whether the benefits of the surgery will outweigh the risks in the candidate’s particular situation for Gastric bypass surgery in India.
Here are some common features of individuals who have this procedure: Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher. Obese for a minimum of five years no history of alcohol abuse untreated depression or any other mental health disorder between 18 and 65 years of age.

Excelsior Indian Healthcare has become one of the most prominent, well known and trustworthy name amongst International patients opting for Gastric bypass surgery in India due to the fact as it is providing the most reasonable and Affordable medical healthcare packages for various types of Obesity surgery available as according to the preference of the patient and the surgeon’s advice.

These facilities are being provided to patients in Mumbai and Delhi in the hospital having all modern healthcare facilities and fully equipped staff. The patient can also go for a vacation before or after the surgery arranged by the medical tourism in India.

source: pr-inside.com

The additional warmth and natural caring that comes with India’s millennia heritage. Indian hospitals are skilled super specialists coupled with sound infrastructure and professional management, nurses and paramedical staff to take on international competition. Electrocardiogram test in India is rapidly becoming the destination of choice for Americans and Europeans.

The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a diagnostic tool that measures and records the electrical activity of the heart in exquisite detail. Interpretation of these details allows diagnosis of a wide range of heart conditions. These conditions can vary from minor to life threatening. The electrocardiogram (ECG) works by detecting and amplifying the tiny electrical changes on the skin that are caused when the heart muscle “depolarizes” during each heart beat. At rest, each heart muscle cell has a charge across its outer wall, or cell membrane. Reducing this charge towards zero is called de-polarization, which activates the mechanisms in the cell that cause it to contract.

Electrocardiogram test in India is fast becoming a popular destination for International patients, because India offers first-class medical treatments by American-trained doctors in hospitals that rival USA hospitals. The majority of medical staff in private hospitals in India has been trained in America.

This allows visitors to avail the same high standard of care as in the US without the worry of post treatment debt. Facilities within hospitals meet world class expectations. Those traveling from the United States will not even have to change currency when crossing the border; the American dollar is used throughout India.

For more information on Electrocardiogram test in India, log in to: http://www.indiacardiacsurgerysite.com or mail your queries at info@indiacardiacsurgerysite.com, +91-9579119451

source: bwire.com

Bumrungrad, the self-proclaimed largest private hospital in Southeast Asia, treated more than 420,000 international patients from nearly 200 countries last year.

That figure represented nearly 40% of Bumrungrad’s total of 1.1 million patients, and a similar percentage of Thailand’s medical tourism traffic. International patients, because they generally come for more complex treatments, accounted for more than 50% of Bumrungrad’s estimated US$260 million turnover.

A resident base of talented physicians and paying customers is vital to sustaining a world-class hospital, according to Bumrungrad’s chief executive officer Mack Banner. That limits the chances of success for destinations that hope to challenge Bangkok as a medical travel hub and it limits opportunities for international expansion by even the best-known hospital brands, Banner told Asia Times Online.

Banner, an American who retains his southern drawl and folksy charm despite more than 15 years overseas, has run the 554-bed hospital since mid-2005. Before Bumrungrad, Banner served as a healthcare executive in the US, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Medical paradise
“I’ve been working overseas since the 1980s and I’ve had hundreds of proposals: ‘Let’s go to this nice location and put in a specialty hospital.’ They never work. To have a top-flight hospital, you need top-flight doctors. These destinations don’t have a local base to develop that.” Banner explained. “The lesson I’ve learned is that hospitals need a critical mass of local population to support specialties that feed into sub-specialties that are needed to serve international patients.”

Bangkok, the commercial and political capital of Thailand, has the right conditions, including “a large enough local population that can pay for your services to sustain a visitor base.” Thailand also has the advantage of a large base of medical doctors, many trained overseas. Prince Mahidol, father of the current Thai monarch, earned a medical degree at Harvard University – and married a Thai nurse who came to study there with him – helping to create a base of Western-trained doctors for teaching in Thailand. This traditional link to the royal family still thrives, providing a pipeline of quality healthcare personnel.

Bumrungrad has faced “a perfect storm of challenges” since September 2008, according to Banner. Those challenges included the H1N1 swine flu scare that, along with the global recession, crimped global travel, plus political unrest that climaxed with the shutdown of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport for five days. Tourism to Thailand was hit particularly hard. Bumrungrad saw international visits drop 5.8% through the first three quarters of 2009, with international admissions down 8.5%, a sharp contrast to the double-digit growth of recent years.

Bumrungrad has been a household name in medical travel for more than a decade. “We enjoy a reputation as one of the pioneers of medical travel,” Banner said, noting that patients come from neighboring countries for better care and Western countries for cost savings, typically 50% or more. “Most of the attention [to medical travel to Thailand] has come from Bumrungrad. Now we share that spotlight, and we think that’s a good thing. But we’re still the first and we’re still the biggest.”

To stay on top, Bumrungrad opened a new US$45 million outpatient building in May 2008, just ahead of the global recession that flattened growth last year. Ironically, the hospital’s first major expansion was completed in early 1997, months ahead of the Asian crisis. Financed with US dollar denominated loans, that project drove Bumrungrad to seek international patients, fueling the medical travel phenomenon. When fully operational, the new building will double outpatient capacity from 3,000 to 6,000 visitors daily.

“We not only expanded capacity, we feel we expanded usability for patients,” Banner said. Innovations include pharmacy and cashier facilities on each floor, and imaging equipment to handle all but the most complex scans in the building. “We asked ourselves how to make the clinic experience as user-friendly as possible.”

Out of sight
By May, Bumrungrad will have completed a $12 million renovation of its inpatient rooms. Redesigned by a multi-disciplinary task force, the rooms feature bedside computer consoles for hospital personnel to access and enter medical information. Lower-tech improvements include more convenient sinks for hand-washing before patient contact.

Banner stressed that much of what gives Bumrungrad its competitive advantage remains out of sight. For example, a team of 20 handles up to 500 e-mail inquiries daily from prospective patients. They work with the International Medical Coordination Office, staffed by doctors and nurses to create treatment plans for patients in advance of their arrival.

From its beginnings, Bumrungrad has been at the forefront of technological innovation. It established and evolved a single system to cover the entire hospital operation, a key factor in efficiently handling its outpatient volumes. That system was purchased by Microsoft in 2007 as the basis for its healthcare platforms, and Bumrungrad is working with Microsoft to update and revamp the software.

Last year, the hospital added an automated medication delivery system. At the heart of it, an Italian-made pharmacy robot – nicknamed Franco by staff – compiles and labels individual doses of inpatient prescriptions for delivery throughout the hospital via a pneumatic tube system. “We thought this through,” Banner explained, “How to make prescribing, administration and dispensing as simple as possible. It’s not a front of the house item, but it’s vital.”

Technology also helps Bumrungrad benchmark itself to international standards, but for Banner that’s not the most important measure. “How can we generate ‘wows’,?” is the key, according to Banner. He defines “wows” as “a service you don’t expect or one delivered in some exceptionally user friendly way.”

Bumrungrad is a private hospital listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, but Banner sees no conflict between patient care and profits. He cites an adage from Dr Thomas Frist, founder of Hospital Corporation of America (and father of former US Senate majority leader Bill Frist): “If you take care of patients, the bottom line will take care of itself.” Banner recalled, “I’ve worked for organizations that say, ‘We need a rate of return of X percent.’ That’s short-term thinking that won’t work.” He cited the pharmacy robot as an example of a service improvement that can’t be quantified.

Bumrungrad gets a helping hand on keeping service up and costs down from its customers. Nearly three-quarters of its patients pay their own bills. “When people are paying their own bills, they act as their own utilization review committee,” Banner said. “If the doctor says you need an MRI, you ask, ‘what does it cost and where else can I do it that might cost less.’ I’m a great believer in the effectiveness of self-pay to keep costs down. When you get into a third-party system, you engender a situation where costs can get out of control.”

That said, the hospital does accept payment from local and international insurers. It even has a deal with Blue Cross of South Carolina in the US that offers customers the option of having major procedures at Bumrungrad, with the patient sharing in the savings over a US hospital. However, this segment of the business, sometimes referred to as medical outsourcing, has been slow to develop. Banner hopes it will expand, but not at the cost of upsetting Bumrungrad’s winning formula.

“We’re not going to get into a situation where we’re second-guessed over pre-authorization and re-authorization that saddle hospitals with extra costs,” Banner said. “We already have a significant cost advantage over the US. We’ve told insurance companies to appreciate that and just let us do our jobs.”

source: Muhammad Cohen – attimes.com