The following is a brief guide for medical travelers on how to check and select a medical clinic or hospital abroad.
Preliminary Considerations
The first step in selecting an offshore medical provider is gathering as much information as possible about the clinic or hospital. You can do this by checking out their websites, obtaining literature and brochures about the establishment, or coordinating with medical intermediaries to obtain information they have on a particular facility. The more you know, the more prepared you will be.
You should be aware of visa requirements and extension allowances. This is an important consideration when balanced on the outcome or requirements of your treatment.
Hospital Accreditation and Affiliation
The biggest assurance for receiving quality healthcare is when the clinic or hospital has proper accreditation from reputable certifying bodies. The most renowned accreditation body is the Joint Commission International (JCI). You should check if the clinic or hospital has accreditation with the JCI and if their certification is still up-to-date.
Another certification to look for is from the International Standards Organization (ISO), which accredits hospitals based on international standards for quality and procedures. In addition, it would be important to consider checking for accreditation standards that hospitals and clinics have from their own country's healthcare federations.
