Medical tourism
Medical tourism.
When we first heard the term a few years ago, it got our attention.
We wondered: What does it mean?
How does it work?
How many jobs would it bring?
How can we help?
From then on we kept hearing bits and pieces here and there about medical tourism and how certain new services and facilities might play roles to help lure patients who have the time and resources to pick and choose where they will have certain surgeries, for example.
Now we get some more information via a medical tourism trade show in Fort Lauderdale.
The event’s formidable title — fifth annual World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress — declares this is an extremely entrenched and competitive field.
Field? Make that an industry.
The trade show demonstrated that not only are other hospitals, locales and states involved; entire countries are in the game and marketing themselves aggressively.
East coast hospitals already have international relationships. Some have entire staffs dedicated to building and growing new markets.
And, the competition goes both ways, with foreign countries seeking to attract and not just send patients.
That trade show — or Global Healthcare Congress — was a reality check.
Our medical complex cannot simply put up a sign that we are open for business and expect everyone to come.
So now we know.
Now our community has to decide what services it can provide better than anyone else along with what services are different or more innovative than those found anywhere else.
There is real work to be done.
There are real rewards too.
Can we do it?
source: http://www.NaplesNews.com / Home> News / November 04th, 2012
