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[…] Here’s the transcript of my recent podcast interview. […]

I am concerned with infection rate, complication rate, malpractice, lack of industry oversight (ie JCAHO) and the impact on the US health care system when these patients return with complications. The cost of treating complicaitons needs to be factored into the price - perhaps it is not such a bargain? As we are turning toward outcome based reimbursement in the US, medical tourists are willing to pay the full rate regardless of outcome. Interesting…

Barbara: Your points are well-taken.

With the best foreign hospitals boasting 98+% success rates, the risks of complications from surgeries abroad are about the same as one would expect here in the US. Patients planning to travel abroad for medical care should first inform their US physician/surgeon, then be sure to bring home all the post-op documentation, exit paperwork, xrays, lab work, et al. That usually ensures a collaborative patient-physician relationship.

Outcomes in the best foreign hospitals are excellent, and speak for themselves vis a vis US outcomes.

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