Bumrungrad has an average of 180 Americans visit daily; half still reside in United States and half are expatriates who use the Thai hospital as their regular health care facility. The hospital also has more than 200 doctors who are U.S.-board certified, as well as an American management team.

Florida resident Bruce Pearson, 64, said in prepared remarks that visiting Bumrungrad is "like coming home."

He chose to continue receiving his health care at the hospital and forgo his Medicare benefits in the United States.

Ensuring safety, insuring coverage abroad
The Medical Tourism Association, also known as the Global Healthcare Association, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting high-quality health care to patients all around the world. It comprises international hospitals, health care providers, medical travel facilitators and insurance companies.

In order to educate patients, health care providers and doctors worldwide, MTA publishes Health Tourism Magazine and Medical Tourism Magazine. The latter focuses on quality of care, choosing an international hospital, accreditation issues, integrating medical tourism into a health insurance plan and other legal issues.

"Patients must educate themselves on the destination they choose and take the time to understand the culture as well," said Renee-Marie Stephano, MTA's president, in an e-mail interview with DOTmed News.

The American Medical Association, in an effort to promote safe medical tourism, released guidelines for patients and health care providers alike. Among the guidelines, the AMA recommends that patients only be referred to health care institutions that have been accredited by recognized international accrediting bodies, including JCI and the International Society for Quality in Health Care.

The physician group also advises that patients undergoing medical services abroad should have access to physician licensing and outcome data, as well as facility accreditation and outcome data. In order to address concerns regarding travel after surgery, the AMA recommends that patients should be provided with information about the potential risks of combining surgical procedures with long flights and vacation activities.

"Though Medical Tourism [Association] suggests that the patient and perhaps their companion may take the opportunity to enjoy the destination where treatment is sought, any tourism activity must be appropriate for the patient's condition and evaluated on a case by case basis," said Stephano.

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