Medical Tourism in Developing Countries

I'm currently reading "Medical Tourism in Developing Countries" by Milica and Karla Bookman, copyrighted 2007 and published by Palgrave MacMillan.

Chapter 2, "Plastic Surgery is not Peanuts: Economic Growth and Dependency" was a bit of a misnomer as plastic surgery is not mentioned for the first 14 pages of the chapter. The remaining 4+ pages does not reference plastic surgery/asthetic procedure trends, outline the most desired procedures, or the most frequented countries for these procedures or any mention of the role of medical spas in medical tourism or an overview of plastic surgeries gone wrong. Botched plastic surgery procedures were graphically represented at the MTA Congress last September with the Plastic Surgery Association raising the point of liability for physicians who assume the risk of correcting such procedures.

A blog post from Senator Jenny Oropeza on Senate Bill 731

A colleague mentioned that she has seen my blog-posting and article I had written on massage therapy regulation on (California )Senator Oropeza's website. I'm very pleased and honored to have Senator Oropeza support my work. I am also pleased that she included my website and a link to the full article entitled, "A Strong Foundation" which was published in the Winter edition of MTJ (The Massage Therapy Journal.)

Below is the link:
http://dist28.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={32DC8082-6C14-44C6-802F-AF3CDD980887}&DE={91B9C620-AD91-4840-90ED-7D2DDE474FE0}



Here's the Fact Sheet posted on Senator Oropeza's website:

SB 731 FACT SHEET

Massage Therapist Certification (Oropeza)

PURPOSE

Effective Jan. 1, 2009, this bill professionalizes and protects the field of “Massage Therapy” by creating a statewide process for certification and licensing. The process would require a specified number of educational and experience hours.

BACKGROUND

Prior to Jan. 1, 2009, the field of massage was regulated by a patchwork of local city and county regulations and requirements. Many individuals, schooled and certified by their educational facility, who wished to practice massage and travel from one city to another were required to meet multiple city licensing requirements. There was no statewide regulatory framework, no insurance or bonding requirements and no real protection for the clients against injury. Additionally, there was no safety for the practitioner against an unjust view by some individuals who believe massage is an entrance in to the sex field.

This bill created a non-profit regulatory framework paid for and supported by massage therapists to phase in educational and practice requirements in order to receive a certification. The bill eliminated the need for local jurisdictions to develop and enforce their own disparate requirements for the practice of massage.

The bill dealt only with education and certification and did not define scope issues.

Bridging Pampering and Wellness in the World

Les Nouvelles Esthetiques and Spa - a publication for skincare and spa professionals - recently published "The Link Between Spa and Medical Tourism: Bridging Pampering and Wellness all over the World" in the December 2008 issue. I was pleased to write this piece which includes the drivers to both domestic and international health tourism, the convergence in trends in healthcare and tourism and examples of healing traditions from India, Guatemala and Turkey.

Below is an excerpt....

For many spa professionals, medical tourism may sound a bit mysterious but leaving home for care and treatment is dates back thousands of years when Greek pilgrims traveled to the Mediterranean to an area known for its healing powers. Medical tourism includes both international and domestic travel, whether it to an exotic resort halfway around the world or driving to a healthcare facility several hours away.

You may even consider small spa towns to be an early form of medical tourism. For centuries Europeans visited hot springs and thermal spas as treatment for arthritis, bronchitis and other health issues and in the U.S, many traveled by stagecoach seeking the curative relief of hot springs. Resorts grew around these watering holds including Saratoga Springs, NY and Hot Springs, Arkansas. Times have changed but the desire for health will never wane.

Healthcare is a hot topic. Especially with an an estimated 50 million uninsured (Source: U.S. Census) and millions without dental insurance, Americans are looking for options. Many have joined the movement towards “self-care” by implementing healthier lifestyles, seeking alternative medicine and balancing work and life. High deductibles and co-pays and HSAs (health savings accounts) have created patients that have become savvy healthcare consumers. The Internet has become a source for patients to learn more about diagnosis, conditions and treatment options. According to a recent survey , 39% of American consumers revealed they would go abroad for an elective procedure if they could save half the cost and be assured the quality was as good or better. In countries such as India, Thailand and Singapore, often a surgical procedure, which includes airfare and a stay in a resort hotel can cost 10% of comparable services in the U.S.

On the flip side, it is estimated that more than 400,000 medical tourists from South America, Canada and the Middle East will seek care in the United States this year.(Source: Deloitte: Medical Tourism – Consumers in Search of Value). Some come to avoid long waiting times for medical care, while others seek medical services that are not available in their home country while others combine leisure travel with healthcare. The top procedures include cosmetic, cardiac, orthopedic and oncology services.

For a full transcript in PDF please email a request to camille@globalspaandwellness.com

...and Speaking of the Surgeon General

It was announced today that Sanjay Gupta, MD will be the next Surgeon General which makes sense. He is an excellent communicator, is a well-recognized and respected medical correspondent, an accomplished nuerosurgeon.

Here's an excerpt from the CNN website.
Gupta’s passion for inspiring Americans to lead healthier, more active lives also led him to launch "New You Resolution" and later “Fit Nation,” CNN’s multi-platform grassroots initiatives against obesity. Two nationwide “Fit Nation” tours have culminated in special long-form programs that revealed the hazards of obesity in children, “Fat Chance,” and the challenges in eating healthy in a culture and regulatory environment that makes processed food so prevalent in the American diet, “Danger: Poisoned Food.”

Other documentaries have included "Quake Zone," "Killer Flu," "Sleep," “Blood Spilled” and “Rescuing Youssif” which, respectively, addressed concerns about surviving the Pakistani earthquake, avian flu, the dangers of a lack of sleep, the challenges faced by wounded Iraqi veterans and the emotional and physical journey of the recovery of a young Iraqi boy, respectively.

During the 2008 presidential campaign year, Gupta reported extensively on the campaign, including the documentaries “First Patient” and “Fit to Lead” about the toll that the nation’s highest office takes on the health of the commander-in-chief and the health of the presidential candidates

To read more: http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/gupta.sanjay.html