5 things to select a good International Hospital

International hospitals are no longer limited to expatriates or offshore emergencies. They are increasingly becoming a good choice for patients looking for low-cost therapy or individuals in need of solutions that are now temporarily unavailable at home. International hospitals are also appropriate for medical tourism, such as check up, treatment, or major surgery in many other countries.

As a result, several International hospitals are currently in operation all over the world. Choosing the right one, on the other hand, is a difficult process. This article will lead you through the criteria for selecting an International hospital that is suited to your medical requirements.

1. Quality and Safety

Quality and safety are always the top priorities in hospital operations. As a result, various local and international agencies regularly audit and monitor hospitals across the world in order to maintain their high quality and safety standards.

International hospitals that are safe and of high quality might be identified with

International Accreditation

Accreditation in healthcare industries is much more than just setting patient care standards. There is also a purpose of preserving quality assurance, eliminating medical errors, and promoting evidence-based medicine and medical ethics. Accreditation indicates that international hospitals adhere to international criteria for “Good” medical operations.

Currently, globally recognized accreditation is Joint Commission International or JCI, given by The Joint Commission based in the United States, which certifies that the hospitals are comparable with qualified hospitals in the US, also Global Healthcare Accreditation(GHA) is a recognized global authority in accreditation and certification with a specialized focus in health and well-being as well as specializations in medical and wellness travel. Other regional accreditation such as the American Accreditation Commission International (AACI), the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI), QHA Trent Accreditation, and the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua).

Medical License of Hospitals and Doctors

Most nations control their healthcare sector by licensing and certifying hospitals, physicians, and other medical personnel. Patients are always protected by local medical regulations under the licensure system, which protects them from maltreatment and misconduct by unqualified hospitals, physicians, and other medical employees.

As a result, a medical practice may only be performed by licensed experts, using certified drugs and procedures, and within registered hospitals or clinics.

Furthermore, some physicians and medical professionals possess several certifications, including those from foreign nations with a reputation in healthcare, such as the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, indicating that their practice meets the standards of the license issuer.

2. Communication

Communication became critical in understanding patients’ conditions as well as explaining and completing the entire medical treatment procedure. A miscommunication between doctors and patients might obstruct diagnosis or therapy.

As a result, the majority of international hospitals utilize English as a common language for communication between patients and medical and non-medical personnel. Staff or interpreters who can communicate in the patient’s native language may also be essential in the medical procedure.

3. Expertise and Technology

Current medical processes rely heavily on the competence of the medical team and the technology employed in diagnosis and therapy. As a result, hospitals with more expertise and more advanced technology may have an advantage.

In the case of an international hospital, there are three primary areas to inspect:

Experience with Foreign Patients

Foreign patients differ from local patients not just in communication but also in cultural variations, which range from necessities like religious activities to minor ones like meals. As a result, many international hospitals are prepared to take in foreign citizens, and some establish special departments for international patients.

There are signs indicating the hospital has some expertise in dealing with international patients, such as multilingual doctors, nurses, and medical personnel, an interpreting service, collaboration with foreign physicians, foreign patient facilities, and experience dealing with foreign insurance companies.

Former patients and local expats may also be valuable sources of information about your preferred International hospital’s treatment experience.

Experience in Specific Field of Medicine

Because the human body is made up of various organ systems, medical knowledge is separated into several specialities ranging from allergies to urology. Although general practitioners must be familiar with every organ and symptom, specialists always have more knowledge and expertise when dealing with advanced symptoms.

Some internal systems are also linked to one another, for example, the circulatory system and the renal system. As a result, symptoms have the potential to spread via numerous systems. Treatment in this scenario necessitates interdisciplinary expertise obtained from professionals in each department.

Technologies in Diagnostic, Medical, and Surgical

Today’s technology dramatically improves the accuracy and efficiency of illness diagnosis and treatment. To help in diagnosis, modern hospitals employ laboratory and imaging techniques such as PET/CT, MRI, and ultrasound. Endoscopy, laparoscopic surgery, and angioplasty are examples of minimally invasive procedures used to shorten the recovery period. As a result, an international hospital with better technology offers more possibilities for healthcare solutions.

4. Accessibility

Accessibility is also a major concern while seeking treatment overseas since patients become exposed as a result of long-distance travel. The medical trip also implies you and your followers will be away from home for at least a week, which means they will require some infrastructure to maintain their everyday routines. In this scenario, there are two aspects to consider:

Accessibility from your hometown

Long flights might have a negative impact on your health. Not just from jet lag, but also from changes in air pressure and the possibility of unexpected changes in patient conditions. However, the main risk of flying is Deep Venous Thrombosis or DVT, which is the production of blood clots in your legs. These clots can spread to your lungs and cause a Pulmonary Embolism, which needs major surgery to remove.

As a result, an acceptable medical treatment location should be within 600-800 nautical miles or less than 3 hours of travel time from your hometown.

Accessibility from airports, hotels and other accommodations

Receiving treatments in the middle of nowhere is not a pleasant experience. Because some patients are permitted to stay outside the internal ward, they require comfortable lodgings that are close to the doctors. Furthermore, patients and related activities are not confined to the hospital. Making transportation from hospitals to hotels, airports, and other key city amenities a priority. 

5. Expense

Expenses are the most important consideration for patients seeking treatment in another country. Thus, the purpose of choosing an international hospital is to choose the most reasonable one rather than the cheapest one. There are three elements to consider when calculating your international medical expense.

Medication Expense

Medication costs can vary depending on a variety of factors related to your medical needs. As a result, physicians and hospitals devised a compromise option that ensures maximum effectiveness while also minimizing costs, such options including using generic drugs or alternate drugs which are as effective or using non-drug therapy as an alternative.

Transportation and Living Expenses

Even if the medical cost is low enough to justify receiving treatment overseas, extra costs such as transportation and living might be prohibitively expensive, bringing the overall cost to the same as receiving treatment at home. As a result, a city with a wide range of possibilities and a reduced cost of living and transportation might be an excellent choice for your medical vacation.

International Insurances

Most insurance covers foreign medical expenditures, and some also cover international travel and lodging. We recommend that you check with your insurance agent about benefits and procedures. Some hospitals, however, will charge you in advance and require you to get payment from your insurer afterwards. In contrast, some overseas hospitals would handle the entire payment procedure directly with insurance.

Phyathai 1 International, one of the leading International Hospital in Bangkok

Phyathai 1 International, located in the centre of Bangkok, has been in operation since 1976 and has grown to become one of Thailand’s finest private hospitals, specializing in neurology and spine surgery. Our 20 speciality departments, ranging from Anti-Aging to Women’s Center, are led by the most experienced physicians available. Many of whom also currently teaching at Thailand’s top medical schools. Our service is under support from cutting-edge laboratories, imaging centres, and medical and surgical equipment to maximize the accuracy of diagnostics and effectiveness of treatment.

Quality and Safety are our first priority, and that is the reason we have been accredited by Global Healthcare Accreditation in 2020 and by Hospital Accreditation of Thailand under ISQua since 1997. We are also certified by ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO18001 and HACCP.

Phyathai 1 International is a genuinely international hospital. Our medical professionals and major contact points are conversant in English. We also provide multi-language interpretation services in Arabic, Bahasa, Bengali, Burmese, Chinese, Khmer, Hindi, and Tagalog for non-native speakers. We also offer medical travel services such as medical inquiry, international insurance and third-party payment assistance, visa extension assistance, and international and local evacuation by a competent MEDEVAC team.

Our facilities are located in the city centre, approximately 30 minutes from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, and include a wide range of lodgings, food, and transportation choices. Phyathai 1 International also offers hotel booking and travel guidance, shuttle service from/to the airport and hotel, and special diet catering, including Western and Muslim cuisine.

For more information on International hospital services, please contact us via our e-mail at [email protected] or call us directly at (+66)2 201- 4600 Ext.2148