Medical providers are promoting their services as the best and cheapest but the important question is to chose the right hospital which suits your needs.

You may consider the following factors for your best decision:
1. Experience: If you need a heart bypass, then find a hospital that specializes in this procedure. Ask how many heart bypasses they perform each year, and their complication and mortality rates. Avoid facilities with a procedure which has lower level of volume.The experience of the hospital and surgeon is key to a successful procedure and therefore should be your number one priority.

2. Accreditation: Look for a facility that is accredited by a reputable organization such as the Joint Commission International. Although accreditation is not a guarantee that you will have a perfect procedure outcome, the higher the procedural standards and accountability mechanisms that are in place, the better your odds for a successful procedure.

3. Value: Look carefully at the total cost of your procedure package including travel costs. If a price seems too good to be true, and then make sure you request a written list of what the package includes. Be especially vigilant with regards to rehabilitation therapy (in the case of many orthopaedic procedures), pre-operative exams, medication, transportation, and lodging. Any one of these elements can significantly increase the cost of your procedure. You must also be aware that you will be responsible for medical complications should they occur. If you are undergoing a high-risk procedure then it would be advisable to purchase complication insurance which is now available through a company called Seven Corners (http://www.sevencorners.com/travelers/?utm_id=O8N2FPTU).

4. Location: Medical tourism offers you the possibility to visit exotic locations all around the world. Remember, however, that you are travelling for medical reasons. If you are undergoing a surgical procedure, then distance should be a factor in your decision. You may receive an attractive quote from a great hospital but find you need to travel 24 hours on a plane to get there. In cases such as these it may be worthwhile to choose a location that is a little closer to home in order to save time and money (not to mention discomfort) on the flight.

Use the above four elements as a guide for weighing the pros and cons of the various hospitals and destinations you are considering. Then create a “short list” of your top picks. You may also want to enlist the help of a “medical tourism facilitator”. These are companies that will do much of the work for you. They have relationships with hospitals and doctors and have the know-how to quickly arrange every detail of your medical trip.

Adopted from an article, courtesy: http://www.medicaltourism.com/blog