Medical travel agencies nowadays must do a lot more than they used to in order to stand out from their competitors. There’s more to medical tourism than simply booking trips for traveling patients from one country to another. As a medical tourism agent, you need to understand the entire scope of the global healthcare process. You should be versed in risk management, complication insurance, prescreening, before care, aftercare, continuum of care, telehealth, travel logistics, appointment setting, lodging arrangements, and much more. Medical tourists often require support and guidance. Therefore, becoming a certified medical travel professional is essential.
Almost all traveling patients are looking for a medical tourism agent that can cater to all their needs and handle everything on their behalf so that they can relax and focus on their treatment. If you’re a medical tourism agent, here are five ways to help your clients and boost your business.
1.) Incorporate Medical Tourism Packages
Some patients assume that medical travel agents that offer “medical tourism packages” can provide access to “the best” hospitals and “the best” doctors. In addition to arranging flights and hotels, medical tourists also expect health tourism coordinators to assist with booking appointments at clinics/hospitals. Bundling additional services in the medical tourism package will have everything in one place, making it easier for patients.
2.) Focus on Providing the Best Patient Experience
Some patients may find navigating the medical travel experience difficult: clinic visits, tests, and appointments in a foreign land. A medical tourism facilitator will schedule healthcare and leisure arrangements and all logistical services. The facilitator will plan all doctor appointments, sightseeing tours, etc.
3.) Eliminate Language Barriers
Some traveling patients may have administrative and other issues. Receiving care at a facility with a language barrier could lead to misunderstandings about the patient’s care. A facilitator will coordinate with the overseas clinic and make sure they have someone on staff who speaks the patient’s native language.
4.) Offer a VIP Package and Additional Services
Medical tourists who are undergoing treatment need good hospitality to stay comfortable. For this, a medical butler can be hired to offer various professional services to assist a client in the medical or wellness setting, including hospitality and personal assistance.
5.) Protect Your Company and Clients
Sometimes, the risks associated with having surgery abroad are greater than those faced at home. There is an additional risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and other travel-related ailments. There should be complication insurance in the case of an unexpected outcome. Each medical tourism package should offer some form of insurance for unanticipated events.
Considering the unpredictable nature of medical care, medical tourists need assistance in a variety of situations. Medical tourists look forward to and often need support – whether it’s booking tickets, arranging accommodation, requesting prescription medication, or understanding discharge instructions. If you’re a medical tourism agent or healthcare provider, you can include these services in your packages to enhance the experience of the medical tourists.
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