Medical Tourism in Korea : How to select the right hospital

The medical tourism trend has spread worldwide and is constantly growing. Even though patients can receive surgery in their own countries, why do they venture to have surgery in another country?

Advanced technology, higher expertise of the surgeons and offering alternative treatments are some of the reasons that patients venture out to other countries to have surgery.

 

 

Traveling to another country to have surgery also has its benefits. Along with surgery, you can experience a new culture, try local delicacies and enjoy sight-seeing. Other than that, it can be a great time to take a break from everything and relax while healing.

With the rise of medical tourism, medical tourism companies have also emerged and many hospitals employ staff to cater to foreign patients.

Patients have an option of going through a medical agency or contacting the clinics directly, as most clinics employ translators for several languages to ensure proper communication between doctor and patients.

 

 

So what sets Korea apart from the rest?

Not only is Korea one of the world’s most advanced countries with it comes to science and technology, but also for their advances in surgical skills. Traditional Eastern therapy, alternative therapies, cancer, spinal and plastic surgery are popular surgery fields. The Korean government promotes medical tourism so it makes it easier for patients to get a visa for medical purposes.

Another aspect is the tourism factor. Seoul is one of the best places to shop and with the “K-pop” and Hallyu trends, many people are drawn to come and have surgery in Korea.

 

Tips to choose the right Hospital/clinic for medical tourism in Korea

 

 

1) Research: Doing research before anything is the most important step. Research should be focused on the actual surgery process and check if the place you choose can do that surgery well. Reviews are good but should be taken with a grain of salt. In a competitive environment like Korea, clinics sometimes do smear campaigns to steer patients towards their clinics. Rather than focusing too much on reviews, focus on the doctor’s skills, the surgery steps and what you should do to take care of yourself.

2) Communication: Make sure that you are able to communicate effectively what you wish to have done. Even if someone may try you to have some procedures that you do not need, by having a good background about the surgeries you want to do, no one can force you to do something you do not need. Be adamant if you have to and make your point across. Doctor’s opinions are recommendations and you should take those opinions if you wish to, but you should not be forced to have surgery.

 

 

3) Customer care: Coming from a foreign country, the type of services or expectations that you have may not be met, because it may differ from what you consider to be the norm. Make sure to find out what services does the facility provide to you, and what they cannot help you with before making a commitment to have surgery there.

4) Arrangements and cooperation: Most people are well traveled nowadays, and are able to navigate and adapt easily to a new environment. However, that does not apply to everyone. Making sure of which arrangements can be made for you, for your specific needs, is important. Also, making sure your surgery date is booked before coming will save you the trouble of waiting for a surgery booking.

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