Medical Travel Best Practices
POINTS TO REMEMBER
The Medical Travel Care Continuum (MTCC)
- Service/Destination Selection
- Information Sharing and Planning
- Arrival and Accommodation
- Admission and Treatment
- Discharge and Recovery
- Departure and Follow-up
STAGE I| Service/Destination Selection
Goal: Access to detailed information on the website, social media or other marketing channels, to provide education about the organization, its services, destination & professionals.
COVID-19 Considerations*: Special messaging for patients regarding protocols or special arrangements due to COVID-19 have been developed or are planned to be developed & communicated using channels appropriate to the organization’s target audiences.
Messaging for Patients:
- Covid-19 pre-screening and testing policies
- COVID-19 Vaccination of staff•Use of potential telemedicine/ telehealth
- Safety protocols established along the entire care continuum•Workforce safety strategies
- Travel restrictions/quarantine etc.
- PPE use
- Patient Visitor/Companion Guidelines
- Sanitation and Cleaning
*GHA’s COVID-19 Guidelines for Medical Travel Programs
Best practice examples:
Ensure marketing is accurate and transparent
- The medical travel program lists all services provided specifically to medical travel patients
- Contact methods are easily visible
- Support data regarding outcomes is available online or by request
- Validity of representations about credentials and clinical outcomes of its physicians or other licensed professionals
- Pricing information is accurate and can be substantiated
- Appropriate disclosures are provided when MT program promotes pricing and availability for procedure packages on its website, social media or marketing materials;
- Opinion and satisfaction data are validated and approved for use in marketing and/or website;
- Website language is understandable for target market groups; includes, appropriate cultural considerations.
STAGE II| Information Sharing & Planning (1)
Goal: Provide timely and relevant information to educate, inform and build trust. Gather info needed to ensure individual is a good candidate for planned procedure; provide accurate quote.
COVID-19 Considerations*:
- Patients are pre-screened for COVID-19 during pre-admission calls (including epidemiologic risks) prior to travel or via other remote means & are informed about the need to discuss rescheduling if respiratory symptoms are developed (e.g. cough, fever, dyspnea, myalgias & diarrhea).
- Itinerary and care plan sent to patient prior to travel with information respecting any special arrangements or protocols due to Covid-19.*
- Ensure patients are aware of the potential consequences should they test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival and before treatment as well as potential financial implications of such.
- *GHA’s COVID-19 Guidelines for Medical Travel Programs
Best practice examples:
- Standardize process collection of patient’s clinical data & info/reports prior to travel or on arrival methods to collect patient’s health information; pre-operative testing;
- checklists,
- forms &
- standardized
- Review patient’s disease history & current health status;
- Manage medication requirements
- Facilitate communication with destination providers & home primary care practitioner;
STAGE II| Information Sharing & Planning (2)
Goal: Provide timely and relevant information to educate, inform and build trust. Gather info needed to ensure individual is a good candidate for planned procedure; provide accurate quote.
COVID-19 Considerations*:
- Itinerary and care plan sent to patient prior to travel with information respecting any special arrangements or protocols due to Covid-19.*
*GHA’s COVID-19 Guidelines for Medical Travel Programs