Checking Out A Foreign Doc
Want to be a medical tourist? U.S. doctors warn of risks. But if you're interested, here's what to ask.
What type of certification does the doctor have? Your doctor should be a specialist in plastic surgery (not general surgery or dermatology) and certified by an independent professional organization for plastic surgeons, not a continuing-ed group. As a follow-up, ask how many procedures of this type the doc has performed. The answer should be hundreds.
What type of certification does the anesthesia staff have? Whoever's administering anesthesia should have specialty certification, whether an anesthesiologist (an M.D. with a specialty in anesthesia) or a nurse anesthetist. You're looking for the same type of certification information described above. Note: Except for certain dental procedures, the operating physician should never administer the anesthesia.
Where will the procedure be done? Surgery should be performed at a hospital or a clinic attached to a hospital. If something goes wrong, your doctor should have access to a full operating suite, intensive care unit, and pharmacy.
Is the hospital accredited under that country's system, if it has one? South Africa's accreditation is comparable to the U.S. system, says Paul vanOstenberg, executive director of accreditation for the Joint Commission International, which evaluates hospitals at their request to certify that they meet international standards. The commission has accredited 40-some hospitals, including Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok. If you can't determine accreditation, call the U.S. consulate in that country. Ask where the consular officials send their staff for treatment. If your hospital isn't on their list, find out why.
What do the fees cover? For example, who picks up the tab if you have to spend extra days in the hospital? -Michelle Andrews
This story appears in the January 19, 2004 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
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