The promotion of excellence in health leadership is at the core of all the College's work, and professional certification is the most valuable and visible way that members demonstrate they have achieved a proven level of knowledge and experience. By earning the Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation, members enhance their professional image, increase their knowledge, and achieve their potential by demonstrating to employers and colleagues that they are a trusted resource. Some go on to become a Fellow of the College, the highest designation awarded for outstanding career and professional achievement.
Only members (individual member category) in good standing may apply.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
www.CCHSE.org
Founded in 1970, the Canadian College of Health Service Executives (CCHSE) is a national, non-profit, professional association dedicated to developing, promoting, advancing and recognizing excellence in health leadership. Our 3,000 individual and 80 corporate members work in all health sectors across the country.
We offer a wide range of services including a competency-based certification program, a forum for the exchange of information and best practices, a career network, and an extensive national program of professional development resources and opportunities. We also publish the only peer-reviewed journal that covers issues related to advances in health services management, theory and practice in a Canadian context.
Our contribution to the health system and, ultimately to the health of Canadians, is through the leadership excellence of our members.
Canadian College of Health Service Executives
292 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0J6
Telephone: (613) 235-7218Fax: (613) 235-5451 Toll Free: 1 800 363-9056
We offer a wide range of services including a competency-based certification program, a forum for the exchange of information and best practices, a career network, and an extensive national program of professional development resources and opportunities. We also publish the only peer-reviewed journal that covers issues related to advances in health services management, theory and practice in a Canadian context.
Our contribution to the health system and, ultimately to the health of Canadians, is through the leadership excellence of our members.
Canadian College of Health Service Executives
292 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0J6
Telephone: (613) 235-7218Fax: (613) 235-5451 Toll Free: 1 800 363-9056
Useful Resources - Healthcare Organizations in USA
Some of these resources include:
- American Association of Health Plans1129 20th St. N.W., Ste. 600Washington, DC 20036(202) 778-3200
- American Association of Healthcare Consultants11208 Waples Mill Rd., Ste. 109Fairfax, VA 22030(703) 691-2242
- American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging901 E St., N.W., Ste. 500Washington, DC 20004-2037(202) 783-2242
- American College of Healthcare Executives 1 N. Franklin St., Ste. 1700Chicago, IL 60606-3529(312) 424-2800
- American College of Medical Practice Executives104 Inverness Terrace, E.Englewood, CO 80112-5306(303) 799-1111
- American College of Physician Executives4890 W. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 200Tampa, FL 33609-2575(813) 287-2000
- American Hospital Association1 N. Franklin St., Ste. 2700Chicago, IL 60606(312) 422-3000
- American Organization of Nurse Executives1 N. Franklin St., Ste. 3400Chicago, IL 60606(312) 422-2800
- American Public Health Association1015 15th St., N.W., Ste. 300Washington, DC 20005(202) 789-5600
- Association of Behaviorial Healthcare Managers 60 Revere Dr., Ste. 500Northbrook, IL 60062(847) 480-9626
- Association of University Programs in Health Administration 2000 N. 14th St., Ste. 780Arlington, VA 22201( 703) 894-0940
- Canadian College of Health Service Executives 350 Sparks St., Ste. 402Ottawa, ON K1R 7S8 Canada(613) 235-7218
- Canadian Hospital Association 17 York St., Ste. 100Ottawa, ON K1N 9J6 Canada (613) 241-8005
- Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education 730 Eleventh Street, NW, Ste. 410Washington, DC 20001(202) 638-5131
- Healthcare Financial Management Association Two Westbrook Corporate Center, Ste. 700Westchester, IL 60154(708) 531-9600
Making Your Career (as Healthcare Executive) Happen:-
Here are some general guidelines to help you begin to set and achieve your career goals:
Investigate many educational programs—both graduate and undergraduate—before you make a commitment of time and money. (A list of links to CAHME-accredited graduate programs follows.) Programs vary widely from location to location. Some offer a broad summary of the field, while others provide training in managing specific kinds of organizations.
Develop your people skills. Your success as a healthcare executive will depend on your ability to get along with diverse groups of people: employees, physicians, vendors, governing boards, and the public. Learn how to motivate, negotiate, and manage.
Develop strong quantitative skills. Healthcare executives must understand financial strategies and accounting principles, and they must be able to interpret data.
Stay current on healthcare trends. Be aware of shifting opportunities resulting from changing demographic and reimbursement trends to developments in healthcare policy
Read about healthcare. You can find interesting articles in local newspapers, national magazines such as Newsweek and Time, and trade publications such as Healthcare Executive, Frontiers of Health Services Management, Journal of Healthcare Management, and Modern Healthcare. Visit university libraries.
Learn about healthcare providers. Nearby hospitals, HMOs, and mental health facilities may offer free publications, health fairs, or community health education programs. If possible, tour a facility or participate in a volunteer program.
Be patient and flexible. You may have to relocate to another part of the country to take advantage of a specific educational program or job opportunity.
Identify your career goals and take steps to attain them. Determine your weaknesses and then develop a plan to correct them. Build on your strengths.
Use ACHE resources. The American College of Healthcare Executives provides access to the Online Directory of Fellowships in Health Services Administration, directories of local chapters, and participants in the ACHE Higher Education Network, and many other tools to help you network and develop your career.
Rely on the expertise of healthcare organizations.
Investigate many educational programs—both graduate and undergraduate—before you make a commitment of time and money. (A list of links to CAHME-accredited graduate programs follows.) Programs vary widely from location to location. Some offer a broad summary of the field, while others provide training in managing specific kinds of organizations.
Develop your people skills. Your success as a healthcare executive will depend on your ability to get along with diverse groups of people: employees, physicians, vendors, governing boards, and the public. Learn how to motivate, negotiate, and manage.
Develop strong quantitative skills. Healthcare executives must understand financial strategies and accounting principles, and they must be able to interpret data.
Stay current on healthcare trends. Be aware of shifting opportunities resulting from changing demographic and reimbursement trends to developments in healthcare policy
Read about healthcare. You can find interesting articles in local newspapers, national magazines such as Newsweek and Time, and trade publications such as Healthcare Executive, Frontiers of Health Services Management, Journal of Healthcare Management, and Modern Healthcare. Visit university libraries.
Learn about healthcare providers. Nearby hospitals, HMOs, and mental health facilities may offer free publications, health fairs, or community health education programs. If possible, tour a facility or participate in a volunteer program.
Be patient and flexible. You may have to relocate to another part of the country to take advantage of a specific educational program or job opportunity.
Identify your career goals and take steps to attain them. Determine your weaknesses and then develop a plan to correct them. Build on your strengths.
Use ACHE resources. The American College of Healthcare Executives provides access to the Online Directory of Fellowships in Health Services Administration, directories of local chapters, and participants in the ACHE Higher Education Network, and many other tools to help you network and develop your career.
Rely on the expertise of healthcare organizations.
Where Do You Start? (your career as Healthcare Executive)
Begin planning as early as possible for a career in healthcare management. A good scholastic record is important—especially if you want to attend a graduate program for a master’s degree or a doctorate. Many schools and colleges in the United States and Canada offer undergraduate degrees with a concentration in health services management.
In the past, most students chose the traditional route of a master’s degree in health administration or public health. Today, however, students are investigating other options, including graduate degrees in business and public administration, with course concentration in health services management. Some schools offer a joint degree-a master’s degree in both business administration and public health, or in both healthcare management and law, for example.
Graduate programs generally last two years and lead to a master’s degree. They include course work in healthcare policy and law, marketing, organizational behavior, healthcare financing, human resources, and other healthcare management topics. The program may also include a supervised internship, residency, or fellowship.
To learn more about student involvement with the American College of Healthcare Executives, please consult the ACHE Higher Education Network Directory. To learn more about post-graduate fellowships in healthcare administration, consult the Online Directory of Fellowships in Health Services Administration. You may also obtain information on how to apply as a Student Associate of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
In the past, most students chose the traditional route of a master’s degree in health administration or public health. Today, however, students are investigating other options, including graduate degrees in business and public administration, with course concentration in health services management. Some schools offer a joint degree-a master’s degree in both business administration and public health, or in both healthcare management and law, for example.
Graduate programs generally last two years and lead to a master’s degree. They include course work in healthcare policy and law, marketing, organizational behavior, healthcare financing, human resources, and other healthcare management topics. The program may also include a supervised internship, residency, or fellowship.
To learn more about student involvement with the American College of Healthcare Executives, please consult the ACHE Higher Education Network Directory. To learn more about post-graduate fellowships in healthcare administration, consult the Online Directory of Fellowships in Health Services Administration. You may also obtain information on how to apply as a Student Associate of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Do You Have What It Takes? (to become a healthcare executive)
What do employers look for in their entry-level managers?
Here are some of the criteria:
- Academic training/previous work experience
- A degree in health administration from a school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education or another degree that may qualify you (VERY IMPORTANT: ACCREDITED SCHOOL, NOT just ANY school! Don't waste your time, money & energy.)
- A commitment to professional development and continuing education
- Previous positions, internships, and fellowships in healthcare organizations or other business settings
- Communication skills
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Ability to develop and present reports and proposals
- Adaptability/organizational fit
- Personal and career objectives that mesh with those of the organization
- Ability to work well with others, including superiors, subordinates, and peers
- Attitude and appearance that communicate confidence, maturity, and competence
- Dependability, judgment, character
- Maturity to make decisions and take responsibility for them
- Honest and ethical business conduct
- Willingness to make a commitment to the organization
- General management skills
- Leadership that inspires and motivates others
- Ability to train, delegate, evaluate, coordinate, and negotiate
Career Opportunities for Healthcare Executives
This is an exciting time for healthcare management. The field requires talented people to help introduce and manage the changes taking place. In their roles, healthcare executives have an opportunity to make a significant contribution to improving the health of the communities their organizations serve. As a result of the transformation taking place in the healthcare system, career options for healthcare executives are becoming more diverse. Increasingly, positions for healthcare executives may be found in a wide variety of settings, such as:
- Ambulatory care facilities
- Consulting firms
- Healthcare associations
- Home health agencies
- Hospices
- Hospitals and hospital systems
- Integrated delivery systems
- Long-term care facilities
- Managed care organizations (such as HMOs and PPOs)
- Medical group practices
- Mental health organizations
- Public health departments
- University or research institutions
Today, an estimated 100,000 people occupy health management positions at numerous organizational levels, from department head to chief executive officer. Requirements for senior-level positions in healthcare organizations are demanding, but these jobs also offer opportunities to improve the system of care giving.
With the growing diversity in the healthcare system, many executives are needed in settings other than the traditional hospital. However, competition is intense at all job levels, and many positions that previously required only a bachelor’s degree now require a master’s degree. Each year, about 2,000 students receive graduate degrees in healthcare management. Salaries for beginning master’s degree graduates generally range from the high-30s to high-40s, depending on the type of organization and its location. If you choose a career in healthcare management, your first job might be an entry- to mid-level management position in a specialized area, such as:
- Finance
- Government relations
- Human resources
- Information systems
- Marketing and public affairs
- Materials management (purchasing of equipment and supplies)
- Medical staff relations
- Nursing administration
- Patient care services
- Planning and development
Healthcare: A Changing System
Healthcare is changing more rapidly than almost any other field. The field is changing in terms of how and where care is delivered, who is providing those services, and how that care is financed. These changes are being driven primarily by the growth of managed care. A number of other current trends are expected to continue, including:
Integration of healthcare delivery organizations to create accessible, appropriate, and comprehensive care pathways for all people
Continual advances in medical technology
Collaboration among provider organizations, physicians, businesses, insurers, and others to improve community health status
Increased emphasis on disease prevention and wellness promotion
An elderly population that will grow exponentially with the "Baby Boomer" generation
Better-informed patients demanding high-quality care
Pressure from business, government, insurers, and patients to control costs and demonstrate the value of the services delivered
Efforts to implement continuous quality improvement initiatives similar to those found in other fields
Integration of healthcare delivery organizations to create accessible, appropriate, and comprehensive care pathways for all people
Continual advances in medical technology
Collaboration among provider organizations, physicians, businesses, insurers, and others to improve community health status
Increased emphasis on disease prevention and wellness promotion
An elderly population that will grow exponentially with the "Baby Boomer" generation
Better-informed patients demanding high-quality care
Pressure from business, government, insurers, and patients to control costs and demonstrate the value of the services delivered
Efforts to implement continuous quality improvement initiatives similar to those found in other fields
Your Career as a Healthcare Executive
You will make decisions about your career throughout your life. No matter what stage of the decision-making process you are in, we hope that this essay will give you a better understanding of the exciting profession of healthcare management. Healthcare is one of today’s most dynamic and growing fields, with a wide range of opportunities and challenges. Healthcare executives work in a variety of settings, including hospitals and integrated delivery systems, managed care organizations, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and consulting firms, to name a few. The American College of Healthcare Executives wants to help you make a positive, informed decision about your career. You can count on us as a resource for career advice, resume consultation, continuing education, and other career services.
Thomas C. Dolan, Ph.D., FACHE, CAE
President and Chief Executive Officer
American College of Healthcare Executives
Thomas C. Dolan, Ph.D., FACHE, CAE
President and Chief Executive Officer
American College of Healthcare Executives
www.ACHE.org (American College of Healthcare Executives)
Certification as FACHE (Fellow) is possible after writing the precribed exam.
Eligibility criteria:-
* Master's degree (in Healthcare Management field from an ACCREDITED School)
* Hospital management experience (minimum of 2 years)
* Current / recent hospital management position (in USA?)
American College of Healthcare Executives
The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of 30,000 healthcare executives. ACHE is known for its prestigious credentialing and educational programs and its annual Congress on Healthcare Management, which draws more than 4,000 participants each year. ACHE is also known for its journal, the Journal of Healthcare Management, and magazine, Healthcare Executive, as well as ground-breaking research and career development and public policy programs.
ACHE’s publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on all aspects of health services management in addition to textbooks for use in college and university courses.
Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its goal of being the premier professional society for healthcare leaders by providing exceptional value to its members.
Eligibility criteria:-
* Master's degree (in Healthcare Management field from an ACCREDITED School)
* Hospital management experience (minimum of 2 years)
* Current / recent hospital management position (in USA?)
American College of Healthcare Executives
The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of 30,000 healthcare executives. ACHE is known for its prestigious credentialing and educational programs and its annual Congress on Healthcare Management, which draws more than 4,000 participants each year. ACHE is also known for its journal, the Journal of Healthcare Management, and magazine, Healthcare Executive, as well as ground-breaking research and career development and public policy programs.
ACHE’s publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on all aspects of health services management in addition to textbooks for use in college and university courses.
Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its goal of being the premier professional society for healthcare leaders by providing exceptional value to its members.
A Career in Hospital Management (especially w.r.t. India)
From the link:
http://www.rxpgonline.com/article1081.html
Health Management is among the top ten millennium professions according to a recent US survey. As healthcare management is becoming increasingly privatised there is a greater need for not only skillful doctors but also efficient hospital administrators. If hospitals have always fascinated you rather than scaring you off and you have an empathic nature along with a flair for organisation and an eye for detail then you can consider a career in Hospital Management. A large number of private hospitals and clinics have come up all over the country. With increasing emphasis on quality of health care and patient satisfaction there is a tremendous need for persons with a professional qualification in Hospital Management.Professional courses in Hospital Management/Administration are available for both medical and non-medical persons.
TOPICS COVERED :Some of the topics covered in the professional programme are as follows :
THE WORK :
As a Hospital Administrator you will be responsible for the overall organisation and management of the hospital to ensure its smooth functioning with the objective of ensuring the complete satisfaction of the patient. You will have to co-ordinate between the various departments of the hospital, ensure that all the equipment is functional, that there is a smooth flow of medical supplies and above all the required standards of cleanliness are maintained. You will also deal with the employees and financial matters.The emphasis is on quality, efficiency and cost containment. The challenge is to deliver the highest quality care at the lowest cost. It entails giving 100% of your time to quality in-patient care, lowering the length of stay, decreasing resource utilisation and working with the medical and administrative staff to co-ordinate all aspects of in-house care.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES :
Following the professional course you can avail of challenging job opportunities in medical institutes, hospitals, nursing homes and NGOs operating in the health care sector.Over one-half of all jobs in this field are in hospitals. The remainder are in home health agencies, medical and dental laboratories, offices of dentists and other practitioners, and other health and allied services. New graduates with Master's degrees in health services or hospital administration may start as assistant hospital administrators, or as managers of non-health departments, like finance. Post-graduate residencies and fellowships are offered by hospitals and other health facilities; these are normally staff jobs. Graduates from Master's degree programs also take jobs in hospitals, large group medical practices, clinics, mental health facilities, and multi-facility nursing home corporations. Health service managers advance by moving into more responsible and higher paying positions such as assistant or associate administrator and finally, CEO, or by moving to larger facilities.
More information at icscareersonline
http://www.rxpgonline.com/article1081.html
Health Management is among the top ten millennium professions according to a recent US survey. As healthcare management is becoming increasingly privatised there is a greater need for not only skillful doctors but also efficient hospital administrators. If hospitals have always fascinated you rather than scaring you off and you have an empathic nature along with a flair for organisation and an eye for detail then you can consider a career in Hospital Management. A large number of private hospitals and clinics have come up all over the country. With increasing emphasis on quality of health care and patient satisfaction there is a tremendous need for persons with a professional qualification in Hospital Management.Professional courses in Hospital Management/Administration are available for both medical and non-medical persons.
TOPICS COVERED :Some of the topics covered in the professional programme are as follows :
- Administration of Hospital and Health Care Planning.
- General & Personnel Management in Health Institutions.
- Concepts of Epidemiology (Public Health Administration), Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Terminology.
- Financial Management & Inventory Control in Hospitals.
- Behavioural Science (Organizational Behaviour in Hospitals).
- Organization & Management of Hospitals.
- Health Management Information System.
- Hospital Policies, Practices, Acts & Committees : Bhore & Mudalior - Reports, Hospital Committee Reports & National Health Plans. (Industrial Relations, Employees Welfare, Trade Unions, Labour Laws).
- Counselling.
THE WORK :
As a Hospital Administrator you will be responsible for the overall organisation and management of the hospital to ensure its smooth functioning with the objective of ensuring the complete satisfaction of the patient. You will have to co-ordinate between the various departments of the hospital, ensure that all the equipment is functional, that there is a smooth flow of medical supplies and above all the required standards of cleanliness are maintained. You will also deal with the employees and financial matters.The emphasis is on quality, efficiency and cost containment. The challenge is to deliver the highest quality care at the lowest cost. It entails giving 100% of your time to quality in-patient care, lowering the length of stay, decreasing resource utilisation and working with the medical and administrative staff to co-ordinate all aspects of in-house care.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES :
Following the professional course you can avail of challenging job opportunities in medical institutes, hospitals, nursing homes and NGOs operating in the health care sector.Over one-half of all jobs in this field are in hospitals. The remainder are in home health agencies, medical and dental laboratories, offices of dentists and other practitioners, and other health and allied services. New graduates with Master's degrees in health services or hospital administration may start as assistant hospital administrators, or as managers of non-health departments, like finance. Post-graduate residencies and fellowships are offered by hospitals and other health facilities; these are normally staff jobs. Graduates from Master's degree programs also take jobs in hospitals, large group medical practices, clinics, mental health facilities, and multi-facility nursing home corporations. Health service managers advance by moving into more responsible and higher paying positions such as assistant or associate administrator and finally, CEO, or by moving to larger facilities.
More information at icscareersonline
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Welcome, high-end patients (Medical Tourism in India)
From the link:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/248/20100427/1611/tls-welcome-high-end-patients.html
When James Michael, 35, began trawling the Internet for an affordable option to US health care, the prompt response from Fortis Healthcare in Bangalore to his enquiries about cervical disc replacement surgery brought him to the hospital recently. Thousands of foreigners are choosing Indian hospitals for complex procedures, not just dental or cosmetic work as was the case when medical tourism started. "Today, India is getting travellers from around 35 countries as against mainly from neighbouring countries and West Asia five years ago," says Vishal Bali, CEO, Fortis Healthcare.
Fortis alone treats close to 2,000 American patients a year now between its Mumbai and Bangalore hospitals, or ten times the Americans it handled in 2005. Both Fortis hospitals are accredited to the JCI or the Joint Commission International, a nonprofit US body that sets standards.
Preetha Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals, an early starter in medical tourism (the current term is 'medical value travel'), says that, five years ago, 80 per cent of the 'foreign' patients came from South Asia. "Today, it is down to 30 per cent with more patients coming in from a wide range of countries," says Reddy.
And it is not just the chains. Take HealthCare Global, a Bangalore-based cancer specialist. "Today, six per cent of our total patients come from abroad and this number is growing at 20 per cent per annum with patients mainly from Africa, Bangladesh, West Asia, Canada and some European countries like Norway and The Netherlands," says Dr B.S. Ajai Kumar, Chairman & CEO, HealthCare Global.
On the second day of his admission, doctors operated on Michael to replace a disc - a cushion between two bones - in the neck region with an artificial one.
Reddy says 300,000-odd medical tourists visited India last year, of which more than half are estimated to have headed into wellness centres promoted by locations like Kerala. But there is a clear trend among the rest towards tertiary care.
That a patient with a serious health problem is willing to take a 24-hour flight for treatment indicates a coming of age for the sector, which has been investing in facilities and techniques.
Dr G.S. Rao, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, which has units in Hyderabad and Secunderabad and is the first in South Asia to offer rapid arc radiation therapy, cites another factor attracting longdistance patients. "We have seen a perceptible increase in patients inflows with the new international airport coming up in Hyderabad," he says.
When Michael and his wife finally checked out of Fortis, the bill was $15,000, including a week's stay in a five-star-like facility, against the US rate of $30,000-40,000.
The cost differential is a major attraction. A cardiac bypass procedure, for instance, would cost around $8,500 in India, including stay for one companion in a single room. The US cost: around $100,000. On an average, treatment costs here are 10-20 per cent of US levels.
Medical value travel is worth $700 million now. "India accounts for no more than 1.2 per cent of the global market by value," says M. Muralidharan Nair, Partner, Business Advisory Services Practice, Ernst & Young (E&Y). Despite the growth potential, he says, the market size in 2012 will be much below $1.5-2.2 billion projected by some studies.
The number of international patients coming to India has grown at more than 24 per cent each year since 2002 and over half a million are expected to have visited by the end of last year. India apparently is also gaining from a transformation in this space globally.
"Medical tourism has transitioned from a cottage industry to an acceptable alternative for elective care that's safe and cost-effective, if coordinated by reputable health plans and providers," says Paul H. Keckley, Executive Director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, in its 2009 report Medical Tourism: Update & Implications.
Indian hospital chains are not waiting for patients to turn up: Some, like Fortis, Apollo and HealthCare Global are setting up outposts abroad to catch the tide. Recently, Fortis acquired a strategic stake in Singaporebased Parkway Holdings. Malvinder Mohan Singh, Fortis Chairman, told BT: "Singapore is an international medical hub and international patients are an important component for Parkway. Now we could attract patients into our network to service them out of Singapore, Malaysia (where Parkway also has a strong presence) and India."
After checking out, Michael took an autorickshaw to some shopping areas in Bangalore, India's Silicon Valley. It was a smooth ride.
Not so for the hospitals. Matching the West's expertise or equipment is not a problem, but the bugs are vexing. Take insurance. If an American tourist in India on vacation or work has a heart attack and undergoes an emergency procedure, the tourist's insurer picks up the tab. But the same insurer will not pay for elective surgery here.
Then, India has very few JCI-accredited hospitals—just over a dozen. India also needs a deeper pool of highly-skilled manpower attuned to diverse cultures. There is more to it than just providing an American with an Internet connection, an European a diet brief or an Arab a prayer room.
Attracting the best
India gets patients from around 35 countries today; five years ago, most were from neighbouring countries and West Asia.
Foreign patients now taking 24-hour flights to India to seek treatment for life-threatening conditions. Earlier, it was for cosmetic surgery.
Healthcare players are investing in the latest technologies, conducting beating heart surgeries and using robotics.
Some international healthcare insurance entities have started offering options to cover elective procedures in India.
But the potential for getting more patients from the West is huge: Nair of E&Y points out that over half the medical tourists now still are from countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria, and India has been able to attract only 12 per cent of the medical travellers from the US, UK and West Asia, who account for a quarter of global medical travellers.
Prescription for Growth
Speedier grant of medical visa, even visa on arrival.
Better linkages between healthcare and tourism.
Better airports and roads, not just in pockets but at all locations. More hospitals accredited to the JCI.
Reproduced From Business Today.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/248/20100427/1611/tls-welcome-high-end-patients.html
When James Michael, 35, began trawling the Internet for an affordable option to US health care, the prompt response from Fortis Healthcare in Bangalore to his enquiries about cervical disc replacement surgery brought him to the hospital recently. Thousands of foreigners are choosing Indian hospitals for complex procedures, not just dental or cosmetic work as was the case when medical tourism started. "Today, India is getting travellers from around 35 countries as against mainly from neighbouring countries and West Asia five years ago," says Vishal Bali, CEO, Fortis Healthcare.
Fortis alone treats close to 2,000 American patients a year now between its Mumbai and Bangalore hospitals, or ten times the Americans it handled in 2005. Both Fortis hospitals are accredited to the JCI or the Joint Commission International, a nonprofit US body that sets standards.
Preetha Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals, an early starter in medical tourism (the current term is 'medical value travel'), says that, five years ago, 80 per cent of the 'foreign' patients came from South Asia. "Today, it is down to 30 per cent with more patients coming in from a wide range of countries," says Reddy.
And it is not just the chains. Take HealthCare Global, a Bangalore-based cancer specialist. "Today, six per cent of our total patients come from abroad and this number is growing at 20 per cent per annum with patients mainly from Africa, Bangladesh, West Asia, Canada and some European countries like Norway and The Netherlands," says Dr B.S. Ajai Kumar, Chairman & CEO, HealthCare Global.
On the second day of his admission, doctors operated on Michael to replace a disc - a cushion between two bones - in the neck region with an artificial one.
Reddy says 300,000-odd medical tourists visited India last year, of which more than half are estimated to have headed into wellness centres promoted by locations like Kerala. But there is a clear trend among the rest towards tertiary care.
That a patient with a serious health problem is willing to take a 24-hour flight for treatment indicates a coming of age for the sector, which has been investing in facilities and techniques.
Dr G.S. Rao, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, which has units in Hyderabad and Secunderabad and is the first in South Asia to offer rapid arc radiation therapy, cites another factor attracting longdistance patients. "We have seen a perceptible increase in patients inflows with the new international airport coming up in Hyderabad," he says.
When Michael and his wife finally checked out of Fortis, the bill was $15,000, including a week's stay in a five-star-like facility, against the US rate of $30,000-40,000.
The cost differential is a major attraction. A cardiac bypass procedure, for instance, would cost around $8,500 in India, including stay for one companion in a single room. The US cost: around $100,000. On an average, treatment costs here are 10-20 per cent of US levels.
Medical value travel is worth $700 million now. "India accounts for no more than 1.2 per cent of the global market by value," says M. Muralidharan Nair, Partner, Business Advisory Services Practice, Ernst & Young (E&Y). Despite the growth potential, he says, the market size in 2012 will be much below $1.5-2.2 billion projected by some studies.
The number of international patients coming to India has grown at more than 24 per cent each year since 2002 and over half a million are expected to have visited by the end of last year. India apparently is also gaining from a transformation in this space globally.
"Medical tourism has transitioned from a cottage industry to an acceptable alternative for elective care that's safe and cost-effective, if coordinated by reputable health plans and providers," says Paul H. Keckley, Executive Director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, in its 2009 report Medical Tourism: Update & Implications.
Indian hospital chains are not waiting for patients to turn up: Some, like Fortis, Apollo and HealthCare Global are setting up outposts abroad to catch the tide. Recently, Fortis acquired a strategic stake in Singaporebased Parkway Holdings. Malvinder Mohan Singh, Fortis Chairman, told BT: "Singapore is an international medical hub and international patients are an important component for Parkway. Now we could attract patients into our network to service them out of Singapore, Malaysia (where Parkway also has a strong presence) and India."
After checking out, Michael took an autorickshaw to some shopping areas in Bangalore, India's Silicon Valley. It was a smooth ride.
Not so for the hospitals. Matching the West's expertise or equipment is not a problem, but the bugs are vexing. Take insurance. If an American tourist in India on vacation or work has a heart attack and undergoes an emergency procedure, the tourist's insurer picks up the tab. But the same insurer will not pay for elective surgery here.
Then, India has very few JCI-accredited hospitals—just over a dozen. India also needs a deeper pool of highly-skilled manpower attuned to diverse cultures. There is more to it than just providing an American with an Internet connection, an European a diet brief or an Arab a prayer room.
Attracting the best
India gets patients from around 35 countries today; five years ago, most were from neighbouring countries and West Asia.
Foreign patients now taking 24-hour flights to India to seek treatment for life-threatening conditions. Earlier, it was for cosmetic surgery.
Healthcare players are investing in the latest technologies, conducting beating heart surgeries and using robotics.
Some international healthcare insurance entities have started offering options to cover elective procedures in India.
But the potential for getting more patients from the West is huge: Nair of E&Y points out that over half the medical tourists now still are from countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria, and India has been able to attract only 12 per cent of the medical travellers from the US, UK and West Asia, who account for a quarter of global medical travellers.
Prescription for Growth
Speedier grant of medical visa, even visa on arrival.
Better linkages between healthcare and tourism.
Better airports and roads, not just in pockets but at all locations. More hospitals accredited to the JCI.
Reproduced From Business Today.
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