LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA–(Marketwire – Sept. 14, 2010) –
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The medical tourism industry is witnessing tremendous growth in recent times, with such robust growth. In one hand many healthcare providers are willing to extend services to international patients on the other hand a growing segment of medical tourism facilitators (support services providers) are emerging to capture a piece of the pie in the industry. Even though both segments play an extremely important role in the growth of medical tourism, neither most of the hospitals nor the facilitators have mastered providing comprehensive services & care to patients because of the complexity involved in this business.
With the sole purpose of providing vital information to both segments at the scroll of their thumb, the leading industry pioneer & The President of Medical Tourism Association, Renee Marie Stephano along with industry expert William cook have authored two medical tourism and international healthcare books.
The first book, titled Developing an International Patient Center – A Guide to Creating the Best Patient Experience, is focused on International Patient Departments and creating best practices and the best patient experience for international patient centers. The book will also be an opportunity for existing international patient departments to implement best practices, and new procedures and protocols that will increase the patient experience and outcome.
The second book titled The Medical Tourism Facilitator – A Best Practices Guide to Healthcare Facilitation for International Patients is focused towards opportunities, challenges and issues for medical tourism facilitators, sometimes referred to as Medical Travel Facilitators. This medical tourism book will also provide a stepping stone for those individuals and companies who are interested in either starting a medical tourism business or those companies who are already in business but would like to improve their business practices and patient processes.
“In the last few years, I have been requested by many organizations and individuals to provide them guidelines and references to help them to participate in industry. The problem was that there weren’t any resources out there for them” said Renee Marie Stephano Co-Author of Book and also Editor-in-Chief of the Medical Tourism Magazine. “Now, these medical tourism books shall play a roadmap and guide for those healthcare providers and facilitators that would like to attract and serve international patients. I am content that eventually these books will help hospitals and facilitators to serve patients better,” added Renee-Marie Stephano.
Both medical tourism books have already received remarkable pre-launch review from Industry giants:
“Global Healthcare management is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world, and Renee-Marie Stephano ‘s role in understanding and managing that industry is fundamental. Renee-Marie Stephano and William Cook have done an excellent job in providing the essential guidelines and roadmap to the development of successful international patient care. I recommend ‘Developing an International Patient Center’ book to every institution working to have a place in Global Healthcare Management” – Abdalla Bashir, Director of Jordan Hospital, one of the leading hospital in middle east for international patient care.
Jerry Turney, President of the Consolidated Marketing Group, US based health insurance consultancy, said, “The production of this Facilitator “Best Practices Guidebook” is a critical step in the continued patient-friendly development of international medical tourism. This book should be considered required reading for everyone involved in or considering getting involved in a Medical Tourism program!”
Armando Polanco, President of Texas Benefits called the book, ” A bible in this burgeoning industry.” He also said I found this book to contain all of the fundamentals plus more ,in order for insurance companies, employers and agents to methodically move ahead in patient global migration. The importance of working with qualified facilitators is well described and lays the groundwork for such collaboration.”
“With over 7 years of experience dealing with international patients, I firmly believe this book leads global healthcare providers in the right direction of creating international patient center programs and services for attracting patients, as well as establishes international standardization to reach the expectations and requirements of international patients. I would like to thank Renee-Marie Stephano and William Cook for their contribution and passion to Medical Tourism. “Hwang (James) LEE, Head Manager of Wooridul International Patients Center, Wooridul Spine Hospital, Korea.
The International Patient Center Book, “Developing an International Patient Center, A Guide to Creating the Best Patient Experience,” is a guide for any hospital, medical center, clinic or physician interested in developing an international patient program and attracting patients. The book provides a fresh approach to getting your global patient program underway, developing streamlined patient protocols and case management programs to produce better outcomes, cultural considerations and the special needs and expectations of international, expatriate, and traveling patients.
The Medical Tourism Facilitator Book is a guide for any medical tourism facilitator, international patient coordinator or person considering offering facilitation services to international, expatriates, or travel patients. The medical tourism book provides start to finish guidelines and best practices for getting your business started, creating your patient protocols and case management programs, setting up healthcare networks, effectuating patient communication and education strategies, cultural competency and risk management considerations, marketing to patients, and working with hospitals.
Both books will be formally launched at upcoming World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress this September in Los Angeles. The books will also be available at Medical Tourism Association’s website at www.MedicalTourismAssociation.com
The World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress will have a joint VIP networking cocktail reception and party Wednesday Night, September 22nd at 7 pm at which the books will be released. The party will be in conjunction with the Employer Healthcare Congress where up to 1000 employers, insurance agents, brokers, consulting firms and healthcare leaders will finishing up their three day congress event on the Green Circle Terrace. For more information about the VIP After Party, please go at http://www.medicaltourismcongress.com/en/vip-party.html
About Co-Author – Renee-Marie Stephano, Esquire
Renée-Marie Stephano is a Founder and President of the Medical Tourism Association, also known as MTA, the first international non-profit trade association for the medical tourism industry. Ms. Stephano is Editor of the Medical Tourism Magazine and Health Tourism Magazine. She is also -author of the books “The Medical Tourism Facilitator” and “Medical Tourism: An International Healthcare Guide For Insurers, Employers and Governments,” and “Developing an International Patient Center – A Guide to Creating the Best Patient Experience.”
Ms. Stephano received her Juris Doctorate degree in Law in Pennsylvania. She has a background in international marketing and health law and then went on to open her own law firm, spending six years serving as general counsel for a US national healthcare administrator, which was the first US healthcare administrator to implement medical tourism into both self-funded and fully insured health plans in the United States.
Ms. Stephano works full time for the Medical Tourism Association and is considered an expert in medical tourism and global healthcare. In her role at the Medical Tourism Association, Ms. Stephano helps countries and hospitals in their medical tourism and global healthcare initiatives. She has helped many countries and hospitals achieve their goals of attracting foreign patients, international insurance companies and focus their efforts on increasing quality and transparency. Ms. Stephano also works with medical travel facilitators to establish best practices to ultimately ensure patient safety. She may be reached at [email protected]
About Co-Author – Bill Cook
Bill Cook is the International Department Operations Manager at Hospital Clinica Biblica in San Jose, Costa Rica.
In the years before becoming involved in medical tourism, Bill was devoted to consultancy work on issues of internet marketing and optimization tactics to improve visitor to customer conversion rates, mainly in the field of tourism. He has also written numerous articles related to tourism.
Through the implementation of a comprehensive customer-centric international patient program, Bill has been instrumental in positioning Hospital Clinica Biblica as one of most renowned hospitals in the area of medical tourism. His main interest has been to achieve greater customer satisfaction and to automate daily tasks with the goal of achieving a more efficient international patient process.
Bill is also an author, consultant and speaker on topics related to medical tourism and a regular contributor to the “Medical Tourism Magazine, published by the U.S. based Medical Tourism Association.
About Medical Tourism Association
The Medical Tourism Association™ (Global Healthcare Association) is the international non-profit trade association for the medical tourism and global healthcare industry made up of the top international hospitals, healthcare providers, medical travel facilitators, insurance companies, and other affiliated companies and members with the common goal of promoting the highest level of quality of healthcare to patients in a global environment. http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com.
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