Medical tourism has prospered all over the world. Patients have not irreversibly bound to their local healthcare systems anymore.When hearing the term medical tourism, the first countries that come to mind include Switzerland, England, and USA. More patients travel to the US for care than ever before [1].Every year, American hospitals receive patients from all over the world seeking to manage their conditions from one of the most advanced healthcare systems on the planet.
In this article, we will cover 5 reasons that drive patients to travel to the USA for care. By the end of this piece, you will appreciate just how advanced the US healthcare system is relative to its counterparts.
Why do patients travel to the USA for care?
1. Cutting-edge biotechnology
The United States is the leading country in the field of biotechnology. The top 10 leading biopharma companies are centered in the US [2].
How does that help you as a patient?
Well, biotechnological innovation directly influences the quality of patient care. For instance, US hospitals use robots in surgical and clinical settings. These devices can be extremely beneficial when dealing with certain tumors, such as brain cancer [3].
The US also has one of the most advanced physical therapy and prosthetic fields around the globe. In fact, thousands of athletes visit America every year to receive the best quality of care and recover as fast as possible.
2. Latest therapeutic innovations
According to reports, more than 40% of medical innovation stems from the US. The vast majority of clinical trials that test new drugs for debilitating conditions occur in the US. Examples include treatments for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory conditions. [4]
When it comes to finances, the US is the number one country that spends money in the field of medical research. The National Institute of Health (NIH) spends approximately $41.7 billion per year on biomedical research. [5]
Biomedical research is also a pillar of the American healthcare system.
Today, patients are participating in advanced clinical trials to receive the latest medications that treat cancer. The US also possesses a large arsenal of antineoplastic treatments. The unavailability of these drugs in other countries can be a matter of life and death for many patients.[6]
These efforts are primarily oriented toward better medical care for the American people. When Pfizer developed the COVID-19 vaccine, who do you think benefited first from this life-saving vaccine?
You can consult a US-based doctor with the help of telemedicine. This way, you will be able to make an informed decision about the best way to manage your condition.
3. Highly qualified healthcare providers
To become a doctor in the United States, students have to undergo a long, difficult journey of exams, bedside skills, and continuous testing by the American Board.
Once this is over, they need to match for a residency program to become a specialist. Some residency programs last for up to 7 years to complete. These are mostly surgical fields (e.g., plastic surgery, neurosurgery).[7] If that’s not enough, specialists may also need to opt for a fellowship, where they receive training in a specific field of that specialty. In other words, a neurosurgeon may train to become an expert in the field of tumors affecting the base of the skull.
The collective knowledge, training, and expertise gathered from decades of training make US doctors leaders in their respective fields.Just think of the best medical schools in the world. What comes to mind?
· Harvard medical school
· Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
· Stanford University School of Medicine
· Yale School of Medicine
· Oxford University Medical School
The first four schools are US-based. Moreover, America has some of the best hospitals out there. Check out this article we compiled earlier about US hospitals https://www.medeboundhealth.com/post/top-10-lung-cancer-oncologists-in-the-us-list-of-best-cancer-hospitals-in-america
In summary, patients travel to the United States for care when they want the best possible clinical outcome.
4. Specialists in challenging fields
In many countries around the world, it can be difficult to find a specialist for your specific disease. For instance, some pediatric patients with extremely rare diseases find no specialists able to care for them nor the appropriate treatments for those diseases. [8]
The solution? Consult a US-based doctor or travel to the US for care.
In the previous section, we established how the majority of US doctors become micro-specialists. This gives them what it takes to care for the most challenging conditions.
The National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD) is an American institution that’s committed to identifying, treating, and curing rare diseases. [9]
Some of the approaches followed by NORD include:
· Disease education
· Advocacy for patients
· Research efforts
· Service programs
5. The diagnosis and treatment of rare and chronic conditions
The consolidation of medical knowledge throughout years of training gives US doctors the edge when it comes to diagnosing and treating rare conditions. Moreover, the widespread availability of advanced testing techniques and imaging technology allows for the precise and rapid diagnosis of these diseases.Following an evidence-based approach to diagnosing rare diseases is indispensable. Unfortunately, other healthcare systems do not necessarily stick to these approaches. [10]
Advances in the field of radiology, in particular, have pushed the United States to the top spot regarding investigative and interventional radiology. Are you ready to get the best quality of care in the US? Using our global telehealth platform, you can now receive a virtual consultation with a top physician specialist in America, no matter where you live in the world. Regardless of your condition and your country, we are here to help you. Contact us in the below form to learn how we can provide world-class care to you and your loved ones.
Takeaway message
Patients from all around the world can consult a US-based doctor with ease. Thanks to telemedicine, getting the help of a board-certified US doctor is easier than ever. Patients can also benefit from the latest innovations in the field of medicine by visiting the USA for medical care.
We hope that this article managed to highlight the potential benefits offered by the American healthcare system for international patients with challenging disorders.
If you have questions or concerns about anything we covered above, feel free to reach out to us via the contact form below.
Medebound HEALTH is an international healthcare company that is incorporated and headquartered in New York. It is dedicated to assisting patients across the globe with frustrating and devastating conditions, to gain easy access to top medical experts and advanced treatment methods in the US. Having signed up 1000+ specialists mainly affiliated to the Top 20 US hospitals, Medebound HEALTH has contracted with the world’s largest insurance firms, global Fortune 500 companies. Its services have covered worldwide members touching millions of lives, and bringing new hope to patients who would otherwise have limited options in their local countries. For more information visit us at https://www.medeboundHEALTH.com
References
1-Béland, D., & Zarzeczny, A. (2018). Medical tourism and national health care systems: an institutionalist research agenda. Globalization and health, 14(1), 68. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-018-0387-0
2-Jung, Y. L., Hwang, J., & Yoo, H. S. (2020). Disease burden metrics and the innovations of leading pharmaceutical companies: a global and regional comparative study. Globalization and health, 16(1), 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-020-00610-2
3-Gyles C. (2019). Robots in medicine. The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne, 60(8), 819–820.
4-Keyhani, S., Wang, S., Hebert, P., Carpenter, D., & Anderson, G. (2010). US pharmaceutical innovation in an international context. American journal of public health, 100(6), 1075–1080. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.178491
5-https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/budget
6-Trendowski M. (2015). Recent Advances in the Development of Antineoplastic Agents Derived from Natural Products. Drugs, 75(17), 1993–2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-015-0489-4
7-Swan K. G. (2017). On becoming a physician. Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center), 30(1), 109–111. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2017.11929551
8-Al-Shamsi M. (2017). Addressing the physicians' shortage in developing countries by accelerating and reforming the medical education: Is it possible?. Journal of advances in medical education & professionalism, 5(4), 210–219.
9-https://rarediseases.org/nord-releases-principles-for-assessing-proposals-designed-to-lower-the-cost-of-prescription-drugs-in-the-united-states/
10- Acevedo-Aguilar, L. M., Mass-Hernández, L. M., Matta-Rodríguez, D., Jiménez-Filigrana, J. A., Garzón-Gutiérrez, K. E., Barahona-Botache, S. A., ... & Rahman, S. (2021). Practical guide for the use of medical evidence in scientific publication: recommendations for the medical student: narrative review.
