Medical Tourism Certification Programs

The Medical Tourism Association™ (MTA) has launched two certifications and professional designations for both insurance/HR professionals and travel agents.

Certified Medical Tourism Specialist™ will be the designation for insurance and HR professionals

Certified Medical Travel Specialist™ will be the designation for travel agents.

Over the last four years, the MTA has worked with industry stakeholders and leaders through workshops and focus groups to establish best practices and protocols for handling international patients. The certifications will allow insurance, HR professionals and travel agents to take away from their courses the tools necessary to develop strong health and wellness travel programs, and further their understanding of the requisites for implementation and sustainable growth of this niche market opportunity.

Renée-Marie Stephano, president of the Medical Tourism Association™, stated, “Due to the increasing number of requests from specific industries such as insurance and HR professionals and travel agents looking for specialized education, the Association has provided a solution which allows these professionals to set themselves apart from others on a platform of best practices as they enter this niche market.”

“The certification program will give them the tools to create a roadmap and turn medical tourism from a concept into an action plan that can actually be implemented and managed with ease. This certification program should also allow more insurance, HR professionals and agents to become educated and will raise awareness and adoption of medical tourism across the globe,” Ms. Stephano added.

Benefits of Becoming a Certified Medical Tourism Specialist ™:

• Demonstrates to employers, insurers and peers that you possess the training and knowledge to successfully implement and manage both an international and domestic medical tourism program

• Sets you apart from the competition and shows colleagues your specialized expertise and commitment to the industry

• Shows that you are up to date with best practices in implementation, communication & engagement

• Opportunities for job promotion and career enhancement

Benefits of Becoming a Certified Medical Travel Specialist ™:

• Educate individual and corporate clients on health and wellness travel

• Add a niche business model, focused on medical, dental and wellness travel, to their portfolio

• Market health & wellness travel and create a new source of revenue

• Implement health & wellness travel as an approved corporate expense

In order to receive either of the two certifications, program participants must: • Finish 8 hours of training/classes (this can be done either in person or online) • Complete a workbook • Meet educational and professional experience requirements • Pass a comprehensive 100+ question . In order to remain certified, Specialists™ must complete five hours of continuing education credits for the three years following certification, to stay apprised of the best practices and standards in the industry.

The first certification courses will be offered Saturday, October 27 in Fort Lauderdale/Miami, Florida, USA, immediately following the conclusion of the MTA’s 5th Annual World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress.  After December 1st, 2012 the certification courses will be available online for anyone in the world to participate.

For more information or to sign up for certification you can go to http//www.MedicalTourismCongress.com. The cost of the program is $1,500 for two years.

Kerry Weinger- Partner of Baker & McKenzie LLP

With over 30 years of international experience, Kerry Weinger advises multinational employers on the tax, social security, employee benefits, compensation, employment law, and other legal issues related to the cross-border transfer of employees.  He represents and advises employers and management in a variety of international human resources matters such as implementing global stock plans, implementing global work force reductions, preparing cross-border employment and related agreements in tandem with international benefits and tax counseling.

Mr. Weinger will be leading the session The Mobile Employee: Navigating and Weathering the Global Laws Impacting Employee Mobility. It will be presented at the 5^th World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress and will also crossover with the Global Benefits Conference on October 24^th-26^th 2012.

Through the use of real life examples, this session will provide guidance for the multinational employer on recognizing and addressing the key global mobility issues presented in the international assignment of personnel, including who will be the employer, which employee benefits will apply, which employment laws will apply and the related tax planning and compliance.

Kerry is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), OneWorld International Benefits Group, National Association of Stock Plan Professionals, Forum for Expatriate Management, International Fiscal Association, Bar and CPA Associations and past member of the Global Advisory Council of Worldwide ERC and the Executive Committee of the International Personnel Association.

Kerry practiced abroad for two and a half years in Brussels, Belgium.  He has lectured extensively before professional organizations around the world and has written several articles on international benefits, employment, tax, payroll and compensation issues.  Kerry also authored a book entitled U.S. Employees Abroad, published by Little, Brown & Company and Commerce Clearing House, co-authored the publication Employee Downsizing in Japan, and is a contributing author to the Thomson/West International Human Resources Guide.

Mr. Weinger graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelors of Science degree in Accountancy, received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University, and a Master of Laws degree in taxation from the John Marshall Law School.

To read Kerry’s full biography and for more information about the event including the complete conference agenda, please visit http://www.medicaltourismcongress.com

The 5th World Medical Tourism Congress is proud to announce Holy Cross as one of the sponsors of the Medical Tourism Congress, the largest educational and networking platform in the medical tourism industry. A non-profit, Joint Commission accredited, 559-bed Catholic facility, Holy Cross Hospital has provided our community with innovative, compassionate and exceptional healthcare for over 55 years. Holy Cross now has opened its doors to the world, breaking down the borders that shouldn’t exist between patients and exceptional healthcare.

Through their International Services program, Holy Cross provides service to international patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Their multicultural staff understands the needs of international patients who seek care in a foreign country. The organization is fully dedicated to making patients and their family members feel as welcome and comfortable as possible with special consideration to their cultural needs.

 “Holy Cross Hospital is excited to attend the 5th World Medical Tourism Congress to inform the international healthcare community that the exceptional, award-winning care we have provided for over 55 years is now available to the rest of the world.” Said Dr. Francisco Gonzalez, Director, Holy Cross Hospital International Services.

“As a member of Catholic Health East, a multi-institutional Catholic health system located in 11 eastern states from Maine to Florida, Holy Cross Hospital hopes to increase awareness within the international healthcare community regarding our long-standing tradition of innovative, award-winning care, centered around compassion for our patients. We were the first hospital in our community to earn a Magnet Nursing status, which nationally recognizes the best in professional nursing and patient care, and we have maintained this level of care over time. For years, we have nurtured a ‘culture of inclusion’ in which all persons are welcomed, valued and celebrated; we are able to offer this to our international patients as we provide care with special consideration of their cultural needs” , he added.

Accredited by the Joint Commission, Holy Cross Hospital has once again been named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Regional Hospitals in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area and high performing in orthopedics, gynecology, geriatrics and urology. The Holy Cross Orthopedic Institute continues to receive high recognition from HealthGrades, being named in the top 5% in the nation for joint replacement surgery, seven years in a row; top 5% in the nation for orthopedic surgery, 5 years in a row; and Best in Region for joint replacement surgery in 2012. Becker’s Hospital Review also has recognized our orthopedic program as one of the best in the nation.

In addition, Holy Cross’ focus on safety has gained several accolades over the years. Most recently, Holy Cross received top ratings in patient safety from two national organizations: they received a “grade A” Hospital Patient Safety ScoreTM from the Leapfrog Group and they were awarded the Midas+ Platinum Quality Award, scoring in the 99th percentile of the hospitals in the Midas+ database. 

For more information contact Holy Cross Hospital’s International Services program at 866-262-8621 or visit HolyCrossInternationalServices.com.

The Medical Tourism Association encourages participants of the 5th World Medical Tourism Congress to connect with the members of Holy Cross Hospital in the networking platform and to pre-schedule one-on-one meetings at their booth during the Congress.

The Medical Tourism Congress is proud to announce Almater Hospital as a silver sponsor of the largest educational and networking platform in the medical tourism industry. Twenty years ago, Almater Hospital had the dream to offer the people of Mexicali a world-class hospital. After a long chain of efforts, a lot of dedication and a significant learning process, today Almater Hospital has made its dream come true. Nonetheless, the dream is greater now.

The organization is proud to service patients from other cities in the state and abroad, in order to continue reinforcing every aspect of their business: better personnel, more advanced technology and better installations to continue being the hospital that best responds to the medical needs of the region and of international patients.

Their services include: external consultation, emergencies, hospitalization and pharmacy among others. In addition, Almater offers specific programs such as hemodynamics, chest pain clinic and gastrointestinal video endoscopy.

During its 21 years of operations, Almater has been characterized by its constant growth. Only in 1989, the number of hospitals grew by 60%. The great work they do for the community, the state of the art technology and the humanitarism of the professionals working for the organization have made Almater the most important private hospital in the region of Mexicali.

The Tourism and Convention Committee of the Municipality of Mexicali (COTUCO) will support Almater’s participation at the Congress and will be part of this international platform which will enable Mexicali to promote its destination in order to attract national and international tourism and support its initiative to promote Mexicali Medical Services internationally.

For additional information, visit: www.almater.com and http://cotuco.com.mx/english/

The Medical Tourism Association encourages participants of the 5th World Medical Tourism Congress to connect with the members of Almater Hospital in the networking platform and to pre-schedule one-on-one meetings at their booth during the Congress.

The World Medical Tourism Congress announces the launch of the new and improved website www.MedicalTourismCongress.com as part of its mission to provide the best educational platform in the medical tourism industry.

The new website customizes the experience for every industry player by offering a navigation path specific to their area of expertise.  Individuals will be able to visit the new website and learn how their industry fits into the realm of medical tourism. “The release of the specialized website is part of our efforts to put as much information about the industry right at your fingertips and in one location.  It creates a more robust experience for those attending the congress to learn as much they can prior to the event so that they can maximize their learning, networking and sharing experience,” said Renée-Marie Stephano, president of the Medical Tourism Association™.

New Feature: Navigation Paths

The new website offers customized information to the following industries:

•   International healthcare providers
•   Employers & insurance companies
•   Government organizations
•   Medical tourism facilitators
•   Travel agents
•   Global benefits professionals
•   Healthcare development
•   Medical technology companies
•   Academia
•   Wellness
•   Hospitality industry

Navigators of the site can find their industry specific benefits to attend the annual congress, the most updated agenda which includes innovative topics and case studies, CME’s, the list of expert speakers and other event highlights such as the 3rd Global Ministerial Summit, Caribbean & Island Ministerial Summit and the Medical Director Summit which will take place during the Congress.

“The goal is simplicity, the new design will eliminate searching through every page for the right answer, the information you need would be right in front of you” said Stephano. “This new website will prepare industries for the Congress and educate them for the future.” She added.

View the new site here: http://www.MedicalTourismCongress.com

About the World Medical Tourism Congress
The conference is the dedicated annual event of the Medical Tourism Association™, the nonprofit trade association in the medical tourism industry,  http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com and media partner Medical Tourism Magazine, http://www.medicaltourismmag.com the only dedicated magazine for the medical tourism and global healthcare industry, and by Medical Tourism City, http://www.medicaltourismcity.com, a social network for the medical tourism and global healthcare industry

The 5th World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress, which will take place on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale/Miami October 24-26th will also feature the Global Benefits Conference, http://www.globalbenefitsconference.com, focusing on international employers and insurance companies and it will be fully integrated for the first time with the Employer Healthcare & Benefits Congress, http://www.employerhealthcarecongress.com which is one of the largest insurance conferences in the United States.

The Medical Tourism Association™ and Richard Krasner, professional in workers compensation; released this white paper which presents evidence indicating that employers and insurance companies may not have a choice in implementing medical tourism.

Throughout the debate leading to the enactment of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), one area of healthcare has been relegated to the sidelines; the rising cost of workers’ compensation claims. One major factor for the increase of workers’ compensation claims costs is the rise of medical costs associated with those claims. The average medical cost per loss time claim in workers’ compensation in 2008 was $260,000, and medical losses in that year represented 58 percent of all total losses.

The white paper concludes on the note that the globalization of healthcare will necessitate the removal of all barriers to providing the best care possible at the lowest cost. The cost savings that are being realized by medical tourism as a part of the healthcare industry can be just as beneficial in workers’ compensation. Therefore, medical tourism should be implemented into workers’ compensation and the legal barriers should be modified.

As part of the mission to provide education to those seeking information about the industry, the Medical Tourism Association™ has published the white paper, you can view it here: http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com/en/workers-compensation-white-paper.html

Please send an email with any questions or comments.

Olivia@MedicalTourismAssociation.com

Dr. Scott Diering- Author of Love Your Patients!

Presented by the author of the book, the session Love Your Patients: Improving Patient Satisfaction with Essential Behaviors That Enrich the Lives of Patients and Professionals will teach you the words and actions that healthcare workers should use in order to enhance any patient’s healthcare experience.

It will focus on the importance of love in healthcare as it is comprised of compassion, respect and humility. It will also provide examples to illustrate how good caregivers can be offensive when behaving without love and how to avoid these situations. Finally, it will address the scientific basis of admonition. The workshop will be presented at the 5^th World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress. The event is held in Florida on October 24^th-26^th 2012.

Dr. Diering is a practicing emergency medicine physician, who also gives lectures and workshops on patient satisfaction. He founded Love Your Patients! Inc. to make the world a better place.

He currently lives and works in western Maryland. Previously, Dr. Diering worked in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where he was hospital media spokesperson, wrote and hosted the hospital’s TV segments, and was county Medical Society president.

Before attending medical school at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Dr. Diering practiced as a clinical psychologist. He earned his Master’s Degree in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Dr. Diering grew up in New Jersey, and graduated from Rutgers College in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1983. He still has many friends and family in New Jersey, and his New Jersey roots are easily seen in his language and mannerisms.

To read Dr. Diering’s full biography and for more information about the event including the complete conference agenda, please visit http://www.medicaltourismcongress.com

We would like to extend a special invitation to employers, insurance companies, government officials, facilitators and insurance agents who send patients overseas or are interested in doing so and wish to attend the 5th Word Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress held on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale/Miami on October 24-26th.

This event is the largest international networking and educational platform in the world where you will meet the decision makers in the industry to network, build strong relationships and increase the ROI for your organization.

The Medical Tourism Association’s™ annual event will be integrated with the Employer Healthcare & Benefits Congress, one of the largest US health insurance and healthcare conferences in the United States, and the Global Benefits Conference focused on international employers and insurance companies.

The Medical Tourism Association™ has allocated a limited budget to bring buyers of healthcare through its VIP Buyer Program and we encourage you to benefit from this exclusive opportunity by submitting your application here:

http://www.medicaltourismcongress.com/vip-buyers-incentive/

The application will be submitted to the buyer committee for pre-approval and additional follow up will only be required if more information is needed.

Jeffrey Chen – Executive Director of Insurance & Benefits, Insupro

Aging population, funding of social security, tax treatment and rising labor cost are all challenges of the benefit market environment in China. In a changing society, to design and manage a benefit program can be a very challenging task. Challenges and Trends – An Overview of Benefit Market in China is an educational session which will be presented at the 5^th World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress and will also crossover with the Global Benefits Conference. The workshop will first give an overview of the benefit market in China, explain the dynamics of the current market and teach solutions for China related benefit issues.

Jeffrey Chen is the founder and CEO of Insupro and will be leading this topic. He has 17 years of experiences in insurance underwriting, brokering and risk & benefit consulting. Jeffrey will explain how to design and implement the benefit program in China and the solutions to the challenges he’s faced.

Headquartered in Beijing, Insupro is a leading provider of comprehensive employee benefit solutions in China. Since inception in 2002, Insurpo has provided many well-known companies in China with whole-process services including employee benefit consulting, benefit/insurance brokering, employee experience improvement and benefit administration outsourcing.

Jeffrey is interested in the topics of global benefit, benefit technology and outsourcing.  He graduated from China University of Politics and Law and Shanghai Maritime University.  He was admitted as a member of Health Insurance Association of America.

To read Jeffrey’s full biography and for more information about the event including the complete conference agenda, please visit http://www.medicaltourismcongress.com

Carolyn Nye – Director of Digital Interactive Group, USADATA

Carolyn Nye, Director of Digital Interactive Group USAData Inc. (along with Kate O’Neill, Founder and Creator of [meta]marketer), will lead the session “Persuading Through Caring: Connecting with Patients on a Personal Level”.  She will be explaining the magnitude of “Triggers & Targeting” marketing to receive the best outcomes and genuine interest from prospective clients.

She is Email Marketing Manager for USAData, providing businesses with consulting, data and technology solutions. Previously, she was Marketing Manager for S&S Worldwide, a direct marketer of arts & crafts and educational supplies for over five years. Carolyn is responsible for the planning and implementation of email marketing programs and has developed a wide variety of highly successful triggered and transactional email campaigns designed to engage customers, drive sales, improve service and overall customer satisfaction.

This session will be emphasizing that delivering the right message to a prospect at the right time can have a powerful impact on the effectiveness of your online marketing campaigns. Carolyn will explain how to leverage on-site behavioral triggers and segmentation to create highly customized and targeted messages in both your outbound email efforts and on your website. Attendees will learn how to increase conversions by identifying valuable visitor segments, serving customized content based on each segments’ characteristics and needs, and remarketing to your prospects with a series of right-timed messages that prompt them to come back for more.

Carolyn holds a BS in Marketing from UMass Dartmouth and is currently pursuing an MBA in E-Commerce and Global Marketing from the University of New Haven. She is an occasional speaker and contributor at industry conferences, featured in trade articles and webinars.

To read Carolyn’s full biography and for more information about the event including the complete conference agenda, please visit http://www.medicaltourismcongress.com