Medical Tourism - Our Process
The patient is the heart ot the whole process, which is broken down into 6 different parts. We at Glamhealth aim at keeping your journey through this medical tourism process as simples and efficent as possible. We will be there at each step of the way, during which you will be in contcact with our members at all times.
An inital diagnosis will be made during our first contact. This will serve as insight into what your needs are,general medical history, fears and expectations.
Call back details and contact data will be introduced at this time.
A selection of surgeons and hospital will be presented to you based on our inital assentment and a case manager will be appointed to be your guide through the whole process. Any and all decisions made of a professional level by our team will be done so with your consent. You will be kept informed throughout the process.
A painstaking investigation and gathering of your medical records will be made. All X-rays and your physian recommendations will be collected to put together your case file. All information will be treated with the upmost confidentiality. A complete treatment plan will then be presented to you for your assement so that the next step can be taken.
You will be provided with a complete package quote, which will contain trip fees including travel, accommodation, treatment, rehabilitation, family and any additional information we consider essential. Usually this final quote is very close to the preliminary quote presented initally, unless the medical review reveals something we did not take into consideration in the beginning.
Once given the go ahead, the wheels will be put in motion and you will receive your complete and final journey plan and travel itinerary. The plan outlines every step along the way.
A Medical Host appointed to you by us will greet you upon arrival at your destination. You will meet your surgeon the day prior to the procedure. If additional tests are required, they will be conducted at this time. We will be there to support you and answer any questions. Should you wish we will keep your family back at home updated, regularly. Once out of the hospital you will receive nursing care on a regular basis. Your surgeon will also be checking on you. GlamHealth representative will be available to you at any time, day and night, in case there are any questions.
There are quite a few well established physical therapy centers in Portugal so depending on your procedure, you may want to take advantage of them.
We are happy to plan this according to your needs and requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know
Medical tourism is simply obtaining medical or surgical services while traveling or vacationing in another country or purposely planning a trip to another country in order to receive medical treatment. There are various reasons why people travel to other countries to seek medical treatment:
• Costs savings
• A long waiting list for surgery in the home country
• A certain procedure is not offered in the home country
• The desire to have access to more modern facilities or technology
• The need for increased privacy
We even encourage a family member to come along to ensure you feel less alone while you receive your treatment. We will be happy to engage your travel partner in some sightseeing activities while you receive care. Rest assure that every eventuality is taken care of. After all, that is what we aspire to.
We expect that at least one parent or legal guardian accompanies children for both legal and psychological reasons.
Yes. Portuguese and EU criminal and civil law clearly states that a hospital has to continuously maintain and improve established standards.
All our hospitals are at minimum use the ISO quality system standards and many have other types of accreditation such as the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO); Cooperation for Hospital Transparency in Quality (KTQ) which is a system based on the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation and the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards.
However, accreditation is not everything. Actual medical results need to be measured and controlled and the quality system supervised. Portugal as a country is a leading force in implementing this in Europe.
No doctor or hospital will give you a guarantee that there will be no complication after a procedure. Complications occur as a result of a variety of interconnected and unpredictable events. No matter where you are in the world and no matter how skilled the surgeon or well equipped the hospital is, there is always a risk. Any surgeon, hospital, or medical tourism company that tells you otherwise is either lying or does not know what they are talking about. The only way to avoid complications is by not having the procedure done.
The good news is, that most complications occur in the first few days after surgery. (Just to be clear, not just in Portugal, but everywhere). This is why your physician or surgeon will recommend that you stay in the country for at least a few days after your surgery (depending on your treatment). He or she would like to make sure that healing occurs without problems, that any medication is showing the desired effect and that you are getting along well with any potential physical therapy program.
At this point the chances of any complication will already be statistically reduced.
However, GlamHealth does not stop there. We have a two arms approach to managing complications when you are back at home:
1. You will be going home not only with your complete medical records on a data carrier (DVD, or USB memory stick) but also with a set of instructions what to do and what to avoid.
Due to GlamHealth`s excellent connections in the medical industry, you will also receive a name of a surgeon or physician in your area that you can visit if there are any complications, in case you would prefer not to go to your physician. He or she will already be informed beforehand about your treatment if you wish this to be done.
2. If there are complications, that are evidently related to the procedure, contact us immediately. We will work with you and our physician here to determine what is better for you and your health: Getting a correction done back at home or here in Portugal.
Your physician in Portugal will make an assessment of your recovery and then a decision as to WHEN and IF you are ready to travel can be made. In addition, it depends highly on the type of medical treatment you have received.
A recent study has shown that over 90% of medical tourists are satisfied to very satisfy with the treatment they have received abroad. It is the surrounding factors of the country that may have influence on safety.
Questions to ask yourself are:
• What is the sanitational condition of country like?
• Do people speak my language, or at least English?
• Do I need any special vaccination?
• Will the climate of the country affect my health or recovery?
• Can I eat local foods or are there concerns with sanitation?
• Are there any dangerous animals or insects that I need be aware of?
• How high is the crime rate? Is it safe to walk the streets alone or at night?
• Is the country known for terrorist activities?
• How dangerous is moving traffic?
• Is the country known for political unrest?
• Are there any repeating natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, hurricanes or tornados?
• How receptive is the local culture to your own culture?
All of the above concerns are neglectable when traveling to Portugal. Portugal is one of the safest travel destinations in the world.
A vast range of medical/surgical options for medical tourists are available. Medical tourists primarily, seek elective procedures such as cosmetic surgery, hip and knee replacements, dental procedures, infertility treatments; any procedure that is usually not covered by insurance or has a long waiting list in their home country. In addition patients who do not have sufficient health care coverage may travel abroad in order to save costs.
Portugal has some of the most highly qualified and experienced physicians in the world. With a cultural emphasis on education and perfection, most of these surgeons are super-specialized in their respective fields. At the same time prices for treatment remain at a good value ratio compared to other European countries.
There are many reasons to choose Portugal as the perfect destination. Safety, wonderfully mild climate and the fact that it is easy to reach. Every major airline flies here.
Yes, you will be able to speak to your selected surgeon before you travel. Your confidence in our mutual selection in hospital and surgeon is important to us.
Most people in Portugal speak English very well. You will find that the Portuguese If all fails, Glamhealth will work with interpreters and translators. Language should not be a barrier.