Myths Surrounding Medical Vacations

The two largest producers of medical tourism myths are ignorance and fear.  Some of the fear comes from domestic dentists who are threatened by the dramatically lower prices medical vacations offer.  Ignorance, however, is the easier of the two to address in a relatively short amount of time, so let’s focus on that.  The best way to set right a myth about dental tourism is to seek advice from professionals and research the medical tourism industry. According to Allison Hope at StatMedica.com,  

“the most popular misconception about medical tourism is that you get what you pay for, and a patient traveling overseas in order to receive cheaper treatment will receive inferior treatment.”   

In many consumer situations, that philosophy is absolutely true.  What makes it a myth when it comes to dental tourism to countries like Poland is the idea that American patients get what they pay for with domestic health care.  If we’re honest with ourselves, the “get what you pay for idea” is lost, because with the sky-high cost of domestic health, care even for something as relatively simple as dental crowns, we really aren’t getting what we pay for to begin with.   
 
Dispel Those Myths with Sound Dental Tourism Advice

Maybe the truth of the matter is that since we’re overpaying for medical care here, the low cost of the medical vacations to Poland and other countries offering medical tourism only appears cheap.  Perspective can show that while the cost of dental crowns abroad are cheaper, the medical care is not necessarily cheap when it comes to quality.  In fact, many of the doctors and medical staff abroad are trained, certified, or even from the United States.  So what’s the difference between a doctor at a hospital in Atlanta, GA and a doctor at a hospital in Warsaw, Poland who was trained in the US?  Location, location, location. The quality of the care does not diminish during the flight over the Atlantic.  Other hospitals, like Bumrungrad International in Thailand ensure enough members of its staff are fluent in English to accommodate English-speaking patients. 

Finding Trustworthy Dental Tourism Advice  
With any major purchase—and no matter the monetary cost, medical care is always a major purchase—one would be wise to investigate the pros and cons for him or herself.  Ask the right types of questions.  And most important of all, make sure you are aware of the risks involved concerning medical tourism malpractice, accreditation, and insurance.