U.S. Doctors Lagging Behind Doctors in Medical Travel Countries

Plastic Surgery Financing Options are Dearer in the United States

According to “HealthDay,” some of the latest international health policy surveys reveal a stunning difference between the services offered by primary care doctors in medical travel countries and the US.  When both are compared, primary care doctors in medical travel countries score better than those in the US when it comes to offering care to patients beyond regular office hours, alerting patients to potentially harmful drug interactions, and receiving financial incentives for improving patient care.  In addition, the US primary health care service was also found lacking in the availability of plastic surgery financing.  For instance, liposuction costs more in the US than in countries that are popular destinations for medical travel.

Why Is Primary Care Superior in Medical Travel Countries?

American primary care doctors lag behind because they do not have the necessary tools for providing the best possible care to patients.  Fewer American doctors use electronic medical records when compared to their counterparts in medical travel countries.  The percentage of American doctors receiving computerized alerts about potentially harmful drug doses or interactions is much lower than those in medical travel countries.  Also, the percentage of doctors offering patient care beyond regular clinic hours is much higher in countries that are popular destinations for medical travel than those in the US.  These doctors have advanced computer systems and tools to prescribe medications electronically.  They can also easily access patients' test results and receive alerts when their patients are overdue for essential care.

Medical Travel Countries Offer Plastic Surgery Financing and Cheaper Liposuction Costs

The survey findings also reveal that doctors in countries focused on medical travel are easily able to perform procedures like those related to plastic surgery and liposuction, whereas facilities in the US find it difficult or impossible to perform these tasks without going through a lot of red tape.  On the contrary, medical travel countries encourage patients who may need these advanced procedures by offering plastic surgery financing and affordable liposuction costs.

Source: "U.S. Primary-Care Doctors Lag Behind Colleagues Abroad: Report,” Health Highlights, November 2, 2006