Medical Tourism: The Role and Contribution of the Nursing Profession in the

sustainability of the Sector

Dr. Maria Katharaki Operational Researcher, RN, MW, MSc, MBAc, Ph.d

Quality Manager, General Hospital of Athens “Alexandra”

Visiting Lecturer, University of Athens

Medical Tourism

… as travel abroad with the intention of

obtaining non-emergency medical services

… requires dedicated services to alleviate

the anxiety of foreign patients

Medical Tourism: a new Industry…

Medical Tourism… range of treatments

• Cosmetic surgery

• Dentistry (cosmetic and reconstruction)

• Cardiology/cardiac surgery (by-pass, valve replacement)

• Orthopaedic surgery (hip replacement, resurfacing, knee

replacement, joint surgery)

• Bariatric surgery (gastric by-pass, gastric banding)

• Fertility/reproductive system (IVF, gender reassignment)

• Organ, cell and tissue transplantation (organ transplantation;

stem cell)

• Eye surgery

• Diagnostics and check-ups

Nursing …

• "the act of utilizing the environment of

the patient to assist him in his

recovery".

(Florence Nightingale, 1860)

• encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of

individuals of all ages, families, groups and

communities, sick or well and in all settings.

• includes the promotion of health, prevention of

illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying

people.

• Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment,

research, participation in shaping health policy and

in patient and health systems management, and

education are also key nursing roles.“

(International Council of Nurses)

Nursing…

Medical Tourism: A new role for Nurses?

Nursing… in Medical Tourism Industry

… has the same important and decisive

role in patient care and recovery

Advisory

Guiding Supportive

Administrative

etc…

help clients /patients find appropriate sites in which

to obtain the desired care

in other countries

warn clients/patients of

possible risks and

ethical/legal dilemmas

Medical Tourism: A new role for Nurses?

Nursing staff…

• … is an excellent resource to assist in the pre-

decision due diligence and post-decision travel

health counseling

(Tompkins, 2010)

• … ensure patients/medical tourists that they

receive the same technical and safety standards

as at home

A new role for Nurses?

Questions that raise: • What qualifications are required for a nurse

working in medical tourism?

o … include advanced clinical skills, business

skills, and a strong background in transcultural

nursing

• What preparation should the nurse undertake for

this role?

• What are the particular challenges associated

with nursing in this context?

Suggestions • Programs should be developed to prepare nurses

for the many responsibilities involved in medical

tourism industry

• … such a course would include

o transcultural elements,

o business and management studies,

o ethical and legal discussions that relate to the

care of patients.

In Conclusion… • Medical tourism is likely to increase over the next decade

as more patients are able to access the Internet

• A new role for nurses is derived as they are tasked with an

even wider range of health care responsibilities

• Nurses need to familiarize themselves with the benefits of

medical tourism

• Medical tourists will benefit from the services of a

knowledgeable health professional in their home country

who can discuss the many issues that relate to medical

tourism.

Wonderful Greek Places to Recover In

Thank You! Dr Maria Katharaki

References

• Ben-Natan M, Ben-Sefer E, Ehrenfeld M 2009, Medical Tourism: A

New Role for Nursing? The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(3)

• Eissler LA, Casken J. 2013, Seeking Health care through

International Medical Tourism. J Nurs Scholarsh. 45(2): 177-84.

• Gupta V, Das P. 2012, Medical Tourism in India. Clin Lab Med. 32(2):

321-5.

• Paparoidami K, Katharaki M. 2009, Investigating Health Tourism:

Current situation, key factors and future perspectives. Proceedings

of the 7th International Conference in Information & communication

technologies in healthcare (ICICTH’09), Greece, pp 299-305.

• Tompkins OS. 2010, Medical Tourism. AAOHN J, 58(1):40.