The next highlighted destination in the Satori Global Network™ is Metro Manila, which is a metropolitan area home to many neighboring cities including Manila, the capitol of the Philippines.

Your ‘to do list’ while in Metro Manila:

• Visit the Malacanang Palace in Manila
• See the three-century-old Pasig Cathedral
• Browse the Pasig City Museum and Plaza Rizal
• Shop the super-malls in Manila
• Spend the afternoon at Luneta Park, home of the Rizal Monument

Transportation

Transportation in Metro Manila via the roadways can be difficult if you do not leave the driving to the locals. It is best to stick with taxis, buses, minivans or jeepneys – or even the railway systems if you are going longer distances. Transportation in Metro Manila is extremely cheap compared to US standards, and is generally easy to navigate if you know your destination. Driving a car is not recommended for those who do not know the area, as local drivers are very comfortable with the roadways and often follow the driving laws loosely, at best.

Tours

There are many touring packages available in Metro Manila, but some of the places to visit are so large, they are practically tours in themselves! One place that is a must see is the Manila Ocean Park. It is the largest oceanarium in Asia and one of the most advanced. The park is set in a large center which also hosts many restaurants, and a large shopping mall, as well as a hotel. Also, take a tour through Chinatown for a different perspective on Chinese culture, as Chinese presence in the Philippines pre-dates even the arrival of the Spaniards over five centuries ago. All throughout Metro Manila, you can find great cuisine at great prices as well as great shopping, which we will get into next…

Shopping

The Metro Manila shopping experience can please shoppers on both ends of the spectrum. Those looking for high end boutiques and luxury items will be pleased to know that the malls in Manila are an experience like no other. Even when compared to some of the largest malls in the United States, the size of these malls alone is incredible. They contain everything from department stores, to schools, spas, convention centers, apartments, museums, art galleries and more, not to mention the numerous shops and boutiques. It is recommended that you allocate at least half of your day for shopping in any of the major malls. On the other side of the spectrum, you have tiangges. This is more of a bazaar experience. Here, shoppers can bargain with local vendors and even buy wholesale items at dirt cheap prices. You can find almost any item you can think of here, and again, serious shoppers should allocate a lot of time for this shopping experience because there is just so much to browse.

Dining

If you have ever tried Filipino food then you know you are in for a real treat when you visit Manila. The Filipino lifestyle includes a lot of eating – and by this I mean up to five meals a day! When looking for a great dining experience in the greater Manila area, visitors need look no further (please do though!) than the Greenbelt in Makati. Here is where visitors can find the largest variety of foods, from unique and trendy, to traditional and time tested. Another great place to look, especially for a more classy dining experience, is The Fort Strip and Serendra. This is in Global City, Taguig, and offers the newest and most exciting options in entertainment and dining.

View more of Satori World Medical’s popular destinations

References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila
[2] http://www.manila.gov.ph/
[3] http://wikitravel.org/en/Metro_Manila

Approximately 1 million Californians cross the border every year to seek medical and dental care in Mexico, as reported in a study done by UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research. Many U.S. Hispanic employees living along the border have taken advantage of the increasingly popular option of accessing health services in Mexico, given that procedures can cost as low as one third of the price in the U.S. Cultural and linguistic preferences are also other strong motivators for Hispanic employees seeking medical care across the border.

Through The Satori Cross Border Network™, employees will gain access to high quality providers which include SIMNSA – Sistemas Medicos Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. SIMNSA physicians and clinics in Tijuana, Mexicali, Rosarito and Tecate. Members can choose over 200 certified physicians across the U.S.-Mexico border. This gives U.S. Hispanic employees & their dependents, who prefer to receive their care in Mexico, access to quality medical care at a reduced cost. Moreover, all network claims are submitted to the plan sponsor in English using U.S. insurance industry standards.

Additionally, employees can choose Satori Global Network™ hospitals for non-emergency surgical procedures at our contracted JCI accredited hospitals, located in the Western Mexico and Costa Rica. Some of the surgical procedures available are Cardiac, Orthopedic, Bariatric and Spine.

Features & Benefits
• Over 200 primary care physicians and specialists along the California/Mexico Border
• Medical clinics are in close proximity to border
• Grupo Medyca, a state-of-the-art outpatient surgical center
• Provides practical and economical healthcare to both employers and their cross border workforce
• Online Lab Results through InterLab , one of the most modern and technically advanced laboratories in Mexico
• Digital Records give any participating physician the capability to view patient’s medical records online, 24 hours a day
• Information Safeguards meets specific HIPAA and other electronic medical record standards

Significant cost savings combined with the access to high quality, culturally sensitive facilities in Mexico makes a Cross Border program an attractive option to the California workforce.

For more information about The Satori World Medical’s Cross Border Network™, visit http://www.satoriworldmedical.com/crossborder or email Keith Mendoza at k.mendoza@satoriworldmedical.com

With over 10,000 beds in 43 hospitals, a string of nursing and hospital management colleges and dual lifelines of pharmacies and diagnostic clinics providing a safety net across Asia, Apollo Hospitals is a healthcare powerhouse you can trust. Apollo Hospitals unites exceptional clinical success rates and superior technology with centuries-old traditions of Eastern care and warmth, “as we truly believe the world is our extended family – something our 14 million patients from 55 countries can warmly affirm”.

http://www.apollohospdelhi.com/

Apollo Hospitals Group is the acknowledged leader in bringing world-class specialty healthcare to India. It is presently the largest integrated healthcare company in Asia, and employs over 4,000 specialists and super-specialists, and 3,000 medical officers spanning 53 clinical departments in patient care. It has performed over 7,500,000 major surgeries and over 10, 00,000 minor surgical procedures with exceptional clinical outcomes, including over 55,000 cardiac surgeries (one of only 10 hospitals in the world to achieve these volumes), and achieved a 99.6% success rate in cardiac bypass surgeries.

The hospital group has accomplished several “firsts,” including: first Indian hospital group to introduce new techniques in Coronary Angioplasty, Stereotactic Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery, first hospital group to bring the 64 Slice CT-Angio Scan system, first hospital group in South-East Asia to introduce the 16 Slice PET-CT Scan, and first to perform liver, multi-organ and cord blood transplants in India. Furthermore, the hospital group has pioneered orthopedic procedures like hip and knee replacements, the Illizarov procedure and the Birmingham hip re-surfacing technique.

View The Apollo Hospitals Brochure PDF

View Indraprastha Apollo Hospital on the Satori World Medical Website

You may enjoy reading this related post:
What To Experience In New Delhi During Your Medical Stay

“The patient rooms are homey, and comfortable with a beautiful sea view. Patient bed capacity is 209. There is an intensive care unit consisting of 59 beds and 8 operating rooms. The parking lot holds over 300 vehicles. Lighting, spaciousness, sea view, a manmade pond, natural plant life environment, abundance of green trees are part of the well thought details for a positive effect on patient care and treatment duration.”

• www.anadolumedicalcenter.com
• www.twitter.com/anadolumedical

Anadolu Medical Center has been designed with a focus on aesthetics, with special attention given to lighting, space, and the surrounding natural and manmade environment. These attributes were set in place with the intention of having a positive effect on patient care and recovery time. The award winning hospital was designed by the U.S. company, Rees. The center is serene and relaxing, and is located on a 42 acre piece of land. It is outside the reach of Istanbul’s big-city commotion and offers patients a quiet and nurturing place to receive care.

Anadolu Medical Center is home to both US board certified and trained physicians, and the foremost academicians of Turkey. The Center employs over 200 skilled physicians and serves over 3,000 international patients every year from over 50 countries. AMC has an outstanding nurse to patient ratio and the quality of care received is world-class. The Center’s multi-lingual nurses and staff are constantly improving their skills through training by Johns Hopkins faculty and provide excellent care for patients.

At Anadolu Medical Center, only the latest and state-of-the-art technology and equipment is used to assure the best possible treatment for patients. AMC is the first in Turkey with Cyberknife Radiosurgery®, the latest technology in cancer. The Center hosts clinical programs on special cases such as cancer, back pain, stroke, cardiac arrhythmia and breast health, and is always breaking new ground with a revolutionary, multi-disciplinary approach. Medical subspecialties include: PET-CT (Nuclear Medicine), New Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

Quality Assurance:

AMC is an institute that has ISO 9001 – 2000 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environment Management System), OHSAS 18001 (Work Health and Safety) and has JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation and quality certificates.

Certifications: European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO)

 Click to view the Anadolu Brochure PDF

David G. Jaimovich, M.D. is the President and Founder of Quality Resources International, the former Chief Medical Officer and Vice President for International Accreditation Services for Joint Commission Resources (JCR) and Joint Commission International (JCI), and a member of the Medical Quality Advisory Board of Satori World Medical.  I recently interviewed Dr. Jaimovich about his role at JCI, his new company and international quality in general.

Satori:  How is your role at Quality Resources International different from your work at JCI?

Dr. Jaimovich:  At JCI I was in charge of International Accreditation: surveying against standards of quality and patient safety.  JCI Standards address key issues relevant to medical travel, including evidence of quality and professional competence, and accreditation provides objective validation and serves as a benchmark, assisting patients in medical travel decision-making.  I am now involved in consulting, developing quality and performance improvement programs and patient safety initiatives as they relate to accreditation and improving the safety of patients in the hospital setting.  It is a more creative role, going beyond meeting standards to continuous improvement in quality and safety.

Satori:  Tell us about Quality Resources International.

Dr. Jaimovich:  Our mission is to collaborate with the healthcare community around the world, to help public and private entities improve the quality and safety of health services through education, consultation, technical assistance, practical tools and guidance.  We provide advisory services to Ministries of Health, we prepare organizations for accreditation, and we provide quality management information systems to evaluate the success of interventional changes, to show continuous improvement.  That is a big issue: sustainability of improvements.  We are also developing a fundamental framework for healthcare quality: this is a distillation of the fundamental elements of the standards from JCI and other national accrediting organizations, such as Trent, Accreditation Canada and the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards.

Satori:  You have travelled widely, been involved with the evaluation of many hospitals and other healthcare organizations worldwide.  What is your view of the level of patient care – quality and safety – at the best international healthcare facilities, such as Satori World Medical’s International Centers of Excellence – and would you be comfortable receiving care at these facilities yourself? 

Dr. Jaimovich:  Quality and safety are now front and center for many hospitals and healthcare systems around the world.  There is a tremendous drive, a “tsunami” of quality and safety.  US hospitals have been doing this for a long time, there has been a plateau for some.  International facilities are on a steep curve, a big push coming from the World Health Organization, Ministries of Health – and Tourism -, payers, and multinational companies.  For myself, I would have no reservations about having surgery or other care at international facilities that meet high quality and safety standards, have transparent validated results and who have been accredited by an international accrediting organization.

Satori:  Thank you Dr. Jaimovich.  More information about Dr. Jaimovich and Quality Resources International is available at www.qrintl.com  More about Satori World Medical is available at www.satoriworldmedical.com.

Due to the high costs of plastic surgery in the U.S., many Americans are now packing their bags and heading to exotic destinations to have surgery at a fraction of the cost of what they would pay here in the states.

Countries all over the world such as Costa Rica, Thailand, Mexico, and Brazil are world-renowned for their medical care. Plastic surgery is no exception. What’s the difference between cosmetic surgery in the U.S. and say in Thailand? One word, cost. The U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world, including plastic surgery. Average savings on care can be as much a 50% when compared with the U.S., while the quality of the care delivered rivals that of top U.S. hospital institutions.

The trend of medical tourism, Americans traveling outside the U.S. for medical care is becoming more common. Let’s look at the top plastic surgery procedures for these medical tourists:

• Breast augmentation: Involves using implants for fuller breasts or to restore breast volume due to a mastectomy following breast cancer or other illness.

• Tummy Tuck: A tummy tuck, also commonly referred to as abdominoplasty, is whereby excess fat and skin from the abdominal area is surgically removed. Tummy tucks are a type of procedure typically for medical tourists seeking weight loss and a tighter, slimmer waistline.

• Facelift: Facelifts are another common procedure for those looking to reduce wrinkles and the aging of the face and neck. Facelifts are popular among both men and women.

• Eyebrow Lift: An eyebrow lift is a surgical procedure designed to make an individual’s brow line and forehead regions more youthful. Both men and women (45-70 years of age) are common candidates for an eyebrow lift.

• Rhinoplasty: Rhinoplasty is a procedure sought after by women and men of all ages who want to improve the shape and look of their nose. Rhinoplasty involves reshaping an individual’s nose surgically to achieve a more attractive look. Rhinoplasty is commonly performed in many hospitals and cosmetic surgery specialty centers around the world.

If you are interested in saving as much as 50% on your next cosmetic procedure, consider becoming a medical tourist. You can get the same high quality care you desire without breaking the bank.

For more information about Satori World Medical’s Plastic Surgery Global Network, visit http://www.satoriworldmedical.com/plastics/

Satori World Medical offers many choices in destinations to receive medical care. Whether you are traveling internationally for a shoulder or knee replacement or even a cosmetic procedure, such as a facelift, you and your companion can take some extra time on your trip to enjoy the amenities of your hotel and experience the rich cultural areas in which our International Centers of Excellence are located.

The fifth of the destination cities of the Satori Global Network™ I am highlighting is New Delhi, the capitol city of India.

Your ‘to do list’ while in New Delhi:

• Visit the Akshardham Temple on the outer edge of the city
• Take a spin at Connaught Place
• Go watch the Dances of India – a nightly performance of regional dance
• Make your rounds shopping at Ansal Plaza
• Explore the back alleys of Chandni Chowk for great value on jewelry and more

Transportation

New Delhi is a planned city, and thus, has a vast web of efficient public transportation. Private vehicles make up less than a third of the total transportation demand within the city! There are over 15 subways, over 2,700 bus stops, and a metro railway that can get commuters from place to place quickly. Delhi’s bus system is the largest fleet of environmentally friendly buses in the world. Taxis are also readily available, however aren’t as widely used because the public transport is so easy to get along with. Rental car services are also widely available.

Shopping

Shop for great deals on designer brands where the locals shop – Ansal Plaza. Here you will find great high-end items that are unique, and there is a wide variety of items and styles that will not break the bank. If you are in search of handmade items, but do not feel like haggling with the locals, pay a visit to the Central Cottage Industries Emporium. This is a huge store, with six floors of goods ranging from paintings and clothing, to textiles and furniture.

Culture

Many places in Delhi (greater metropolitan area) radiate hundreds of years of Indian culture. Visitors should stop by the Jama Masjid mosque, which was built over 350 years ago, and took 14 years to complete. This giant mosque is the largest in India and its courtyard has a maximum occupancy of 25,000 people! Another sight to see is the Qutb Minar. This tall tower marks the defeat of the last Hindu kingdom in Delhi, and the new Islamic ruling in India over 800 years ago. The construction of this tower spanned nearly 200 years, and it’s five stories rise to over 200 feet!

Dining

Like any other popular destination, India is home to the usual suspects of world cuisine. Italian, Asian, and even American food can be found in New Delhi… However, the Indian food in Delhi is hard to beat. Who would have thought? There are a lot of chicken dishes to be found here, from kebabs to butter chicken. Tandoori dishes are a favorite, as well as curry. Vegetarians will love India, as vegetables are an integral part of all indian food.

View more of Satori World Medical’s popular destinations

References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Delhi
[2] http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/delhi

As reported in the recent Financial Times article, “Travel Sickness,” the rising costs of healthcare in developed countries is having a positive effect on countries like Mexico, Thailand and India where medical care is available at a fraction of the cost. According to a recent report by Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, medical tourism is likely to expand at 35 percent a year by 2012. This means an economic boost and advanced infrastructure for developing countries.

The number of internationally accredited medical facilities is growing rapidly. There are now more than 200 international hospitals which have received accreditation by Joint Commission International, the international arm of the U.S. accreditation body for domestic hospitals in the U.S. Foreign governments are investing in world-class facilities to complement the influx of Western medical tourists and tourism bureaus are reaping the benefits of Westerners combining medical procedures with exotic vacations. Ideally, this will have a trickle down to improved health systems for those countries’ citizens, as stated in the Financial Times article.

International accreditation benefits everyone. It raises healthcare standards and increases competition, which raises the bar even in the public sector. In South Korea, for example, the government has launched a public-private initiative designed to do just this. The Council for Korea Medicine Overseas Promotion was established in 2007 to develop world-class healthcare infrastructure and to promote Korean healthcare to international patients.

Domestically, U.S. health insurers are buying into the growing trend of medical tourism, as well. Blue Cross of South Carolina, for example, has brought hospitals in Europe, Asia and Latin America into its network of coverage. State governments have also taken notice of the financial opportunities medical tourism provides. Although the bills have not yet passed, both West Virginia and Colorado have proposed legislation that would provide incentives to insurers that include medical tourism in their plans.

To make medical tourism a seamless, high-quality and convenient healthcare option for more and more U.S. patients, employers and payors, companies like Satori World Medical have entered the marketplace to offer a “one-stop-shop” for medical travel. Through such programs, all services and procedures for the patient are arranged by a reputable medical travel partner to ensure that all aspects of the patient’s care and travel are properly handled, from helping the individual select his or her surgeon and hospital abroad and transferring his or her medical records to the destination hospital, to handling all travel details, such as flights, hotel, ground transportation, etc.

Companies, such as Satori World Medical, also offer fully integrated medical travel plans that employers can add to their existing employee benefit offerings at no cost, whatsoever, because the savings are achieved through utilization. Additionally, with the Satori World Medical program, for instance, the participating patient directly receives a portion of the savings as well – anywhere from $5,000-$10,000 per procedure is deposited into an employer-funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). This offers everyone a compelling reason to participate in medical travel – the employer, payor and the individual receiving care.

As reinforced by this Financial Times article, as medical costs in mature markets continue to soar, medical tourism will continue to rapidly evolve in developed and developing nations, alike.

In this blog post, we will be highlighting one of our hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey – Acıbadem Healthcare Group. “Turkey’s leading healthcare institution Acıbadem Healthcare Group, provides extensive healthcare services with state-of-art medical technology since 1991. Acıbadem, operates with over 8,000 employees of which 1,580 are physicians, in 9 General Hospitals, 8 Medical Centers, 1 Laboratory and Genetic Diagnostic Center.”

- http://www.acibademinternational.com/

A quick highlight of this hospital’s achievements:

• First and only Healthcare Group in the private healthcare sector to acquire ‘Gamma Knife‘ known as Golden Standard for brain tumour surgeries
• First Healthcare Group to enter into a cooperation with Massachusetts General Hospital who is developing special software programs for advanced MR technology
• PACS Systems are available all through the facilities
• First digital radiology and paperless hospital in Turkey
• First Healthcare Group recently approved by the Ministry of Education to open its own academic health sciences university
• First and only Healthcare Group to own health and life private insurance company called “Acıbadem Insurance”
• First and only Healthcare Group to receive “the most well – known brand” award in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in private healthcare according to AC Nielsen Research Report.
• First and only Healthcare Group to be within the top 50 largest companies in the last 3 years
• First and only Healthcare Group that owns ‘Project Management Company’ offering services such as planning, 
implementation, supervision and consultancy
• First Health Group to establish its healthcare chain of hospitals, outpatient clinics and medical centers within Turkey
• Acıbadem Healthcare Group has the highest number of teaching physicians according to a research done by “Turkish Time”
• Acıbadem Healthcare Group including International Hospital facilities serves 23% of all the private medical services in the country.

 Click to view the Acibadem Brochure PDF

Satori World Medical offers many choices in destinations to receive medical care. Whether you are traveling internationally for a shoulder or knee replacement or even a cosmetic procedure, such as a facelift, you and your companion can take some extra time on your trip to enjoy the amenities of your hotel and experience the rich cultural areas in which our International Centers of Excellence are located.

The fifth of the destination cities of the Satori Global Network™ I am highlighting is Monterrey, the capitol of the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon.

Your ‘to do list’ while in Monterrey:

- Visit the Serengeti Safari wild animal park
- Experience the rich cultural heritage by taking a tour of the city
- Experience live music at the Municipal Palace: Open air concerts every Sunday evening
- Shop for jewelry or arts & crafts at the local markets
- Visit the Planetario Alfa art museum, science exhibits, and IMAX theater

Transportation

Monterrey is connected to its neighboring cities and the United States by many highways and a few freight lines. Transportation in while in Monterrey is quick, either via taxi or the Rapid Transit System called the Metrorrey. The Metrorrey currently has two lines and covers a wide area of the city. There are also a few old fashioned trolleys rolling around the city.

Tours

Speaking of Trolleys, why not catch one for a first hand glimpse of what the city has to offer? There are many trolley tours available, and tourists can usually catch them right outside their hotels. If you enjoy a cold beer now and again, check out the Tecate Group beer garden in the center of the city for some cold, fresh Carta Blanca, for free! There are many tours in the city that cover the main areas of interest, including the Gran Plaza, which offers weekly open air concerts, and plenty of cultural activities throughout the year.

Shopping

Travelers from the United States will quickly notice some familiar store chains, which can make it easy to pick up an item that was forgotten at home, without having to search far and wide. There are also almost a dozen large shopping malls throughout Monterrey, with department stores, cinemas, and food courts. Here, many tourists can find great prices on the same items they could find at home, all while shopping through familiar stores and brands. Monterrey has many souvenir and art stores which feature everything from postcards, to rugs, pottery, and beautiful handmade glass items.

Culture

Monterrey is home to many art museums, both contemporary and historical. Also of note are the many history museums, which include artifacts from Monterrey, and offer a deep look inside the history of Mexico. There are planty of interesting displays, from old treasures, to breathtaking glass art.

Monterrey is a city in which music holds a high importance. There are many places throughout the city that feature live music, of all types. Barrio Antiguo is the center of all of Monterrey’s nightlife, and tourists can easily find one of the many venues, featuring jazz, salsa, Nortena – as well as many big name entertainers that pass through the area. You’ll never know what famous concerts you might see in Monterrey!

Dining

Monterrey’s most traditional dish is cabrito, which is kid goat cooked whole over burning embers. It is based on the cuisine of the Jewish founders of the city. There are a number of other traditional dishes with this influence, and also a noticeable absense of pork dishes. Carne asada is a well known favorite, and is largely popular among Monterrey families. This is often served with grilled onions or baked potatoes.

Once again, travelers from the United States will feel very comfortable with the familiar chain restaurants which can be found throughout the cities, but why not try something new? The local restaurants (even the fancy ones), are very reasonably priced when compared to the U.S. Monterrey also offers a variety of international cuisine, with local flavor infused, for a very unique, and unforgettable taste.

View more of Satori World Medical’s popular destinations

References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterrey
[2] http://www.allaboutmonterrey.com/