Bumrungrad and Medical Tourism in International Press

The Three S’s of Differentiation That Drive Self-Insured Employers to Offshore Their Employees’ Surgical Care| September, 2012

Safety, Service, and Savings have and will continue to compel some American employers

to consider amending their benefit plans to offer employee incentives to direct care abroad. These three S’s will increasingly be considered by more employers and in this order.

By David Boucher, MPH, FACHE
President & COO, Companion Global Healthcare

Wealthcare: Private hospitals are capitalising on strained Western health services and rising Asian incomes| September, 2012

Over the last decade, the region has witnessed a meteoric rise in private hospital chains catering to an increasingly affluent and aging middle class. Once predominantly located in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, the phenomenon of medical tourism has encouraged chains to expand to other countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam.

The number of foreign patients at Thai private hospitals almost tripled from 550,000 in 2001 to 1.5 million in 2009.

Source - SEAGLOBE January 2012

HealthExecNews.com features The 25 Most Beautiful Hospitals in the World| March, 2012

Hospital architecture and designs have transformed over time, from the once sterile white walls and stark decor to vibrant colors and eye-catching materials on the interior and exterior. The elements in today’s best designs have been proven to improve patient care.

Depending on the type of building, tying in elements of style and flair may be harder than expected. Hospitals are one type of building where functionality and design must go hand-in-hand. In developing this list of The 25 Most Beautiful Hospitals in the World, we considered interior and exterior features and their health-promoting qualities. Designs including warm woods and nature-inspired elements, soft color schemes, and exterior facades designed with regards to their natural settings placed these facilities on the list.

The New Yorker features Affordable Health Care in Thailand and Costa Rica| April, 2012

This year, a few hundred thousand intrepid American travellers will head to places like Thailand and Costa Rica, in search of something that they can’t find in the United States. They won’t be looking for Mayan ruins or ancient Buddhist temples, but something a bit more practical: affordable medical care.

Listen to the podcast that interviews the author of this story click here.

Delta Sky Inflight Magazine Features Bumrungrad International| July, 2012

"Bumrungrad lnternational Hospital Bangkok, Thailand is one of the most technologically advanced and well-staffed medical centers in the word, with 1,200 doctors (300 full-time), including 225 who have board certification from the United States."

Patients Beyond Borders Features: Bumrungrad International| June, 2011

Established in 1980, Bumrungrad International Hospital is the largest private medical facility in Southeast Asia, serving more than 1 million patients per year, including more than 400,000 international patients who visit from 190 countries.

Only the Best for His Father Trusting Thai Doctors to Treat His Father’s Heart Condition| June, 2011

Mr. Hai Phan is confident his 78-year old father, Luan Van, is in good hands – getting the attention he needs for a serious heart condition. Mr. Phan lives in Boston; his father lives in Vietnam, where he owns a rubber company called Bin Phuoc Rubber. “The hospital Bumrungrad has given my father great treatment,” said Mr. Phan.

Full article (English) - Click here

Full article (Vietnamese) - Click here

Travel Smart for Treatment| June, 2011

Patients from different markets seek healthcare abroad for different reasons, according to Kenneth Mays, senior director, hospital marketing & business development of world-renowned facility Bumrungrad International hospital in Bangkok. “People fly to hospitals like Bumrungrad mainly to seek better care than they can get at home: better-trained doctors, specialists in certain diseases or treatments, advanced medical technology and internationally accredited patient safety.” And this is also often at a lower cost as compared to their home countries, to boot.

Life After 50 (Page 24-25) - The pros of overseas care| June, 2011

In 2005, Pearson began vetting local doctorswith the help of a friend who is a retired ortho-pedic surgeon. Unhappy with the choices they had, a hospital in Thailand kept coming up in Pearson’s research: Bumrungrad International (pronounced bahm-roong-RAHT, a Thai word meaning “care for the people”) an internationally-accredited, multi-specialty hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. His friend said, “Go for it.”

Medical tourism wins fans| June, 2011

In terms of amenities, hospitals like the famed Bumrungrad in Bangkok put their cash-strapped American counterparts to shame. Touches like marble floors, gourmet food, and “Royal Suites,” more reminiscent of a resort than a hospital.

International Media