Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from the World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress!

Power Points Available Online!

Did you miss a session of the 2008 World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress?

Speaker Power point presentations are still available to view online at:
http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com/powerpoints.html

Legal Workshop Sponsor: Squire Sanders & Dempsey

Among the strongest global law firms, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. has lawyers in 32 offices and 15 countries around the world. With one of the strongest integrated global platforms and our longstanding one-firm philosophy, Squire Sanders provides sophisticated seamless legal counsel worldwide.

We offer an international health care and hospitality practice to match the evolving requirements of the global medical tourism industry. With experienced lawyers throughout the world, we can guide clients through the maze of health care and hospitality issues associated with medical tourism. We have a long history representing clients in the health care, hospitality and leisure industries around the world including academic medical centers, health care systems, health insurers and hotel chains as well as the developers and financiers that make these deals happen. With experience representing clients in almost every type of deal, we bring a unique and well-rounded perspective to all the issues you may face.

Cincinnati · Cleveland · Columbus · Houston · Los Angeles · Miami · New York · Palo Alto · Phoenix · San Francisco · Tallahassee · Tampa · Tysons Corner · Washington DC · West Palm Beach Buenos Aires* · Caracas · Rio de Janeiro · Santiago* · Santo Domingo · São Paulo Bratislava · Brussels · Bucharest* · Budapest · Dublin* · Frankfurt · Kyiv · London · Moscow · Prague · Warsaw Beijing · Hong Kong · Shanghai · Tokyo *Associated firm

http://www.ssd.com/

The Congress Issue San Francisco 2008

The Medical Tourism Association is pleased to share our newly released Issue 7 of the Medical Tourism Magazine with you. Please click on our magazine link located at the top right hand corner on our home page www.medicaltourismassociation.com. Scroll down to Issue 7: Special Issue - World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress 2008.

Highlights from this Issue Include:

• Interview with Dr. Joseph Heyman, American Medical Association
• Interview with Alex Piper, Former Buyer of Chrysler
• Interview with Dr. James Fram, ISAPS
• In focus articles on Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East

Need Gift Ideas?

What is the perfect gift this holiday season?

How about tickets to the World's Largest Medical Tourism Congress! The 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress is taking place in Los Angeles on October 26-28th! Save the date and plan ahead because this is one event you do not want to miss! Buy your tickets today to get the best price at early bird registration rates!

Listen Up! Medical Tourism Congress featured on C-Span Radio!

The World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress will be featured on C-Span Radio this Friday, December 5th at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Tune in to C-span radio to listen to the session: Employers Views of Medical Tourism. Featuring speakers: Sandra Morris, Procter & Gamble; Peter Hayes, Hannaford Brothers; and Colleen DePadua, Black and Decker. The session will discuss what are the positive and negative views for employers about implementing medical tourism into their fully insured and self-funded healthcare plans? What incentives are used to encourage patients to travel overseas for care.

The show can be heard on XM Satellite Radio on channel 132. You can also listen live online at c-span's website http://www.c-span.org/.The session is a previously recorded session from the World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress which took place in San Francisco, September 9-12th, 2009 and featured over 850 attendees from over 45 countries and over 53 exhibitors and sponsors.

Bronze Sponsor: FV Hospital

World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress would like to announce FV Hospital as a Bronze Sponsor for the 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress in 2009! FV Hospital was a sponsor at our 1st Conference and have already signed on for 2 Booths for 2009! We look forward to having them Sponsor and Exhibit again!

Vietnam is becoming a choice tourist destination for its captivating culture, natural beauty and delicious cuisine. Add to the list, world-class healthcare services thanks to FV Hospital.

FV Hospital is a 100% French-invested hospital located in Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon. It is the first international standard hospital in Vietnam and the first outside France to be accredited by the HAS (Haute Autorite De Sante), the prestigious French healthcare organization. FV Hospital is currently in the process of being the first in Vietnam to attain JCI (Joint Commision International) accreditation.

FV Hospital is Vietnam’s premier healthcare provider with extremely comfortable facilities, state-of-the-art medical equipment and internationally-trained doctors in more than 30 specialties. It provides a large range of medical services such as joint replacement, spine surgery, eye laser treatment, plastic and reconstructive surgery, dental implants, all types of cancer treatment, gynaecology & obstetrics, etc.

FV Hospital is very competitively priced. International standards, value for money, effective results – you are certainly getting all the best with FV hospital.

FV Hospital International Patient Department will advise you on the right doctors, the type of treatment and their cost, and will help you for all logistic issues. It will play an essential role in the after care period.

At FV Hospital, a patient is not a name or a number but a privileged guest, one to be treated with care and respect. Visit www.fvhospital.com or email to us at international@fvhospital.com to find out more.

Register today to get Early Bird Special Conference Rates!

Register today to get Early Bird Special Conference Rates!

Conference Only $995 (save $505)
Workshops Only $749 (save $551)
Conference + Workshops $1700 (save $800)

Discover Los Angeles!

We're so excited that the 2009 World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress is in Los Angles! There are so many things to discover and do while visiting LA! Discover LA's website says "New attractions in Los Angeles offer the top-notch entertainment and activities for all sorts of visitors. So whether it’s been a while since you’ve been to the city or you’re a first-time visitor, figuring out new things to do in LA is the first step in planning your visit. LA's newest attractions, many of which are multi-billion dollar projects, add to the city's already long list of top-notch tourist options. What are you waiting for? Get out there and discover the best of LA."

To view more of what Los Angeles has to offer visit:

http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/

Medical Tourism Congress Announces Call for Papers!

The 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress has released a Call for Papers. The Conference will be held from October 26-28th at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles, California.

Theoretical and empirical papers in all areas of Medical Tourism, Medical Travel, Health Tourism, Health Travel, and related fields are welcome. Papers must be submitted in English.

There are three ways in which to submit your paper or presentation ideas:
1) Submit your paper for a chance to present at the Conference, either in single or panel session
2) Submit you paper for a chance that it will be provided to all conference attendees
3) Recommend A Panel Session

The Conference is affiliated with The Medical Tourism Magazine. The Medical Tourism Magazine is a Bi-monthly Medical Tourism industry magazine in both print and electronic versions. The Magazine addresses important issues affecting the Medical Tourism industry and has a primary focus on the quality of healthcare available at leading international hospitals.
Papers submitted will also be considered for publication in the Medical Tourism Magazine. The latest issue of the magazine is available to read online at www.medicaltourismmag.com/ .

The deadline to submit your paper is February 15, 2009. To read the submission guidelines and download an application to submit please go to: www.medicaltourismcongress.com

MTA Magazine Launches Bi-Weekly Newsletter

The Medical Tourism Magazine has launched a bi-weekly online newsletter. The newsletter will feature top stories on Medical Tourism from around the world, Top Conferences on Medical Tourism, and the latest news from the Medical Tourism Association. Current and past issue articles will be available to view online, http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com/newsletter.html

To sign up for the Newsletter please email: info@medicaltourismmag.com

To subscribe to the Magazine, click here: http://www.medicaltourismmag.com/subscribe.php

MTA Attends Forum in Sonora Mexico

Hermosillo, Sonora MexicoNovember 6th and 7th, Invited attendees from Mexico and the United States gathered in Sonora Mexico for the first International Forum on “Sonora Opportunities and Perspectives of Health Tourism”. The forum featured 200 delegates over two days of panel discussions to help promote Medical Tourism in Sonora Mexico. The keynote speaker was Dr. Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos, Secretary of Health in Mexico who spoke about the upcoming challenges that will be faced in Sonora and about their goals for the future. Two representatives from the Medical Tourism Association were present for this forum, President Jonathan Edelheit and Melissa Skelton. Jonathan Edelheit was a speaker for the panel session on Global Market Trends for Providing Healthcare Services to Foreigners and also spoke on Medical Insurance for Foreign Patients. One of the hot topics at the conference was accreditation, since currently there are only 3 JCI accredited hospitals in Mexico. Many hospitals were waiting until they were accredited before they started marketing in the US to bring patients. The misconception for many is that a hospital needs to be JCI accredited before they can start receiving overseas patients. The Medical Tourism Association representatives took two hospital site tours. The hospitals they visited were CIMA Hospital Hermosillo and Hospital San Jose. Both hospitals were busy preparing for accreditation and eager to bring US patients to their hospitals. Hospital San Jose was built two years ago and is preparing to build an International Patient Department. During both tours they saw a lot of positive steps in the right direction, from top of the line technology being used, plans for remodeling/expansion, and building for the future.
The forum was a step in the right direction for Medical Tourism in Sonora. Health Tourism of Sonora was a Bronze Sponsor at the World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress where they networked with many of the speakers that spoke at the forum.

New Media Sponsor PlacidWay

The 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress is happy to announce another Media Sponsor, PlacidWay. PlacidWay is a leading authority in the field of health tourism through its vision, commitment to service and determination to be the most complete resource possible. PlacidWay offers world class healthcare providers in exotic destinations, a formidable knowledge and information base, quick response turnaround and a one-stop interactive approach to booking a health tourism experience. For more information on PlacidWay, go to www.placidway.com.

Introducing: Hyatt Regency Century Plaza

Introducing the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, the site of the 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress 2009. Surround yourself with contemporary glamour and style at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Perfectly situated on the fashionable Westside, adjacent to Beverly Hills, this elegant Los Angeles hotel offers easy access to all the sights of this vibrant city. Set on seven lush acres, with 726 spacious newly renovated guestrooms, world-class spa and fitness center, our Los Angeles luxury hotel is a resort retreat in the midst of the city. Discover why this Century Plaza hotel and spa has been the choice of dignitaries for more than 40 years. The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza is offering a discount rate for all World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress delegates. Please call or email the World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress to find out more information!

Hyatt Regency Century Plaza

2025 Avenue of the Stars

Los Angeles, California, USA 90067

Tel: +1 310 228 1234

Fax: +1 310 551 3355

Registration is now Open!

Registration for the 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress is now open!

To register today on our new and improved online registration please: Register Here

Leave us your comments on how you like our new registration system right here on the blog! We are looking forward to another exciting conference and we hope to see you all again in LA!

Bronze Sponsor: Orthopedic Surgery Center of Orange County

The World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress would like to announce Orthopedic Surgery Center of Orange County as a Bronze Sponsor for the 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress in 2009! This will be the first time they have sponsored and exhibited and we look forward to having them at the conference!

Orthopedic Surgery Center of Orange County is a full service, state-of-the-art surgical center in Newport Beach, Southern California. Our primary focus is on the care of patients with orthopedic needs. Our goal in Medical Tourism is to provide an affordable alternative within the USA for patients needing orthopedic surgery but who cannot afford the cost of a hospital stay in the USA and prefer not to travel too for care. Surgeries we perform include, but are not limited to, joint replacement including hip and knee; certain spine procedures; and other elective orthopedic surgeries. Minimal invasive surgery - MIS, latest technology and up to date pain management regimes allow procedures such as total hip or knee replacements to be performed at our center with overnight stay, follow up care is provided at the patient’s accommodations. Patient safety is our number one focus along with quality care while costing at least half that of a hospital stay.

For joint replacement and spine cases, we only schedule patients who fit the selection criteria listed below:

· Less than 64 years of age

· ASA 1 – healthy with no systemic disease

· ASA 2- healthy with system disease which is controlled – E.g.: controlled high blood pressure.

· Family/friend support system post op.

· BMI [body mass index – height v. weight] of 32 or less

Orthopedic Surgery Center of Orange County is Medicare and AAAHC certified-[a U.S. based accrediting body for health centers], has 16 credentialed, board certified orthopedic surgeons who schedule procedures at least weekly. The Center performs an average of 4800 orthopedic surgeries each year, mostly elective outpatient procedures and schedules no more than 2 total joint or spine procedures in one day; this allows us to provide the highest quality of medical and nursing care to all our patients and a 1RN:1-2 patient ratios throughout the whole visit Advantages for having surgery at Orthopedic Surgery Center of Orange County is numerous. Firstly, expert and experienced orthopedic care the whole stay, no high cost hospital bills, no foreign travel with 20+ hour flights, visit one of the most beautiful parts of the United States, no need to leave the country, no need for passports or vaccinations, no language barriers, you are treated by American doctors and healthcare professionals with customer service experience and the latest in quality care, no 3-4 week time away from your home, no adjustments to another culture while trying to recovery from a surgery and many more advantages. Prices quoted for OSC include the all center fees; implant costs; anesthesiologist fees; surgeon fees; physical therapy.

For more information, please contact:

Gabrielle White, R.N. CASC.

gwhite@oscoc.com

Ph: (877) OSC-TRVL (672-8785)
OR EMAIL
travel@oscoc.com

Bronze Sponsor: AllMedicalTourism.com

World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress would like to announce AllMedicalTourism.com as a Bronze Sponsor for the 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress in 2009! AllMedicalTourism.com was a sponsor at our 1st Conference and have already signed on for 2009! We look forward to having them Sponsor and Exhibit again!

AllMedicalTourism.com is the search engine medical tourism and global health, offering patients a single, reliable point of research and comparison when considering a procedure overseas. They attract a large and reliable stream of potential patients from the USA, Canada and Europe who are actively looking to purchase medical services abroad.

They work with medical providers from around the World, including hospitals, clinics and medical tourism agents and we represent a controllable and cost effective new marketing channel to increase patient numbers.

Benefits for medical providers:
· A cost effective source of potential patients who are highly qualified and actively looking for procedures
· A new, international marketing channel to increase your patient numbers substantially
· Bid different amounts for patients looking for different procedures, based on their value to you
· You retain the customer relationship - we’re not an agency

Contact:

AllMedicalTourism.com

Astra Interactive Holdings, Limited
70A Club Street, Singapore 069 443
T: +44 (0) 845 057 4039
W: http://www.allmedicaltourism.com/

Press: Human Resource Executive Magazine Article

Jared Shelly a Staff Writer for Human Resource Executive Magazine attended the World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress 2008 in San Francisco California. To read the article he wrote on Medical Tourism and the conference please click on the link below!

http://www.hrexecutive.com/HRE/story.jsp?storyId=142320343

2009 Conference Brochure

Please click below for the 2009 Conference Brochure for more information!

2009 Conference Brochure

It's Coming!!!

Our new and improved registration site is almost ready ... stay tuned for more updates!

Are you ready?

Conference Video's!

If you have not seen our conference videos, please click on our two separate conference videos below!

Medical Tourism Congress 4 Minute Video

Medical Tourism Congress 60 Second Promo Video

Want to Network with up to 2,000 people?

Want to network with up to 2,000 people ... get an exhibit booth! The 2nd World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress which takes place October 26th – 28th in Los Angeles California will feature one of the largest exhibition halls in the world.

Top International Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Tourism Facilitators, Insurance Companies and Insurance Providers will be exhibiting and showcasing their services and quality to up to 2,000 attendees. At the 1st year’s annual Congress almost 50% of the attendees were buyers of healthcare, including insurance companies, employers, insurance providers and medical tourism facilitators. “Los Angeles was chosen as the destination for the Congress because it is the second largest city in the United States, where over 224 languages are spoken, and because Los Angeles has one of the largest amounts of health insurance agents/providers and employers. This 2nd Annual Congress should see a significant increase in the number of employers and insurance companies who attend because of it’s strategic location which should be very exciting”, said Jonathan Edelheit, President of the Medical Tourism Association.

The exhibition hall will have room for approximately 140 exhibitors from over 50 countries. This is the only medical tourism and health tourism conference in the world where the sellers of healthcare (hospitals and clinics) can actually meet with the “buyers’ of healthcare (insurance companies, providers and facilitators.

The 2nd World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress which takes place October 26th – 28th in Los Angeles California is the official Congress of the Medical Tourism Association. The Medical Tourism Association is the first and only non-profit association in the world for the medical tourism industry. The Medical Tourism Association is headquartered in the United States with branch offices in Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Please contact Melissa at Melissa@MedicalTourismCongress.com for an exhibit hall layout, prices on exhibiting, and how you can reserve your exhibit booth today!

Hello Los Angeles !!

Are you ready for 2009?

The 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress will take place October 26-28th, 2009 in Los Angeles, California at the Hyatt Century Plaza.

* Up to 2,000 attendees from over 50 countries
* Up to 100 exhibitors and sponsors
* Over 100 expert speakers
* Over 10 workshops on pre-congress workshop day
* Up to 5,000 one-on-one networking meetings
* Networking lunches
* Networking cocktail receptions
* And so much more!

Interested in Exhibiting?

Email:

Melissa@Medicaltourismcongress.com for an exhibit hall layout to reserve your booth today! All booths are on a first come first serve basis so don't wait until it's too late! 5 New Levels of Sponsorship! Bigger Booths! More exhibit time! Breakfast and lunches in the exhibit hall to maximize your booth traffic! Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

So Long San Francisco

The 2008 World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress was held on September 9-12th in San Francisco California. It was a tremendous success with over 850 attendees from over 45 countries and more than 53 exhibitors and sponsors!

The conference featured advanced workshops in the areas of marketing, Building International patient departments, legal issues, quality of care, medical tourism facilitator hot topics, and more! Some of the panel session highlights were the Employer panel session where participants from Black & Decker, Procter & Gamble and Hannaford Brothers discussed their feelings on medical tourism. Another exciting panel session was the Insurance company panel session consisting of participants from Swiss Re, United Healthcare, CIGNA, and Assurant Health discussing both the negatives and positives of medical tourism and the insurance company view of medical tourism. A significant number of media and press came to the event with outlets such as MSNBC, Human Resources Executive Magazine, Business Insurance, and San Francisco Chronicle just to name a few.
The Highlights of the event included over 3,000 one-on-one Networking meetings with unlimited networking opportunities throughout the event, leading to many contracts signed between insurance companies, hospitals, and facilitators. New contracts were also signed between facilitators and hospitals or clinics. The conference featured many advanced educational sessions, including for the first time ever the ADA, AMA and ASPS who spoke about medical tourism. The exhibit hall came alive with all of the many countries that were represented through tourism boards, hospitals, facilitators, and many more who exhibited their quality of care and healthcare available to medical tourists and their world class services.