Malta Medical Tourism Summit
The medical tourism industry has enjoyed rapid growth over the past few years as more and more patients seek better facilities, particularly for surgical, dental and cosmetic procedures, outside their own countries. The Europe Business Assembly's Medical Tourism Summit, taking place from 12th to 14th July in Malta will focus on the key issues and concerns being raised for travelling patients.
The World Health Organisation recently ranked the Maltese healthcare system number five in the world. With excellent facilities, temperate climate and English speaking population, Malta is well placed to raise its profile as a destination for patients and enjoy the subsequent economic benefits this will have on attracting tourism to the island.
Steve Hambrook, Conference Director for the Europe Business Assembly who will be hosting the conference, said, “This is an ideal opportunity for Maltese hospitals, dental clinics, cosmetic surgeries, spa and aftercare facilities to demonstrate what they have on offer to an audience that can actually help them gain a greater share of international patient travel”.
The conference offers numerous sponsorship and branding opportunities for Maltese medical service providers. These can be tailored to suit personal budget and requirements. For further information contact Treatment in Malta – sales@treatmentinmalta.com or the European Business Assembly – steve.hambrook @ebaoxford.co. uk
The Summit comprises of a Workshop and Conference Programme during which you will gain a solid understanding of the current and future marketplace as well as successful marketing strategies and techniques to guarantee highly increased patient numbers.
Agenda & Programme
Monday 13th July 2009 – Day 1
9 am – 10.30 Arrivals and refreshments 8 am – 11.15 Workshops conclude
10.30 – 11.15 Registration
11.15 – 11.30 Welcome and Opening Address
Keith Pollard –Director, Intuition Communication Ltd, London
11.30 – 12.15 Why Malta? Malta’s healthcare system is currently ranked number 5 in the world. Why Malta is ready to play a greater part in the medical tourism industry?
(Senior Government Representative/Senior Representative Maltese Hospital) TBC
12.15 – 1.00 The structure and dynamics of the medical tourism marketplace
Michael D. Horowitz MD, MBA - Founder and President of Medical Insights International
1.00 – 1.45 Lunch and refreshments/Networking sessions
Buffet lunch and networking held in the exhibition area
1.45 – 2.30 Marketing medical tourism and how the image can be improved.
Keith Pollard – Director, Intuition Communication Ltd
2.30 – 3.15 What are implications of implementing cross border health collaborations? Reviewing long term follow up of patients after treatment and the use of second opinion in medical tourism.
Luigi Bertinato MD – International Health & Social Affairs Office. Department of Health & Social Services Veneto Region (TBC)
3.15 – 3.45 Afternoon refreshments/Networking sessions
Held in the exhibition area
3.45 – 4.30 What impact will current EU directives have on the medical tourism industry and patient healthcare across Europe?
Dr. Neil Lunt – Strategy Lecturer, University Of York
4.45 – 7.15 At leisure or Optional Tour of Malta Hospitals – St. James and St. Philip’s
7.30 – 8.15 Drinks reception
8.15 – 10.00 Gala Dinner
Tuesday 14th July 2009 – Day 2
7.30 – 8.30 Breakfast
8.30 – 9.10 What are the risks associated with medical tourism? Who or what regulates Medical Tourism?
Thomas McLean (USA) - MD, MS, JD, FACS, Clinical Associate - Professor of Surgery, the UMKC School of Medicine; Clinical, Assistant Professor of Surgery University of Kansas
9.10 – 9.50 Best Practices in Medical Tourism. Why have Asian destinations been so successful and what can we learn from this?
Julie Munro – CEO, InterMed Global and President of Medical Travel Quality Alliance
9.50 – 10.30 Morning refreshments/Networking sessions - Held in the exhibition area
10.30 – 11.10 Understanding the process of accreditation. Why is this so important to both hospitals and patients? What accreditation systems are currently in place in Malta and what is the cost of accreditation?
Prof. Stephen Green – Director and Lead Surveyor Trent Accreditation Scheme
11.10 – 12.20 Panel discussion – Key issues surrounding accreditation schemes for hospitals and clinics.
What is the relevance of the various accreditation schemes to European medical practice in both private and public sectors?
How do JCI and Trent maximise their relevance to the country a hospital is located in?
Value for money issues - What does the Trent and JCI surveying process cost? What is the cost of the consultancy and preparatory services provided by the various schemes, and how is this organised and paid for?
Other than helping improve quality and improve risk in a hospital or clinic what else do the schemes bring to the table?
Chairperson –Keith Pollard, Managing Director, Treatment Abroad
Prof. Steve Green - Trent Accreditation Scheme
Carlo Ramponi – Managing Director Europe, Joint Commission International (JCI)
12.20 – 1.00 What is the role of the insurer in medical tourism and what is being done to improve this?
Leila Wilcox – Founder Angelis Group Insurance
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch and refreshments/Networking sessions
Held in the exhibition area
2.00 – 2.40 Insider take. A hospital’s view of the effect of medical tourism and how travelling patients needs differ from local patients. How is Malta placed to cope with this?
Senior Maltese Hospital Representative
2.40 – 3.20 Afternoon refreshments and networking sessions
Held in the exhibition area
3.20 – 4.00 Reviewing future trends in Medical Tourism
Speaker to be confirmed
4.00 – 4.15 Closing address and prize draw
Workshop 1: Course for hospitals and providers
“Foundation in medical tourism and international patient care management for healthcare executives and clinicians”
Introduction:
For those targeting the international market, good intentions and warm smiles are simply not enough. This workshop teaches you what you need to know so that the medical traveller's good medical outcome is matched by a great experience that results in ongoing referrals for you.
Workshop instructor Sandra Millar shows you how to review, analyse and upgrade your international patient protocols, systems, and operations to achieve success in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-layered global healthcare world.
The workshop is structured to facilitate full discussion enabling participants to review their current procedures and plans for entering this new market.
Schedule and outline:
Sunday 12th July 2009
2pm – 3.15 Understanding today’s global healthcare marketplace, and the market characteristics of medical and wellness healthcare consumers; analysing your medical destination, and the prospects and opportunities for your hospital or clinic; reviewing accreditation, licensure, certification, branding options.
3.15 – 4.45 Characteristics of today’s healthcare consumer, international patient, medical traveller and wellness seeker; identifying and reaching the medical traveller; qualifying patients on emotional, physical and medical criteria; different requirements for patients from source countries; using the worldwide medical travel support and services network to your advantage.
4.45 – 5.00 Coffee break
5.00 – 6.00 Communications and correspondence; data collection and processing; privacy, security; assured payments; working with third-party payers; role of medical staff. Procedures and protocols for managing cultural, personal and medical needs; personnel needs; staff training; liaison with family, home country and continuing care management. Preparedness: a checklist and review of physical and administrative operations.
Monday 13th July 2009
8am – 9.30 Handling crisis, risk, complications, extraordinary events. Adapting policies towards a medical traveller’s bill of rights. Liability. Documentation. Electronic records. Pricing policies. EU directive on healthcare.
9.30 – 9.45 Coffee break
9.45 – 11.00 Assigned case studies and presentations by participants and invited guests.
Workshop 2: Course for travel agents and hospitality managers
“Introduction and orientation to medical travel and tourism for travel agents and hospitality managers”
Introduction:
Medical travel and tourism is much more than a ticket to a medical destination and ground services – it's about care management and could even be a matter of life or death. For some patients considering travelling abroad for medical care, the travel agent is the first contact point. How the travel agent handles the inquiry can make the difference between a good medical outcome for the patient or a set of frustrations and disappointments for which the agent may share the blame.
Workshop instructor Julie Munro will help you understand the unique needs of the medical traveller and the wellness seeker that are critical for any travel agent who wishes to work with international patients or with medical travel facilitators and partners including hospitals, clinics and recovery retreats.
This workshop is suitable for any entrepreneur who wants to explore options in the rapidly growing global health and wellness economy.
Schedule and outline:
Sunday 12th July 2009
2.30 – 3.30 Overview of the medical travel and wellness tourism industry; understanding today’s global healthcare marketplace, the forces driving the industry, and the similarities and differences between medical and wellness healthcare consumers.
3.30 – 4.45 Detailed analysis of and opportunities in the key medical destinations in Asia, Europe, Latin America and elsewhere. Medical travel partners and networks: critical needs of agents, brokers, providers, insurers, etc., and how to work with them.
4.45 – 5.00 Coffee break
5.00 – 6.00 Understanding surgical and non-surgical procedures; overview of non-surgical procedures. Understanding traditional healing and medicine; the differences between eastern and European spa cultures and role of each.
Monday 13th July 2009
8.30 – 10.30 The business of medical travel: costs, payments, developing related revenue streams, marketing. The medical environment: professional demeanour, correspondence, medical communication and terminology, limitations of services, managing patients’ personal needs. Managing cultural, personal and medical needs of the medical traveller.
4.45 – 7.15 Insider’s tour of hospital facilities.
25.05.2009
