Samuel W. Says:
How can I tell if a hospital overseas is up to scratch, before I’m checked in?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Samuel,
This is a great question!
For most folks looking to move abroad, healthcare is a huge consideration. You want care at least as good as what you get at home… but preferably without that U.S.-sized price tag. But how can you judge which doctors and hospitals are good in another country?
There’s one easy way to start your search: Check whether any private hospitals have been certified by the Joint Commission International, or JCI.
This U.S.-based organization evaluates hospitals all over the world, using a range of criteria to judge the quality of care provided. Hospitals that meet JCI’s rigorous standards get its stamp of approval—and can market themselves that way. You can check all the accredited organizations internationally here.
However, don’t worry if you weren’t looking to move anywhere near these hospitals… these are only the first cut.
The fact is, many excellent hospitals abroad don’t bother to apply for JCI accreditation—or choose to let it lapse. (Accreditation is a costly process.)
Unless a hospital is looking to attract a lot of medical tourists—that is, foreigners who come specifically for medical treatment—it often figures it gets enough business from locals…and from expats living there.
So, look for those three letters, “JCI”—but look beyond JCI accreditation too… A great way to do this is to ask expats living in the area which hospitals they go to.
Or, check out the healthcare chapter in the Escape To guidebook we publish for the country you’re interested in. Find all of those guidebooks on our Bookstore here.
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