The Growing Importance of Social Networks in Medical Tourism
In the burgeoning field of medical tourism, healthcare providers strive to attract international patients with competitive pricing and innovative procedures. However, as the industry evolves, the distinguishing factor for these international patient programs lies in building trust and fostering long-term relationships.
The social network of a patient, including friends and family, plays a significant role in healthcare decision-making and post-procedure lifestyle maintenance. Medical tourists often seek the advice and assistance of their loved ones for their healthcare needs. Therefore, service providers in the medical tourism sector should view this social network as a vital part of the patient’s healthcare team. This network:
Assists in making key healthcare decisions
Aids in post-treatment recovery
Helps manage the patient’s lifestyle post-treatment
The Role of Friends and Family in the Healthcare System
Friends and family serve as informal caregivers, playing a crucial role in a patient’s healthcare journey and the functioning of the healthcare system. Patients often involve their loved ones in their health efforts, asking them to remind them to take medications or to avoid buying unhealthy food. This involvement encourages patients to make healthier choices, aiding in recovery and lifestyle management.
For instance, a patient who has recently undergone obesity surgery needs to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise routine. Committing to go to the gym with a friend three times a week or having a family competition to reach a certain number of steps each day can promote healthy behaviors.
Effective Communication with a Patient’s Social Network
Medical tourists often seek the advice of family and friends before deciding to book a treatment abroad. Therefore, healthcare providers should consider them as part of the healthcare team and communicate effectively with them. Understanding their role in the decision-making process can be extremely beneficial in reinforcing prescribed treatments or provided information.
Tips for Communicating with a Patient’s Social Network
Establish a point of contact in the family to relay information to other family members and friends
Use their names and the patient’s name while communicating to build rapport
Strive to establish a connection to build trust
Provide pre- and post-procedure guidelines to the team
Educate the team about the procedure’s pros and cons and discuss available options
Set clear, realistic expectations so everyone understands and respects the outcomes
Create a circle of trust with the team
Respecting Patient Privacy
While it’s important to involve a patient’s social network, healthcare providers must also respect and protect the patient’s privacy. During the consultation before traveling abroad for treatment, it’s crucial to understand how the patient views the caregiver’s role. In many cases, the caregiver may be a spouse or friend who is there to reinforce the healthcare provider’s advice or express the patient’s concerns. It’s essential to check with the patient before including such a companion in the healthcare team. This approach builds trust and fosters a long-term relationship with the patient.
The Benefits of Engaging a Patient’s Social Network in Medical Tourism
Involving a patient’s social network in their healthcare journey is not a new concept in medical tourism. It’s an integral part of what healthcare providers are already doing to improve safety and quality of care.
Engaging a patient’s social network can enhance numerous aspects of a healthcare provider’s performance, including:
Patient experience of care
Patient safety
Quality of services
Patient outcomes
Employee satisfaction
In conclusion, the numerous individual benefits of involving patients and their social networks in the healthcare team lead to improved performance of healthcare providers, contributing to the growth of the medical tourism sector.