I sit down, once again, seemingly for the umpteenth time (smile), to explain just what the IMTCC is all about. But, I find that most who come across this site already have some preconceived notions about what the IMTCC “probably” is, no doubt based solely on the term “medical tourism” that is smack-dab in the middle of our name. Well, you know what they say about assumptions!
So, allow me to dispel, as quickly and succinctly as I can, those assumptions before you decide you already know what you really don’t know. I think the easiest way to accomplish this to tell you what the IMTCC is NOT. Now, this may seems like a negative way to proceed but please indulge me.
We Are NOT Here to Promote the Idea of Medical Tourism… But Rather to Provide Standards and Best Practices to Industry Participants to Guarantee Safety and Exceptional Patient Experiences
WE ARE HERE… to encourage the adoption of Patient Advocacy on a global scale and innovate the current broken model of healthcare delivery today by instilling 3 fundamental and essential tenets to the medical experience: Advocacy, Aftercare and Accountability. The IMTCC is the voice of the consumer/patient, before, during and after their medical experience. Our members understand and are committed to the significance of the “customer experience” in a healthcare delivery model.
We are innovators because we believe our tenets, Advocacy, Aftercare and accountability should NOT be unique to medical tourism patients but to ALL patients… no matter where they live, no matter where they are from and no matter where they receive care. We want patients to recognize that they can obtain advocacy and support at ANY time, at any point in their “medical experience,” whenever they find they need the representation and help that the IMTCC can give… regardless of whether or not they have chosen an IMTCC member provider.
going to promote or endorse the current and popular industry income model based on commissions, referral fees and otherwise non-transparent (and long declared unethical and even illegal) models that inherently favor the provider-agent (MTF) relationship rather than permitting and fostering a transparent and ethical representation of the patient’s needs, values and best interests. Masking negating accountability and transparent feedback on medical providers due to the financial and contractual arrangement between MTF and provider/benefactor. We believe that our member providers perform an invaluable and professional service as patient representatives and experience planners and overseers. Their expertise, commitment to their patient client and training deems that they should be compensated independently and transparently for it as an attorney or other type of advocate or representative is.
The IMTCC and its members not only embrace patient advocacy but seek to promote its understanding and adoption on a global scale. Just as there is no equivalent of the word “Concierge” in many languages (a good part of what we do), just as many do not contain the word “advocate” outside of the legal profession. But in North America, the UK and Australia, certification for Professional Patient Advocacy is finally taking shape. The IMTCC is aligned with these organizations and our goals are the same. Our global members are the visionaries that understand the transformational power that patient advocacy will have and are just as excited about its adoption and promotion where they live. Our medical providers know and respect the vital role that the IMTCC and patient advocacy plays so there is no “convincing” to do on your part.
If you are already a dedicated Professional Patient Advocate OR a Medical Tourism Facilitator, joining the IMTCC as a GPA (GLOBAL Patient Advocate) will introduce you and your patients to a world of opportunity …