In a bid to counter high healthcare costs, Snow Summit Mountain Resort aims to send its employees to Singapore for affordable and high-quality medical treatment. Other corporations are set to follow suit.
Singapore (PRWEB) November 20, 2008 -- It is no secret that on average, a US medical traveler to Singapore pays a mere third of what a similar treatment would cost back home. With burgeoning domestic healthcare costs, such savings provide ample motivation for self-insured US corporations to jump on the medical travel bandwagon.
Snow Summit Mountain Resort visits Singapore hospitals
Leading the way is Snow Summit Mountain Resort, which turned to PlanetHospital, a pioneer medical outsourcing company, to help bring down healthcare costs for its 200 employees and 85 dependents.
Mr Rudy Rupak, PlanetHospital's president and co-founder discloses, "Their employees experienced a 9% increase in healthcare contributions while the employer saw a double digit growth in premiums. So they were trying to find ways to lower their healthcare costs."
Outlining the deal struck in October 2007 with the 58-year old ski resort, he says, "The arrangement is a cost-less benefit that employers include in their benefits package in which there are no upfront or per monthly fees. We are only compensated on utilization of our services."
Mr Rupak, aware of its excellent healthcare services, identified Singapore as an ideal medical destination.
Ms Darla Hanft, 53, Executive Assistant to the President and Shareholder & Guest Services Director, relates, "This is a useful learning trip because I anticipate many at the resort will want to know more about Singapore's healthcare and what it has to offer."
Benefits Manager, 27-year old Ms Jamie Pecoraro, adds, "When they hear about the quality healthcare, cutting-edge technology and impressive hospitals in Singapore, I'm sure they will seriously consider heading there for treatment."
The World Health Organization (WHO) ranked Singapore's healthcare system best in Asia and sixth worldwide. By comparison, the US is ranked 37th. A multifaceted medical hub with high standards of patient services, research, development and training, Singapore's well-established medical infrastructure also boasts 13 JCI-accredited medical facilities staffed by doctors trained in the best centers around the world.
Impressive as accolades and achievements read, Director of Healthcare Services at the Singapore Tourism Board, Dr Jason Yap, notes the importance of such educational and exploratory visits.
"Having never traveled out of the US, many Americans are apprehensive about going to a foreign land for healthcare. So, when representatives see first-hand how modern, safe and advanced Singapore is, we believe they will then reassure their employees who will feel more comfortable about coming here."
Ms Pecoraro asserts, "It's important to know what to expect before sending somebody to a country none of us have been to before, let alone for medical treatment. Many who don't know much about Singapore will be pleased to know that English is widely used there."
Language aside, Ms Hanft feels that safety, cleanliness and food remain obstacles for many when presented with alternative healthcare destinations. This, she feels, is where Singapore has an advantage.
She declares, "You feel safe all the time, it's clean, the people are friendly, the food is great and it's an easily accessible and convenient city. Americans will love it."
Dr Yap adds, "Visitors never have to worry about wars, social unrest, riots or natural disasters in Singapore. This provides peace of mind, which in essence, is what international patients need most when they are unwell."
During their four-day stay, both Ms Hanft and Ms Pecoraro visited several leading private and public hospital facilities in Singapore including Parkway Health, National Healthcare Group (NHG), and SingHealth Group, sat through doctors' presentations, and even underwent a comprehensive health screening, all of which impressed the pair.
"I was blown away by the cutting-edge procedures at Gleneagles Hospital of Parkway Health such as the limb-lengthening, stem-cell research and liver transplants. They spared no expense on equipment and the hospital care was first-class," reveals Ms Pecoraro.
She adds, "We also toured the teaching facility at NHG's National University Hospital and were highly impressed, especially since this hospital also offers subsidized care to the locals. The doctors at the children's unit were also great with kids. My favorite was the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, also under NHG. It had a unique feel and attention was paid to all medical needs as well as it being a clean, modern and beautiful facility."
On the SingHealth establishments, Ms Hanft notes, "The Singapore General Hospital was an immense facility and the accomplishments of the Singapore National Eye Center, in particular, were astounding. I think Americans will appreciate the long list of US partnerships with the place such as the Jules Stein Institute and Johns Hopkins."
Commenting on the KK Women's and Children's Hospital, she says, "The compassion and dedication of the doctors and staff were obvious traits, and important especially since they deal with lots of cancer patients, both women and children."
Mr Rupak says, "I hope Darla and Jamie will sing praises of Singapore's healthcare to their employers so that when the next employee needs any major medical attention, he or she will seriously consider going there."
PlanetHospital is presently fine-tuning details with two other corporations, one with 600 employees and another 4,000 strong, to join Snow Summit in looking to Singapore as a healthcare destination for their employees.
About SingaporeMedicine (www.singaporemedicine.com)
SingaporeMedicine is a multi-agency partnership committed to strengthening Singapore's position as Asia's leading medical hub, and promoting it as a world-class destination for advanced patient care. The Healthcare Services Division at the Singapore Tourism Board spearheads the international marketing of Singapore's healthcare services and development of service delivery for international patients. In 2007, over 400,000 patients traveled to Singapore for healthcare, a number that is expected to grow to one million by 2012.
About Planet Hospital (www.planethospital.com)
PlanetHospital helps US individuals, corporations, and insurers save time and money on healthcare costs. It facilitates quality, affordable, and immediate medical care with some of the best surgeons from around the world. Besides booking surgeries, facilitating medical records and handling other administrative matters, they offer a wide range of concierge services for their clients.
###
Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/WmV0YS1QaWdnLUZhbHUtQ3Jhcy1UaGlyLVNpbmctWmVybw==
|
