Medical tourism is a much more common practice today for receiving affordable health care services. As the cost of health care continues to rise in the United States, increased numbers of potential patients are flocking to other countries to receive affordable health care services. While medical tourism might affect the financial posterity of your health care organization, it too might be a reflection of an industry’s commitment to fostering increased access to affordable health care services. From your perspective as a current or future health care administration leader, is medical tourism a social good?
For this Discussion, reflect on the media pieces in this week’s resources, which highlight medical tourism. Consider the potential benefits and consequences of medical tourism from both a consumer and a health care administration leader’s perspective.
Post an explanation of how the role of medical tourism might relate to social change. Be specific, and provide examples for both the consumer and the health care administration leader.