19 NOVEMBER 2024CXO INSIGHTSTechnology and Global Trade in HealthcareBy Dr. Heitham Hassoun, Chief Executive, International, and Hannah Walton, Administrative and Operations Intern, Cedars-SinaiHealthcare is growing as a global phenomenon: more patients are engaging in medical travel for reasons related to cost, accessibility, quality, and experience of care. Healthcare providers are also moving and collaborating across borders at an unprecedented level. Cedars-Sinai International (CSI) is the global extension of Cedars-Sinai, a top medical center and health system in Los Angeles that collaborates with partners in key regions outside of the United States to provide top-quality medical services to international patients and raises the standard of healthcare globally. CSI is addressing the important medical needs of these regions' populations by building regional offices/clinics in medical travel hubs, engaging in hospital affiliations, or strategic collaborations. A large attractor for traveling patients is the availability of cutting-edge technology at a healthcare institution. These technological advances can improve patient care quality, communication, and knowledge transfer and address global challenges. However, in the face of growing innovations, we recognize the regulatory barriers and the importance of creating and applying a global method of technology and service accreditation to make the future of healthcare safer and even more impactful.MEDICAL TRAVELHealthcare is increasingly growing as a global service and phenomenon. Patients have long traveled to premier healthcare institutions in Europe and the United States for complex clinical care and cutting-edge treatments that are not readily accessible in their home countries. Additionally, healthcare professionals have a history of moving from one country to another for employment opportunities or education and training purposes--a trend that will likely continue. Furthermore, United States Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) increasingly engage in global collaborative healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that while healthcare delivery may be a local resource in certain environments, the medical knowledge and goods supply chain is global. Due to the pandemic, public and private sectors worldwide have invested more resources into all aspects of healthcare, promoting growth and collaboration in the global healthcare industry.Medical travel, the act of traveling to another country to receive medical Dr. Heitham Hassoun
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