The medical tourism market is evolving at a rapid pace globally. As medical costs rise, patients are seeking affordable care in places far from their home countries. These changing dynamics of the healthcare industry present both opportunities and challenges for Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs). Nurse Aides must know how to properly care for patients in the United States who have returned from treatment abroad. However, there are also additional career opportunities for CNAs who want to work and travel abroad in this growing industry.  

Growth of the Medical Tourism Industry

Medical tourism is defined as the idea of patients traveling from their own country to receive medical procedures at affordable or discounted rates abroad. Astute Analytica predicted that the global medical tourism industry is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of  about 12% during 2021-2027. The industry was valued at more than $10 billion in 2019. 

The market growth is majorly driven by the increasing cost of healthcare in developed countries and better quality of healthcare infrastructure in developing nations. The top medical procedures that patients travel abroad for are cardiovascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, oncology treatment, bariatric surgery, cosmetic surgery, dental surgery, and fertility treatment, according to Astute Analytica.

One such example of treatment being significantly less is coronary artery bypass surgery. The estimated cost of this surgery in the United States is $150,000, while the total cost of surgery and a 20 day stay in India, is $10,000, according to a report cited by the American Nurses Association. 

People are seeking affordable and quality treatment from around the world. The 10 most popular worldwide destinations for medical tourism are (from left to right) India, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, Costa Rica, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Brazil, according to the American Journal of Nursing.

The ranking is based on different factors such as destination, medical tourism industry, and quality of facilities and services. 

Thailand is gaining ground in the medical tourism industry by drawing patients from Asia and the Middle East.  The Thai government recorded 632,000 overseas patients who spent nearly 122 billion baht (US$3.9 billion) in 2019. According to a report by FICCI and IMS Health, out of the total medical tourism market, India holds the share of approximately 18% and is estimated to reach more than 20% in the upcoming years.

Role of CNAs with Returning Medical Tourists 

Nurse Aides play a key role in educating patients on the benefits and risks of traveling abroad for medical care services. They promote a continuous care process and ensure the closure of care gaps across the globe. They are also expected to be the communication bridge between patients and doctors.

Some patients who travel abroad for medical procedures may have immediate post-care but still need additional care back home. Apart from a CNA’s everyday responsibilities such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and most importantly providing companionship, CNAs should facilitate a discussion about post-treatment care specific to medical tourists.  

• The entire process of pre/post-care treatments

• Handling transferred medical records

• Coordinating with a personal manager or a translator in some cases

• Record of scheduled travel

• Pre/post-treatment health records

• Contact and other details of healthcare provider abroad

CNA Medical Tourism Jobs Abroad

Nursing Assistants can find work abroad permanently or temporarily at exotic locations they otherwise would not have worked in. This can be an exciting opportunity for Travel CNAs who are looking to diversify their work experience to different countries. In the majority of cases, patients travel from developed countries to developing countries to receive medical treatment, which creates a language barrier at a large-scale. 

Although being bilingual would be ideal, many clinics abroad look for native English speakers. Many patients who travel abroad for medical care are from English-speaking countries, or know English as a second language. Typically, patients are from developed countries such as the United States or United Kingdom, and travel to developing countries such as Turkey, India, Malaysia, or Mexico. It’s important for Nurse Aides to speak English fluently and have excellent communication skills, not only with patients, but also doctors, support staff such as pharmacists and technicians, and the patients’ relatives.

In addition to English, Nursing Assistants in the global medical tourism industry should be familiar with the following:

• Learning the tech know-how of assistance in certain procedures.

• Gaining a special type of nursing experience

• Digital-friendly training

• Understanding of different languages

• Knowledge of laws and regulations of host countries