How to Evaluate Your Overseas Healthcare Provider
We know how you feel!
So much to plan, so many things to arrange – and all this in a foreign country, away from home.
We know that traveling to another country for medical treatment can be overwhelming. That is why we are here to provide you comforting assistance from start to finish.
Over one million patients travel overseas per year for Orthopedic, Cardiology, Organ and Tissue Transplantation, Cancer Treatments and other procedures. Many overseas medical facilities incorporate alternative and complementary treatments in addition to traditional procedures, and some advancements that are simply not available at home.
Choosing a world-class medical provider is only the start
Traditionally, patients are referred to specialists and hospitals by a trusted family doctor. When you seek healthcare outside your country this may not be the case; more likely, you will be the one choosing a medical specialist you do not know, at a hospital you have never visited. Below are questions we recommend you ask of any hospital you may consider for treatment as well as the relevant answers for Group Florence Nightingale in Turkey.
Is the hospital accredited by a reputable third-party organization?
Group Florence Nightingale was one of the first Turkish hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the international arm of the organization that reviews and accredits American hospitals. Their checklist includes over 350 criteria, including but not limited to surgical hygiene and anesthesia procedures, as well as evaluation of the systems in place for medical staff and nurses. JCI accreditation audits are conducted every 3 years.
How are the hospital’s doctors licensed and credentialed?
All Group Florence Nightingale physicians are fully licensed by the Turkish Medical Council to practice their specialty in Turkey. In addition, many are Board Certified in their specialty in the US, Australia, or Europe. The Group Florence Nightingale credentialing process requires a formal review of each doctor’s qualifications and track record by the Credentials and Bylaws Committee and the Hospital’s Medical Executive Committee. These reviews take place before a doctor is appointed to the medical staff by the Hospital’s Board of Governors, and reviewed every three years thereafter.
A summary of each of our physician’s qualifications is available on our website. If you would like to review the qualifications or specific experience of your physician in more detail when you arrive, we can arrange for you to do so.
What training and licensing do the hospital’s nurses, pharmacists, imaging and lab technicians receive?
Nurses, pharmacists, imaging and lab technicians must undergo schooling and pass certification exams to obtain licenses to practice at Group Florence Nightingale. Nurses are re-certified at 5-year intervals. Those with special responsibilities, notably ICU nurses, must receive special training and be certified as competent in the specific area of expertise.
Does the hospital keep in step with the latest technological advances in medicine internationally?
Astonishing advances have been made in the field of medical science and the technology used to offer treatment to patients in every field of specialization, over the past years. Group Florence Nightingale continuously invests in new equipment, training its experts to deliver the highest quality of health care.
Group Florence Nightingale is unique in having its own University and Training Hospital that works hand-in-hand with the Group’s own Clinical Research Center and Centers of Excellence in order to follow and implement the latest developments across the world.
Group Florence Nightingale also opened the first “Smart-and-Green Hospital” in the region, equipped with robotic surgery, tele-medicine and fully trained staff to deliver treatment and surgery in line with the latest modalities.
Group Florence Nightingale maintains affiliations and partnerships with some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the United States of America and other countries, and continuously invests in the training and development of all its physicians, nurses, technologists, and staff.