At Debson, we take our role as a facilitator company very seriously. We understand that not only do our services contribute to the overall patient experience in very critical areas, but they also protect the lives of the patients. Consequently we believe that it is our responsibility to gain as much expertise as possible and to demonstrate to our clients that our services are conducted in a responsible, safe manner.
In the pursuit of such excellence, we sought out and attained the Medical Tourism Facilitator Certification.Certification programs abound in any industry and Medical Tourism is no exception. While certification programs have their advantages and disadvantages, credible certification programs have many times more advantages than disadvantages. The press has not been kind to the medical tourism industry.Many references have been made to the abundance of facilitator companies in the industry and the low entry barriers that exist, making it easy for "any company" to become a facilitator.
Publicity that is critical of any part of the industry can damage the credibility of the whole industry. Conversely, publicity that highlights the positive aspects of the industry can help create a positive image of the industry as a whole.The role of a facilitator company is critical.
It falls into the category of a Third Party Administrator (TPA) in the healthcare industry.
TPA companies have become exceedingly valuable to plan owners and to consumers because they contribute expertise in specific areas. This expertise helps the plan owners manage and administer the plans. The expertise also helps manage the costs of the services that the TPA companies provide versus the cost of the same services were they to be provided by the plan owner.
A facilitator company also provides unique services. In order for medical tourism to occur successfully, the industry needs a TPA that understands the business and has gained experience and expertise in delivering the needed services. Both our company and companies that are owned by colleagues in the industry can attest to the significance of the facilitator. Plan owners, patients, hospitals, clinics and other invested parties are very curious as to who will provide the logistical services that comprise a facilitator company's role. TPA's in the market today do not have the expertise, experience or the operational structure to successfully deliver facilitator services. So, the plan owners seek these services elsewhere.
Certification Leads to Credibility
A facilitator company that understands its role also knows that they have to have a strategic approach to their business. This means that the foundation and building blocks upon which their business will be built, must be solid and long lasting.
Of course, this involves a veritable multitude of business objectives, goals and attributes of which certification can certainly take a premium position and play a premium role.Certification enables a facilitator to gain and exhibit credibility.
It also establishes a distinctive competence and ultimately, increases revenues from such competence. Certification also demonstrates strategic thinking on behalf of the facilitator.Credibility is a valuable asset and advantage in a growing industry such as medical tourism. Many of the service providers are young companies. These young companies usually espouse the experience of their leadership in other industries or in similar industries in an attempt to gain credibility and a business advantage.
Certification can compliment such experience or establish it as the case may be.Clients always want to know what experience a service provider has in the particular area in question.There is no doubt whatsoever that a certification program can help establish that credibility, especially when the certification program is offered by a powerhouse in the industry. We shall examine the certification attributes shortly.
Gaining the Advantage
In business, a distinctive competence is a definite advantage. Companies strive to differentiate their products and services in any way possible so that they can capitalize on that differentiation. Prices continue to drop in certain industries as low cost providers battle to establish their superiority in the low cost segments. Value and quality are also differentiators. Companies use service, guarantees, warranties and a host of other business traits to establish and highlight their level of quality and value to the consumers. Low cost provider and quality leader are two areas of differentiation that are common in any industry. They help to demonstrate the importance and value of differentiation.
Facilitator Certification can be just as valuable in the growing Medical Tourism Industry and can be a powerful marketing tool to companies that possess it.Distinctive competence is not only a pretty phrase it also has tangible benefits. If this article were to ask the question to the readers of which of the two areas of expertise they considered to be more important to the healthcare industry; that of a healthcare insurance agent or that of a medical tourism facilitator, there would be a wide variation of answers.� Most of us in the medical tourism industry probably would cast our vote in favor of the facilitator for obvious reasons. We understand that the role of the facilitator is critical in the overall well being of the patient.
However, if the article were to pose the question of which of the two aforementioned entities were entitled to more revenue in terms of fees and commissions, we wonder what the answers would be. Perhaps, again, there would be a fair amount of deviation amongst the responses, with the medical tourism industry again casting their votes for the facilitator.But, if the article were to ask the question of how much more compensation the aforementioned selected entity were entitled to, the answer would surprise our readers. In our experience, based on feedback from credible and objective sources and consisting of both sides of the aforementioned entities, there is an overwhelming answer. All responses indicate that the industry considers the role of the facilitator to be worth up to 50% more compensation than that of the healthcare insurance agent or broker!! That is an amazing response considering that the responses contained feedback from agents and brokers themselves.Certification also shows potential clients, consumers, customers and business affiliates that a company intends to be a long-term player in the industry.� Good marketing begins with good strategic planning, and is fueled by good business planning.
Both these planning events occur long before marketing execution or marketing campaigns occur.
A good company can attest to solid strategic planning if its business portfolio contains certification.One often overlooked benefit of certification is the added legal defense that it provides not only to the company that has attained certification but to all its business partners. Healthcare Insurance and the administration of healthcare plans are governed at the federal level. States will defer to the federal courts in most litigation. When a company can demonstrate that it has exercised due diligence in the execution of its services and duties, the courts will find it very difficult to prove negligence of any kind.Equally importantly, plan owners that engage facilitator companies who have acquired certification also will enjoy the same consideration.
Medical Tourism Facilitator Certification
The Medical Tourism Facilitator Certification Process is very exhausting in its diligence of inspection. Companies that seek the certification have to demonstrate acumen in a multitude of areas. The foundation upon which the company is built; its ownership, financing and management structure have to be displayed.� The method and diligence by which it goes about fulfilling its duties also have to be displayed for inspection. How the company markets itself and the content of its marketing materials are also carefully scrutinized . In short, every aspect of the company is assessed.
It is a grueling 120 day process. In the particular case of Debson, where our distinctive competence is the use of Telehealth in various patient care areas such as the area of aftercare, the certification vigorously examines the company protocol in that regard.
Aftercare and Follow Up protocols have to be established and it has to be demonstrated that the company can dispense these duties with quality and consistency.
We have undertaken considerable investment in establishing ourselves as a credible player in the facilitator company market; one with every intention to be a long-term competitor.
Attaining the Medical Tourism Facilitator Certification is only one of such undertaken investments, but a very critical one nonetheless. We applaud the efforts of the Medical Tourism Association, in their objective role as spokesperson for the industry, for establishing such a certification program. In many ways, their establishment and administration of such a rigorous program runs the risk of excluding some of their very own membership. However, we hope the program demonstrates the association's belief that, in the long run, a certification program is in the best interest of its membership.
We also hope that the program is considered to be a valuable member benefit for all its members. We certainly think so and completely endorse and applaud the certification process for all credible, long-term facilitatorcompanies.
