World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress

2011 Agenda Coming Soon

World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Agenda Topics 2010

All General Sessions will be located in the LA Ballroom unless otherwise noted. Dates and times are subject to change until final agenda is published.
All topics will be covered in either panel session style with multiple speakers
or single speaker workshops.

WEDNESDAY

7:00-9:00am Registration (Constellation Ballroom)

7:30-8:00am Networking Coffee Reception (Exhibit Hall)

8:00-8:05 am Introduction and Welcome (LA Ballroom)

Renee-Marie Stephano ~ President, Medical Tourism Association

8:05-8:35am Keynote
The Future of Healthcare Insurance (LA Ballroom Expatriate Crossover)

Ori Karev ~ United Health Group

8:35-8:45 am Keynote
Public Private Partnerships and the Road Ahead (LA Ballroom)

Dr. Jung ~CEO, KIMA

8:50-9:20am Keynote
Healthcare Reform in the Corporate World (LA Ballroom)

Kevin Fickenscher ~ Chief Strategy & Development Officer, Dell Services

8:50-9:20am Keynote
A Tale of Two Wellness Programs ~ Comparing a High Incentive/Low Programming Model with a Low Incentive/High Programming Model (Pacific Palisades)

Rob Davenport ~ Wellness Program Manager, NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC)

9:25-9:45am Economic Development Retirement Communities (Pacific Palisades)

The global development of health(ness) travel does not leave the services and products available for the senior population unchanged. The developed world’s population is ageing; years spend working get longer and longer. Still, health services providers seem to have missed the opportunity to address and to attract this growing market. We can see vast number of wellness hotels and numerous spas have opened its doors. Still, it is widely understood that the senior population will probably be the largest market segment for health oriented travel – where health means something else and much more as we all got used to. The presentation will address the following, paying very special attention to geographical and cultural differences: Product developments: 1) Spa Communities 2) Longevity and lifestyle centres 3) Working holidays 4)Medical clinics 5) Medicinal spas (MedSpas) applying evidence based treatments and Fusion/crossover services and developments including Art and CulturalSpas, Spa and wellness cruises, WellPitals.

Laszlo Puczko~ Xellum Management Consulting & Author of “Health & Wellness Tourism”

9:20-10:10amDomestic Medical Tourism (LA Ballroom)

Medical Tourism is a multibillion dollar industry with millions of patients traveling each year to different countries or regions for medical care. One of the most overlooked aspects of medical tourism is domestic medical tourism often referred to as regional or intrabound medical tourism, where patients do not leave their country but travel to another region within their country. Where this industry will develop will not only be at the hands of healthcare reform, but also in the hands of consumers who continue to look for value in their healthcare decisions, sometimes closer to home than you might think.

Bob Ihrie ~ Sr. VP of Employee Benefits, Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

Michael C. McMillan ~ Executive Director, Market & Network Services, Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Alejandro Badia ~ CEO & Founder, Int’l Orthopedic Group, Badia Hand to Shoulder Center

9:50-10:25amConnecting with the Spa, Medical and Wellness Consumer (Pacific Palisades)

Customers today are vital assets for your company and brand. With the advent of technology, customers today have the ability to give your brand wings; they also have the ability to give you a crash landing. Gain an in-depth review of today’s spa, medical and wellness consumer - and most importantly how to reach them and build a relationship with them. Learn winning public relations, communication and marketing strategies including press, social media, editorial, online marketing and strategic partnerships. Also, learn what cause or cause-related marketing is. How do the cooperative efforts of a "for profit" business and a non-profit organization create mutual benefit? How does Cause marketing differ from corporate giving (philosophy)? Discover the benefits of cause related marketing. Learn how cause marketing for nonprofit organizations provide them with the greater financial resources of a business, and an increased ability to reach possible supporters through a company's customer base and how cause related marketing can elevate your brand as by improved customer relations and through additional marketing opportunities.

Craig Oliver ~ President, Spas of America

Sara Beth Farney ~ Founder & Owner, creatActivity

Cherie Davis, General Manager, Miyako Hotel (Moderator)

10:10-10:50amGlobal Corporate Wellness Benefits (LA Ballroom)

This session will have a global focus on wellness programs. Several experts will present multi-national/global employers and their global wellness programs. The session will explain how the employers developed unique wellness programs for employees in different countries, how they implemented the programs, what hurdles they had, and how they overcame them. They will also address the issue of how to increase engagement of employees in these worksite programs.

Joanne Armenio ~ Director Int’l Benefits, Kraft Foods

Larry Boress ~ President & CEO, MidwestBusiness Group on Health

10:30-11:20amCross Border Healthcare (Beverly HillsBallroom)

The session will address the primary and significant issues surrounding patients crossing borders for healthcare services. Experts will address the challenges and market trends in the industry and how quality care can be achieved at a reasonable cost through cross border coverage. Patient safety and what needs to be in place in order to ensure patient safety will also be addressed.

Jose M. Loaiza ~ Senior Network Manager, Blue Shield of California

Fred Hagigi ~ Director, Exec Education Programs, UCLASchoolof Public Health

Vishal Bali ~ CEO, FortisHospitals

Margita Thompson ~ Vice President Corporate Communications, Healthnet

10:30-11:20amBranding Spa & Wellness Concepts (Pacific Palisades)

The question to brand or not brand a spa or wellness offering ultimately depends on what you are trying to achieve. The basics of branding will be discussed along with a more in-depth discussion of what to ask yourself in order to successfully brand your company. Questions such as “Are you trying to develop and deliver a service, or do you wish for your consumers to develop an emotional connection to your offering?”, “Does your product or service exist within an established business / company, or are you attempting to bring something new to market?”, and “Would you potentially be more successful partnering with an established entity / brand?” will be addressed. As an undeveloped wellness market with substantial possibilities with an increasing competitive travel industry, Latin Americawill be explored to present its branding efforts with the challenges it faces in the coming years.

Gabriel Alvarez Huiman ~ Gerente General Adjunto, Aranwa Hotels Resorts & Spas

Mia Kyricos ~ Director, Global Spa Brands & Programming, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

Laszlo Puckzo ~ Xellum Management Consulting & Author of “Health & Wellness Tourism” (Moderator)

10:50-11:00amKeynote
BrazilRising at the Forefront of an Emerging Industry (LA Ballroom)

Mário Augusto Lopes Moysés ~ Vice-Minister of Tourism, Brazil

11:30-1:00pmPrearranged Networking Meetings (Santa MonicaBallroom / Exhibit Hall)

1:00-2:15pm Networking Lunch (Exhibit Hall)

2:15-2:55pm Providing Quality Global Benefits to International Employees and Expatriates (LA Ballroom Healthcare Development Crossover)

According to Tom Friedman, author of “The World is Flat,” and as the global economic recession has shown us, we are an interdependent economy and operate largely as a chaotic world. Multinational corporations comprise of employees working in multiple countries who need quality healthcare -- local nationals and expatriates. For these international employers, finding the right health insurance and receiving high quality of healthcare is one of the most important priorities. This panel session will discuss issues involved in providing health insurance and high quality healthcare on an international basis for local employees and expatriates living and retiring abroad. Richard Polak, CEO of IBIS Advisors (a leading international consultancy) will present a panel of esteemed speakers on the subject.

Richard Polak ~ President & CEO, IBIS Advisors Co.(Moderator)

Anthony Amato ~ VP Compensation & Benefits, Discovery Communications

Marybeth Kramer ~ Sr. Manager Global Benefits, Verisign

Justine Mitsock - Manger of International Benefits, Citigroup
Muna Almuallem ~ Manager, International Benefit, MaryKay

2:15-2:55pm Clinical Excellence and the Delivery of Quality of Care (Beverly HillsBallroom)

Clinical excellence is one of the most important aspects of providing high quality of care. Around the globe, facilities are making great strides not only to achieve these great outcomes but to deliver this information to the patients. Learn from facilities about their patient-first philosophy that combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with a focus on customer service ~ in short, quality health care.

Dr. Anupam Sibal ~ ApolloHospital

Dr. Abdallah Bashir ~ JordonHospital

2:15-2:55pm Hotels ~ A Key Partner in Medical and Wellness Tourism (Pacific Palisades)

Learn the important psychological, physiological, cognitive and social aspects of certified green hotels and why the Medical Tourism professionals should consider them in allied partnerships. Learn about the construction and operation of a green hotel and how it impacts the environment and the community. A case study of a LEED certified hotel and Green Seal and Green Key certifications will be provided. Learn how spas impact hotel revenue, hotel marketing, guest satisfaction, image/prestige and overall hotel business. Different needs and triggers of transient, local and group business will be examined. Learn what tools/facets of the spa, hotels use to maximize revenue and occupancy. Learn about spa concepts that use high quality Herbs from countries around the globe. Today’s consumers are increasingly more mindful of their health while traveling. Whether its access to a gym, a great night’s sleep, or convenient, healthy meals, consumers are expecting more from today’s hotels. At the same time, hotel owners and operators are scrutinizing their bottom lines as they work to recover from the “great depression” of the hotel industry.

Cherie Davis ~ General Manager, Miyako Hybrid Hotel (Moderator)

Souhel El-Achbah ~ Director, Mandara Spa, JW Marriott Hotel Cairo

Mia Kyricos ~ Director, Global Spa Brands & Programming, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

3:00-3:40pm Pig & Python ~ Baby Boomer Healthcare and Retirement Living (LA Ballroom Expatriate Crossover)

In ‘Boom!’ Tom Brokaw explores everything about the boomers during the ‘60s and their expectations and impact on the world today. Moving from an age-ing to sage-ing mentality, the baby boomer generation has every expectation of a better quality and longer quantity of life. What impact will this have on retirement living and assisted living communities? The retirement of these individuals and other elderly people in the United Stateswill have a direct negative impact on the healthcare system, and therefore affect the medical tourism industry positively. Their aging and simultaneous retirement will affect the US healthcare system and present many challenges which will result in those baby boomers turning to medical tourism for a cheaper alternative which will be discussed in this session. We will see the impact on the medical tourism industry by the fact that many of these elders are realizing the benefits of retiring overseas to exotic, foreign locations where medical care is much cheaper without compromising on quality as compared to the services they would receive in the US. Also, due to the recession, several elders have seen their social security checks and savings cut tremendously which has left them seeking out for lower costing healthcare.

Cheryl Matheis ~ Sr. VP for Health Strategy, AARP

Stuart Barton ~ President, American Seniors Association

Dr. Jeanette Takamura ~ Dean of Schoolof Social Work, Columbia (Moderator)

3:00-3:40pm Creating Healthcare Clusters and Associations ~ When Regions Collaborate (Beverly HillsBallroom)

Come hear about how hospitals and governments put aside competition and work collaboratively towards creating a healthcare city or medical cluster. In doing so, they are able to create, market and deliver on a reputable brand name for their city, country or region. The most successful countries and cities promoting medical tourism are those that have established a healthcare city or medical cluster. Learn from some of the leading experts in the world who have helped establish some of the world’s top healthcare cities and who work with some of the top healthcare cities. Discover what is required to create your own healthcare city or medical cluster.

Renee-Marie Stephano ~ President, Medical Tourism Association (Moderator)

Glauco Fonseca ~ President, Healthcare Brazil

Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez-Prieto ~ Argentina Foundacion

3:00-3:40pm Spas ~ A Feeder to Medical and Wellness Tourism (Pacific Palisades)

It’s probably a good time to explore how the spa industry can be tapped as a feeder market for medical travel. This could be looked at from a variety of view points…hospitals, facilitators, doctors, insurance companies, etc. There is a lot of potential here to help grow the amount of people seeking medical tourism by tapping into a market of people that are already traveling to improve their health and beauty. Canada’s National Spa Program resulted in 57 spas from across the country being finally identified. This case study will be analyzed to learn how identifying the properties was only half the work and that the essential to the success of the program was achieving buy-in from individual spas, and a bi-lingual communication strategy to create digital assets which in turn would be used to create online and offline marketing materials for consumers, industry and media around the world.

Susie Ellis ~ President, SpaFinder, Inc

Craig Oliver ~ President, Spas of America

Camile Hoheb (Moderator)

3:45-4:25pm Employers Case Studies on Implementing Medical Tourism into Employer Sponsored Health Insurance Plans (LA Ballroom)

Implementing medical tourism into a UShealth insurance plan for both fully insured and self funded employers requires modifying the benefit plan design, establishing a proper enrollment plan with education on medical tourism, and implementing the correct incentives for employees that will result in utilization and employees traveling internationally for medical care. This panel discussion will address these issues and evaluate what is needed to successfully implement medical tourism into a USgroup health insurance plan. Learn what some employers are requiring from international hospitals and countries before implementing medical tourism and how they have moved forward with this type of program.

Kathy Clark ~ Compensation & Benefits Analyst, Blackbaud, Inc.

Missy Jarott ~ Director of Human Resources, Chatham Steel Corp.

Jack Norton ~ Human Resources Manager, Blue Lake Casino

Tom O’Hara ~ President, Surgical Trip, LLC (Moderator)

3:45-4:25pm The Importance of Market Research and Branding for Developing a Medical Tourism Hub (Beverly HillsBallroom)

This session will cover the overall stages of branding and initial key principles to consider. Developers, government agencies and investment agencies will have an idea where they should start the process during this presentation. Also this will help them to understand the expected deliverables and outcomes at the end of the initial phase of the brand development from the consultant. This session will also analyze the leading destinations in medical tourism and wellness to be able to define good practices. The analysis of the situation of particular destination vs. other countries will help investors and authorities to create a robust development. The plan of actions for creating the Medical and Wellness Tourism in short and long term that will eventually develop state of art facilities which will help to increase the healthcare brand will be covered in this session.

Kaye Patterson ~ Senior Advisor, GD3 Solutions, Inc.

3:45-4:25pm 3 Perspectives on the Economic Development of Health Tourism (Pacific Palisades)

As the medical tourism industry is taking shape and gaining in stature and leadership, it seems like a good time to address the topics of health tourism and wellness tourism in relationship to medical tourism. Learn how Turkeyhas organized itself when it comes to health tourism, thermal spring tourism, and spa tourism and about its strategy to harness its geothermal resources by promoting evidence based therapeutic interventions. The uses of thermal and mineral spring waters, gases, and mud as therapeutic elements as treatment modalities will be reviewed. Find out about the scientific studies on physiological mechanisms and clinical outcomes of spa medicine interventions that have been published within the last decades, and especially about the number of growing randomised prospective controlled studies. Social tourism, being the key to the development of certain isolated regions, will also be addressed. Social tourism for families also strengthens the relations among family members, particularly between parents and children, thus contributing to the socialization of children.

Dr. Zeki Karagulle ~ President, International Society of Medical Hydrology & Climatology

Laszlo Puczko~ Xellum Management Consulting & Author of “Health & Wellness Tourism” (Moderator)

Gabriel Alvarez Huiman ~ Deputy General Manager, Aranwa Hotels Resorts & Spas

4:30-5:30pm Prearranged Networking Meetings (LA Ballroom/Exhibit Hall)

5:30-6:30pm The Mystique of US Healthcare Reform for International Patients (LA Ballroom)

Obama’s healthcare reform might seem revolutionary in terms of changing the landscape of American healthcare, but the implementation of the bill will take several years to put into practice. During those years, the cost of healthcare in the US will continue to rise, as will the number of individuals that lack insurance or are underinsured. These two factors will bring new market opportunities for corporations looking to cut costs and tackle these issues. This congress will discuss how medical tourism is an example of an innovative market solution that has gained popularity due to its high quality, yet cost effective nature and its ability to provide healthcare access to the uninsured individuals. Government officials within the US are more likely to accept medical tourism and implement it in political and legislative agendas when it proves to be a guaranteed cost-saving mechanism and has demonstrated beneficial outcomes with large insurance carriers and the American public.

Devon Herrick ~ Nat’l Center for Policy Analysis (Moderator)

Robyn Piper ~ Piper Jordon

Michael Bertaut ~ Sr. Healthcare Intelligence Analyst, Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana

5:30-6:30pm Research & Studies ~ New Perspectives and Survey Conclusions (Beverly Hills Ballroom)

From patient surveys to industry reports, these research perspectives will open your eye to new consumer and industry trends to watch out for.

Christopher Khoury ~ Director of Research, Gallup

Maria Shepherd ~ Founder, Data Decision Group

Sjannie Hulsman ~ Owner, Reza Consultancy

Harriet H. Lewis, PhD ~ Konesens Research

5:30-6:30pm Effectuating the Continuum of Care (Pacific Palisades)

Managing and putting in place a proper After Care and Continuation of Care plan for international patients is one of the most important aspects of medical tourism. This panel will discuss the importance of this process and what elements need to be in place to ensure a proper transition and continuation of care between the foreign provider and the domestic provider

Jean Forbes ~ Director of Support, Homewatch CareGivers

Dr. Vijay Sharma, M.S. India ~ Master of Surgery and Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon

Dr. William Goodman ~ Cosmas Health

6:30-8:00pm Networking Cocktail Reception & Entertainment (Outside on Green Circle Terrace)

THURSDAY

7:00-9:00am Registration (Constellation Ballroom)

7:00-8:00am Networking Coffee Reception ~ Exhibit Hall

8:00-8:40am Keynote ~ All About the Aging (LA Ballroom)

Dr. Jeanette Takamura ~ Dean of School of Social Work, Columbia University

8:40-9:20am Keynote ~ Crossborder Cultures and Healthcare Development (LA Ballroom Healthcare Development Crossover)

Dr. Shetty ~ Surgeon (India) & Founder of Cayman Island Hospital

9:20-9:45am Keynote ~ Living Life to the Fullest (LA Ballroom Healthcare Development Crossover)

Pete Thomas ~ Winner of “The Biggest Loser” Season II

8:40-9:40am Cruise Lines and Travel Insurers ~ The Next Wave (Beverly Hills Ballroom Expatriate Crossover)

As patients and their companions accelerate in crossing borders for healthcare, many important pieces of a larger puzzle come into place in terms of providing travel insurance with the right procedures and partnerships in place for emergency evacuation and contingency plans. This panel will address components that need to be designed in forming these partnerships. Cruise lines have unique advantages and interesting target markets for medical tourism opportunities as well. Many are targeting patients for comprehensive trips on the seas. Discussion of some of the challenges this presents for inbound and outbound patients will be tackled in this session.

Dr. Arthur Diskin ~ VP and Chief Medical Officer, Royal Caribbean

Dr. Mohammed Saeme ~ International Expert on Maritime Health and Wellness

9:45-10:25amInvesting in Medical Tourism and International Healthcare Projects (LA Ballroom Healthcare Development Crossover)

Investors interested in investing in the medical tourism industry will be presented with revenue and for profit models amongst different types of medical tourism businesses. An overview of the industry and where the best opportunities for a competitive return on investment will be explored. Opportunities in building hospital and clinic facilities, healthcare cities, and other healthcare projects in developing countries or host countries where demand exceeds supply will be presented in this session. This session will investigate case studies, methodologies, and guidelines for reinvestment programs. The Journey ofColombia in the Medical Tourism. How the Government, after declaring the sector as a World Class Sector, has given very attractive tools to encourage foreign investment in Free Trade Zones. The session will discuss the challenges in preparing the medical institutions and service providers in high quality standards to take care of international patients, and how the government has taken responsibility and invited the private sector to participate in this incredible journey. This session will also look into the similar investments in Syria through the Ministry of Health to utilize its healthcare services in attracting patients from all over the global. It will also look at the model created by Fortis in India and the existing mergers and expansion projects moving forward.

Bhavdeep Singh ~ CEO, Fortis Healthcare Limited

Hisham Diwani ~ GM Health Insurance, Syria Ministry of Health

Jaime Echavarria ~ US Director for the Colombian Government Trade Bureau, Proexport

Dr. Rick Van Pelt ~ Director Global Programs, Partners Harvard Medical International

9:45-10:20amEthics in Medical Tourism (Beverly Hills Ballroom)

Ethical issues arise in medical tourism on many levels. For the medical tourist, there are many barriers to overcome prior to traveling outside the boundaries of his home country and stepping foot on unfamiliar soil. A typical tourist encounters many issues which can be fairly easily dealt with, but the medical tourist has many more questions that must be answered before making the heavy decision to travel outside the safe borders of one’s home for medical care. We must consider catastrophic global events occurring all over the world that may affect a medical tourist’s perception of the foreign country. This can be a determining factor in where the medical tourist will choose to have their medical procedure done. It is imperative that the destinations patients are sent to are safe and that the patient is not intentionally placed in harm’s way. Another ethical issue posed by patients traveling to foreign countries for care lies in continuity of care and proper communication between the doctor at home and the doctor abroad. This is pertinent if this industry is to maintain not only consistency, but also trust amongst patients. Patients want to know they will be take care of, during the entire length of their experience as a medical tourist, and that includes aftercare and the healing process back home with their primary doctor.

Les Rothenberg, ~ Attorney and Ethics Consultant
Jill R. Hodges ~ Health Policy and Communication Consultant

10:20-10:50am Turkey’s GeoThermal Tourism - Evidence Validating Healing with Water (Pacific Palisades)

Learn how Turkey has organized itself when it comes to health tourism, thermal spring tourism, spa tourism and about its strategy to harness it’s geothermal resources by promoting evidence based therapeutic interventions. The uses of thermal and mineral spring waters, gases, and mud as therapeutic elements as treatment modalities will be reviewed. Find out about the scientific studies on physiological mechanisms and clinical outcomes of spa medicine interventions that have been published within the last decades, and especially about the number of growing randomised prospective controlled studies. Published systematic reviews and meta-analyses; especially those focusing on the efficacy on rheumatic diseases indicate promising evidence of effectiveness as a medical intervention in addition to being cost-effective. In some cases, published studies indicate water therapy to be as strong or stronger than other well recognised medical interventions.

Dr. Zeki Karagulle ~ President, International Society of Medical Hydrology & Climatology

10:30-11:25am Designing Healthcare Facilities for the Global Patient (LA Ballroom Healthcare Development Crossover)

As healthcare becomes increasingly global in nature, hospitals and clinics around the world are catering to a bewildering mixture of patients with different nationalities, cultures and religions. Successful providers are rapidly developing unique facilities to address the varying needs of this diverse customer population. The global hospital of the future creates unique space that reflects the special needs of the global patient including culturally sensitive waiting spaces, multi-lingual signage, dietary options, church/mosque facilities, international concierge facilities, high-throughput registration and patient rooms that provide flexible options for the international patient. The expert members of this panel represent innovative providers, architects and interior designers whose healthcare experience spans Europe, Asia, North American and Oceana and who have led pioneering efforts in the design of the global healthcare facility with an eye towards sustainable design.

Paul Corbeel ~ Managing Director, VK STUDIO Architects, Planners & Designers, Belgium

Kristina Zanic ~ Founder & Executive Director, DWP, Interior Design, Bahrain

Michael Hess ~ Managing Principal, Health Practice Leader, Perkins+Will, Chicago, USA

Curtis J. Schroeder ~ Former Group CEO , Bumrungrad International, Bangkok, Thailand (Moderator)

10:20-10:50am Legal Workshop EU Data Protection Rules ~ Recent Developments and Trends Impacting Your Healthcare Business (Beverly Hills Ballroom)

The EU data protection regime applies "horizontally" across industry sectors. It is generally viewed as being substantially more rigorous than the equivalent US laws. The general EU Data Protection Directive applies to all aspects of health care involving the processing of personal data and covers a wide range of activities, such as the transfer of electronic medical records from Europe to the US and other countries (and the ability to remotely access such records); the processing of personal data obtained from clinical trials conducted in Europe; remote monitoring and processing of health data relating to EU individuals; and the outsourcing of functions involving the storage or processing of EU residents' personal data to third party vendors. The EU data protection rules are currently under review and significant changes are expected to be proposed in early 2011 that will further strengthen the rights of EU consumers in a number of ways. The workshop will examine the current EU data protection regime, the changes under consideration, and their potential impact on the Medical Tourism and Global Health industries.

Ann J. LaFrance ~ European Partner, Squire, Sanders

10:55-11:25am European Healthcare ~ Healthcare Clusters and European Initiatives (Beverly Hills Ballroom)

With the EU Directive taking great strides towards unification of medical services and regulations, what is in the future for healthcare providers? Specifically, this session will evaluate the trends of healthcare clusters in Bavaria and also throughout Germany and other parts of Europe. The session will also evaluate how academics and education will play a major part in the future of medical tourism development in the region.

Prof. Dr. Horst Kunhardt ~ CIO,District Hospital Mainkofen

Dr. Robert Gerl ~ Co-Founder, US-European Joint Educational MBA Program

10:55-11:25amMedical Spas On Cruise Ships ~The Actual Status And Future Development (Pacific Palisades)

The Medical SPA phenomenon in USA and Europe is well established after more than a decade now and the experience can easily be transferred to cruise ships with some adjustments to adapt it to the marine environment and operations . This area of medical services is boosted by the massive arrival of the baby boomers to the market (30 % of the USA population) with strong buying power aiming to keep healthy, fit and looking young.

The session will discuss the arrival of a new "niche" in the cruise marked that will specialize in this lucrative business of health & Wellness; based on beauty and cosmetic medicine as a main purpose for cruising. This segment of medical tourism with preventive medicine is complemented by beauty and aesthetic medicine. This will be a great business story, due to the numerous advantages that sea operations offers with no taxation, easy access to lower cost top equipment and best internationally qualified and English speaking personnel.

With a specialized marketing for that niche, this will became a valuable less costly alternative and will create a serious competition to the actual medical SPAS and aesthetic /plastic surgery markets in the USA , Europe, Australia and Japan.

Dr. MohammedSaeme ~ International Expert on Maritime Health and Wellness

11:30-1:00pmPrearranged Networking Meetings (Santa Monica Ballroom/Exhibit Hall)

1:00-2:15pm Networking Lunch (Exhibit Hall)

2:15-3:10pm Untapped and Undeveloped Markets ~ Middle East (LA Ballroom Healthcare Development Crossover)

There has been an exponential rise in the number of medical tourists in the Asian continent where we see places like India, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore developing a medical tourism industry. Even though these tourists seeking quality and lower costing health and medical services have navigated throughout the globe for the best deals, the session will discuss how there are still some untapped and underdeveloped markets, particularly in the Middle East.

Laila Al Jassmi ~ CEO Clinical Health Support Services, Dubai Health Authority (Moderator)

Saif Aljaibeji ~ Medical Director – Care Management Programs, Green Crescent Insurance Company

Dr. Ali Al Sanousi ~ Consultant Medical Informatics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
Shady Fawzy Nawar ~ Assistant VP, Qatar Insurance Company

Thumbay Moideen ~ Gulf Medical University & GMC Hospitals

2:15-3:10pm Medical Tourism Rocks & Here’s Why (Beverly Hills Ballroom)

Medical Tourism is an exciting new benefit that many insurance agents, employers and insurers are looking at in the US as a way to make insurance premiums more affordable for employees. Find out from some of the leaders in health insurance in the US why they think medical tourism “rocks” and why it is a creative way to lower healthcare costs while providing employees an alternative option that provides high quality healthcare.

Nick Christos ~ Principal, Elite Underwriting

Tom Mestmaker ~ CEO, Mestmaker & Associates

Paul Caliendo ~ CEO, PMCS

Mark Tomaszewski ~ Global Benefits Group

Armando Poloanco ~ Texas Benefit (Moderator)

2:15-2:45pm Expanding Role of E-Health & Telemedicine in Global Healthcare (Pacific Palisades)

In an effort to increase the quality and duration of life, healthcare must deliver better care and delivery mechanisms to meet such needs. What results from such development, however is a lack of capacity to deal with problems stemming from environmental factors, ageing populations and disease. E-Health may help overcome these problems. Or at a minimum, e-health and telemedicine would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of care delivery. This session will also focus on how to integrate, what to do to integrate, why to integrate and when to integrate e-health solutions. In focusing on a return on investment in a sluggish economy, capital cost allocations and financial efficiency are critical issues. This session will provide information on developing eHealth capabilities strategically for medical tourism and how this can be a transformation driver in a healthcare reform environment. Which comes first – E-Health investments or attracting a medical tourism market into a Healthcare organization?

Dr. Antonia Arnaert ~ Vice President, Debson Medical

2:15-2:45pm Corporate Wellness Programs: Potential Opportunities for Wellness Tourism (Brentwood Room)

Corporate Health – What are the opportunities for physicians, medical groups, hospitals, and hotels in offering corporate health services? Poor lifestyle habits impact the health of employees, executives and a company’s bottom line on a global scale. Wellness and prevention services are growing in demand as chronic diseases plague productivity and quality of life. Learn about the importance of executive health services, various types of corporate health programs and how they are marketed. Find out about a recent study on employee benefits specialists and their perceptions of medical tourism and how it relates to corporate health.

Camille Hoheb ~ Principal, Global Spa & Wellness

2:45-3:10pm Patient Centered Management and Healthcare Affiliation Programs (Pacific Palisades)

This session will discuss the importance of a patient centered approach in managing international patients. The benefits of formal affiliation programs can create a multidisciplinary team assistance for health promotion and risk management as well as routine and chronic care management. Learn from this case US-Korean case study.

Dr. Sun Sin Kim ~ Seoul National University Hospital
Nancy Auger Buckman ~ Partners International

2:45-3:10pm Creating State of the Art International Patient Departments (Brentwood Room)

Medical tourism experts will explain how a hospital or clinic can build an international patient department from start to finish. They will explain what is necessary in terms of infrastructure, staffing and training requirements for developing an international patient department, and how international patient department staff employees need to function to deal with international patients. Learn how to accommodate patients from different countries, religions and cultures and how to manage an international patient department. Marketing efforts to engage in, and how to make the international patient department a success will be discussed in this session as well.

Bill Cook ~ Operations & Marketing Manager, Hospital Clinica Biblica, Costa Rica

3:15-4:15pm Prearranged Networking Meetings(Santa Monica Ballroom/Exhibit Hall)

4:15-5:10pm Case Studies of Successful International Patient Centers (LA Ballroom)

This workshop will present case studies of several leading international patient departments. From the international patient department perspective, session attendees will be provided with information as to how to build a successful IPD, what factors to consider in making this service a success. The process by which “buy-in” and management acceptance received in developing the IPC, marketing efforts used to sustain success will also be shared in this session. The presentation will cover all aspects of media engaged by some facilities, which includes television, radio, newspapers, magazines and use of the Internet. The session outlines how to use editorial content to maximize exposure via media and where best to use traditional advertising methods.

How a medical facility can employ commercial marketing methods
The implications of a medical team being the sales team
Getting the patient’s attention
A call to action
Material sent to prospective patients
The treatment experience
Follow up with the patient for strategic marketing
Setting your marketing budget
Return on investment
The real cost of getting a new patient.

Veronica Montgomery ~ Marketing Manager, Barbados Fertility Center

Dr. William Smith ~ American Institute of Minimal Invasive Spine, Nevada

4:15-5:10pm Employer and Insurance Carrier Workshop on Implementing Medical Tourism into Self Funded Health Insurance Plans (Beverly Hills Ballroom)

This advanced workshop will be dedicated to representative US employers, insurance companies, Third Party Administrators (TPAs), reinsurance companies, health insurance agents and consultants. It will be a step by step guide on how to implement medical tourism into a fully insured or self funded health plan. We will analyze the potential cost savings, healthcare quality, importance of accreditation, choosing hospitals and medical tourism facilitators, aftercare options, employee education, enrollment and needed to implement, coordinate and factors needed to implement a successful medical tourism program.

Wouter Hoeberechts ~ CEO, WorldMed Assist

Jeff Argotsinger ~ Director, Business Leader Medical, Swiss Re

4:15-5:10pm Patient Management as the Key to Great Outcomes (Pacific Palisades)

Online lead management patient management, tracking and converting leads, and managing the entire patient flow from lead to after-care using defined processes and work-flow. This session will discuss the process of empowering the patient to make intelligent choices, and tracking and managing your patients through from the decision making process to aftercare. Learn about best practices in communicating and exchanging information with the patient in compliance with security and privacy guidelines, and in structuring your patient management process to effectively grow your business.

Anuja Agrawal ~ CEO of e-MedSol

5:15-6:30pm Inbound US Medical Tourism (LA Ballroom)

Thousands of foreign patients travel to the US each year to receive high quality healthcare. This market represents millions of dollars with the # of inbound patients growing. Learn why foreign patients travel to the US and how some of the top leading US hospitals are marketing to and receiving these very profitable patients. Get an inside perspective on the current and future landscape of inbound medical tourism to the U.S.

Pamela Frank ~ Int’l Health Svcs Director, Children’s Hospital of Boston (Moderator)

Dr. Rick Van Pelt ~ Director Global Programs, Partners Harvard Medical Int’l

Emilio M. Williams ~ Managing Director, Johns Hopkins Medicine Int’l

5:15-5:55pm Becoming a Medical Tourism Facilitator (Beverly Hills Ballroom)

This Introductory Medical Travel Facilitator Workshop will cover all aspects of starting and running a medical tourism facilitator business. It will discuss how to start a facilitator business, how to select hospitals, how to contract with hospitals and how to coordinate care for patients traveling overseas.

Dr. Prem Jagyasi ~ CEO, ExHealth

Renee-Marie Stephano ~ President, Medical Tourism Association

5:15-5:55pm Online Patient Acquisition in Medical Tourism Workshop(Pacific Palisades)

We all know that the majority of medical tourism undertake their research online. But how do we cost effectively attract them to your international healthcare business and grow your patient flows? In this workshop, we will cover how to plan, measure and implement an effective online marketing campaign for patient acquisition. Including templates for managing activity effectively and practical tips for making the most of your marketing spend online.

Rob Passmore ~ CEO & Co Founder, SurgeryOverseas.com

6:00-6:30pm Evidence Based Medicine and the Rise of the Smart Patient (Beverly Hills Ballroom)

The creation of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) changed the way medicine is practiced. It now depends less on expert opinion and actually requires proof and clinical evidence. This allows patients and their family members to have more control and make decisions over their healthcare and shift the power away from the providers. EBM provides a structure that places importance on scientific evidence in combination with clinical decision-making. Since the Internet provides unrestricted access to various information and medical knowledge, the EMB movement became more relevant and now serves as the benchmark by which clinical providers make medical decisions. The World Wide Web has also made patients more conscious and aware of their health and the concept of illness and disease which has resulted in patients making smarter decisions. The congress will speak about the rise of the ‘smart patient’ as the patients are more empowered and have become part of the medical team when clinical decisions are made. This has also translated to the medical tourism industry where well-informed patients are more likely to navigate through the globe to identify high quality treatments and procedures that have proven to be successful.

Daniel Friedland ~ Founder, SuperSmartHealth

6:00-6:30pm Search Engine Marketing in Medical Tourism Workshop (Pacific Palisades)

This workshop is an advanced session for providers and facilitators who are already marketing online and want to improve their returns via search marketing. Providing practical action plans and metrics in both organic and paid search sectors, this session is specific to medical tourism search marketing.

Shahin Fard ~ Joint CEO, Equals3

6:30-7:30pm Networking Cocktail Reception & Entertainment (Outside on Green Circle Terrace)

FRIDAY

8:00-8:30am Networking Coffee Reception (Exhibit Hall)

8:30-8:35am Introduction (LA Ballroom)

8:35-9:25am Insurance Companies Insight on Implementing Medical Tourism into Employer Sponsored Health Insurance Plans (LA Ballroom)

Implementing medical tourism into a US health insurance plan for both fully insured and self funded employers requires modifying the benefit plan design, establishing a proper enrollment plan with education on medical tourism, and implementing the correct incentives for employees that will result in utilization and employees traveling internationally for medical care. This panel discussion will address these issues and evaluate what is needed to successfully implement medical tourism into a US group health insurance plan. Learn what some employers are requiring from international hospitals and countries before implementing medical tourism and how they have moved forward with this type of program.

Alexander Sander Domaszewicz ~ Principal and Sr. Consultant, Mercer Health & Benefits Services

Jason B. Krause ~ Executive VP, Univers Workplace Benefits (Moderator)

Robert S. Shestack ~ WBC Managing Director, Marsh US Consumer

8:35-9:25am Social Media Marketing (Beverly Hills Ballroom Expatriate Crossover)

RX for Online Marketing Success: How to Attract new Patients via Digital and Social Media
Digital and Social media are powerful channels for research, connection and collaboration. While most marketers are still trying to figure out how to use Google, Twitter and Facebook, others are capitalizing on it to build their brand and acquire patients from across the globe. This session will provide a prescriptive roadmap for Online Media Success while discussing best practices and answering the biggest questions faced by health care marketers:

Where do we start?
Which online channels and social networks should we use?
How do we measure results?

One of our most popular workshops during Congress 2009, Attendees will learn the basics of digital and social media and receive a framework for developing their own social media strategy.

8:35-9:25am Hospitality & Travel Growth Engines for Medical Tourism (Pacific Palisades)

This workshop will cover the important roles of travel agency, airlines, hotels, tour operators and airlines in medical tourism. Each of these industries and organizations are involved with patients, patient companion travellers and health tourists. This workshop will cover opportunities available for new travel agencies, airlines, hotels and tour operators in the medical tourism industry. The focus of this workshop is on generating new growth engines in the hospitality industry.

Anne Marie Moebes ~Well-being Travel

Emin Cakmak ~ Founding Partner, Hello Tourism and Travel Inc

9:30-10:10amInternational Threats to Healthcare Development ~ Pandemics, Travel Advisories, Global Infectious Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases (LA Ballroom)

One of the biggest worries of global public health officials is the spread of diseases around the world in the form of pandemics. Recent international outbreaks, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, H1N1 virus, and SARS, illustrate this concern. Increasing globalization and worldwide travel has the potential to perpetuate these risks. With medical tourism growing larger every day, understanding these risks and taking steps to prepare for pandemics and emerging health risks is paramount. The session will tackle the issue of why these challenges are important to the medical tourism industry and suggest practical steps for increased awareness and response. Traveler and medical caregiver safety issues will also be addressed.

Dr. Casey Chosewood ~ Center for Disease Control

9:30-10:10amTargeted Marketing to Insurance Companies, Employers and Governments (Beverly Hills Ballroom)

Marketing to insurance companies, employers and governments around the world is totally different than marketing to patients. Learn how to professionally market to these “buyers” of healthcare, what works and what does not. Learn how your brochures, websites, and marketing materials need to be developed differently than marketing to patients. Also, learn what content and information is critical to insurance companies, governments and employers. Examples on how to approach the insurance companies, employers and government markets over the internet or phone, versus how to deal with them differently when in person.

Derrell Connor ~ Account Executive, M3Insurance Solutions for Business

Jerry D. Turney ~ USNOW

9:30-10:10am
Patient Satisfaction (Pacific Palisades)

Patients demand to be active participants on and partners with the health care team to design their care regimen. Patients bring unique perceptions and expectations and use these to evaluate service quality and satisfaction. If customer satisfaction is not achieved and a patient complaint results, staff must have the skills to respond and launch a service recovery program. Service recovery, when done with style and panache, can retain loyal customers. Achieving patient satisfaction and resolving patient complaints require commitment from top leadership and commitment from providers to dedicate the time to understand their patients' needs.

Dr. Slaveyko Djambazov ~ CEO, Bulgarian Cardiac Institute

10:15-11:30am Quality in International Healthcare & When Quality Fails ~ Saying You’re Sorry (LA Ballroom)

The quality of the healthcare provided for patients is composed of many factors. International Accreditation is but just one way patients take their decision to travel to a facility and to select a surgeon. Patient experience is another means of assuring a positive patient outcome. But when quality fails, sometimes saying your sorry can also be beneficial not only in resolving the patient’s concerns, but also as a successful risk management strategy.

Rebecca Wise ~ COO, DNV Healthcare Inc. (Moderator)

Doug Wojcieszak ~ Founder, Sorry Works!

Vibhu Talwar ~ Group COO, Moolchand Healthcare Group

Hashem Abu Sneineh ~ The Specialty Hospital

10:15-10:45am Public and Private Sector Collaboration ~ Prevention of Two Tiered Markets (Beverly Hills Bal