Patient consideration of local hospital, center of excellence, and medical tourism options for surgery

Abstract

This research analyzes factors that patients consider when offered the option to have surgeries (knee-replacement or heart bypass) at one of three locations (local hospital, Center of Excellence hospital, or Medical Tourism) with financial incentives varying based on location/surgery. Quantitative and qualitative results, based on a national online survey of respondents over 45 years old, found a significant relationship between perceived risk and satisfaction based on location of the surgery. However, specific individual factors, such as personal responsibilities, concerns with travel, perception of healthcare quality, are found to impact patient location preference for surgery.

Keywords:

• Medical tourism
• centers of excellence
• healthcare marketing
• patient satisfaction
• perceived risk
• control

Acknowledgment

The survey and data collection techniques employed in this research were reviewed and approved the Hofstra University Institutional Review Board.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University for financial support for this research.