Interview with GlobalChoice Healthcare's Ken Erickson

Posted August 10th, 2007 by David Williams
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I spoke earlier today with Ken Erickson, founder of GlobalChoice Healthcare. GlobalChoice isn't a medical tourism agency. It bills itself as a procedure management firm, offering employers a supplemental benefit that extends their provider network to additional US and international locations. Ken and I spoke about his providers and customers, continuity of care, accreditation, credentialing, and malpractice -among other topics.

Transcript:
Interview with GlobalChoice Healthcare's Ken Erickson (transcript)

Very Interesting - 3 questions

On August 12th, 2007 captainsensible says:

David:

 

Very interesting. Thanks to Ken Erickson for discussing this exciting new area. Three thoughts:

I wonder whether US docs will continue to regard international medical care as a "non-issue." Perhaps at the current trivial number of procedures, but how will they regard such competition when it really starts to eat into their income?

I am curious how one goes about legally sharing the cost benefit with employees. What are the rules around that area?

Finally, even if the international provider has malpractice insurance, the case must still be tried under non-US law, which is far less lucrative to plaintiffs. So regardless of insurance coverage, isn't it true that an injured patient is most likely to receive less for proven malpractice than he/she would get in the US?

 

Thanks

CS

 

"non-issue"?

On August 12th, 2007 deseth says:

It is my hope that US doctors will view international medical care as a major issue, not because of "income" concerns but because of the reason for which they became doctors--to help sick patients. Even under the best of conditions/intentions, complications arise and need to be addressed. What will US third party payers an/or physicians do with a patient in the US presenting with a complication from a hip replacement performed in another country? In my opinion, these are the types of issues that should be motivating MDs now.