Potential Downside to Domestic Surgical Tourism

The practice of attending different hospitals and treatment centers for post-operation treatment, known as domestic surgical tourism, may prove to have higher rates of mortality, according to a new analysis of consistency in treatment and staffing. Researchers from the University of Utah published the results of their study in The Lancet journal, reporting that the industry trend of patients traveling long distances for surgeries while receiving their recovery treatment locally creates inconsistency in observation and methods. This contributed to the likelihood of complications, increasing the chance of death within 90 days by a full 26 percent. “Most people do not think about the implications of traveling far for an operation,” says the lead author of the study. “As with many health-care decisions, there are trade-offs to consider. Traveling may confer the best chance of a favorable outcome with surgery, but it may hinder access to optimal care in the event of a serious complication after discharge. The interesting questions that our results raise are why outcomes appear to be better when a patient returns to the hospital where her or his operation was performed. Discovering the answers could help improve the way we deliver care.” To learn more about this study, click here.