Globalization and medical travel: Quality and safety challenges

The epidemiology of U.S. patients is changing, as baby boomers are aging and requiring parts replacements such as knees and hips. Many patients simply cannot afford healthcare in the United States. Although price and affordability for patients is a primary issue for medical travel, few would support the growth of medical travel if the cost savings came at the expense of quality and patient safety. Adapting the more traditional and evidence-based measures of quality to a newly global practice environment is an emerging challenge for providers and patients.