Hospital Guides for Expats Around the World
Finding the Right Hospital as an Expat: A Global Guide
Embarking on an expat adventure is exciting, but ensuring quality healthcare is crucial. While every country has its own healthcare system, navigating it as a foreigner can be confusing. This guide helps you to find the perfect hospital, no matter what your expat destination is.
Understanding Your Healthcare Options
Most countries have a mix of public and private healthcare providers. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but communication with non-English speaking staff and longer wait times are common. Private hospitals cater to expats with English-speaking staff, shorter wait times, and modern facilities, but come at a higher cost. Some expats find buying a healthcare insurance is the right thing to do, why not read our guide to buying healthcare insurance as well?
Location Matters
Once you choose your hospital type, consider your location. Major cities offer more options, while smaller towns might have fewer. Think about:
Proximity: Living near a trusted hospital provides peace of mind, especially for emergencies.
Specialization: If you have pre-existing conditions or require specific medical services, research hospitals with relevant specialists.
The Power of Research is Key
The internet is your ally! Utilize online resources like hospital websites, review platforms tailored to expats, and expat forums in your new country. Research factors like:
Hospital Accreditation: Look for international accreditation like JCI (Joint Commission International), ensuring quality and safety standards.
Doctor Credentials: Research the qualifications and experience of doctors practicing at the hospital, particularly if seeking specialists.
Patient Reviews: Read what other expats have experienced at the hospital. Pay attention to aspects like communication, wait times, and overall satisfaction.
Embrace Technology
Many hospitals offer virtual consultations, allowing you to connect with a doctor remotely for minor concerns or follow-up appointments.
Additional Considerations
Language Services: While many private hospitals have English-speaking staff, consider additional language support if needed. Translation apps or bilingual companions can be helpful.
Insurance: Having health insurance tailored to expats in your new country is crucial. Research plans that cover your chosen hospital and services.
Taking the First Step
Once you've shortlisted some hospitals, contact them directly. Most have English-speaking staff who can answer your questions and guide you through the appointment process. Don't hesitate to inquire about:
Consultation Fees: Understand the cost of consultations, tests, and potential procedures.
Treatment Options: Discuss your health concerns and explore available treatment plans offered by the hospital.
Finding the perfect hospital might take some effort, but a well-researched decision ensures peace of mind. Remember, clear communication, cultural sensitivity, and a willingness to explore different options will pave the way for a positive healthcare experience in your new home.
Medical Evacuation
If the worse comes to the worst, you should consider medical evacuation too. Most healthcare insurance policies cover this, but it can be an expensive option if you have to pay for it yourself.
Bonus Tip: Consider attending expat community events or Facebook groups or health fairs organized by your embassy. These events can provide valuable insights and face-to-face interaction with healthcare providers and help you understand what actually is the right way of doing things where you are living.
By following these steps, expats worldwide can confidently navigate the healthcare system and find a hospital that meets their needs, ensuring a healthy and happy expat experience.
Remember, this is only a guide and we take no responsibility for omissions or details in this list. You should always consult a physician on the appropriateness of a medical facility.
Hospital Guides for APAC
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Hospital guide for expats in Singapore
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Hospital guide for expats in Thailand
Hospital Guides for North America
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Hospital guide for expats in Canada
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Hospital guide for expats in the USA
Hospital Guides for Europe
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Hospital guide for expats in the UK
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Hospital guide for expats in Germany
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Hospital guide for expats in Portugal
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Hospital guide for expats in Spain
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Hospital guide for expats in France
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Hospital guide for expats in the Netherlands
Top 10 Best International Hospitals in the World for Expats
Source :: Statista
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Mayo Clinic has more No. 1 rankings than any other hospital in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.
For all the Mayo Clinic rankings, click here
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Cleveland Clinic is recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care.
They provide care from US board-certified and fellowship trained experts who work together to create a treatment plan just for you. Only the highest standards ensure excellent outcomes.
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Toronto General Hospital (TGH) stands out as a leader in providing services such as advanced cardiac services and cutting -edge organ transplants.
One of Toronto’s oldest hospitals, they continue to excel in the management and treatment of patient’s complex healthcare requirements.
If you’re an expatriate seeking healthcare in Canada, be sure to explore the full list of services and facilities available at TGH today.
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The Johns Hopkins Hospital has been named an Honor Roll hospital in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023–24 Best Hospitals list. The U.S. News Honor Roll is composed of the 20 top-ranked hospitals in the nation among 4,500. This year’s honor roll is the first to not assign individual ranks to the top 20 hospitals
In Maryland and the Baltimore region, The Johns Hopkins Hospital was the top-ranked hospital, as well as 15 of its medical specialties. Four other Johns Hopkins Medicine member hospitals in Maryland and Washington, D.C. — Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, Sibley Memorial Hospital and Suburban Hospital — were also recognized in state and regional rankings.
Plus, if you are travelling to the US as an expat for medical care, there are full details on what this means for you on their website here.
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U.S. News & World Report released its “Best Hospitals” for 2023-2024 and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a founding hospital of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, earned a spot on the annual Honor Roll. MGH also ranked #2 in the USA in psychiatry.
Of the nearly 5,000 hospitals evaluated, MGH has consistently placed among the top hospitals on the Honor Roll since its inception in 1990 and this year Mass General Brigham is honored to have five nationally ranked hospitals.
Additional details about the U.S. News & World Report ranking system can be found here.
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Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. All of our clinical care, research and teaching is delivered by physicians and researchers of the highest international standard.
Charité proudly lays claim to more than half of all German Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine, including Emil von Behring, Robert Koch, and Paul Ehrlich. Charité is internationally renowned for its excellence in teaching and training.
The Charité is the joint medical faculty of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Charité extends over four campuses, and has over 100 different Departments and Institutes, which make up a total of 17 different CharitéCenters. Having marked its 300-year anniversary in 2010, Charité is now one of the largest employers in Berlin.
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Karolinska once again achieves a prominent position in Newsweek magazine's ranking "World's Best Hospitals". For the fifth year in a row, the hospital is in the top 10 and ranks seventh in the world.
"When we entered the list in 2020, many people in Sweden said: "There must be something wrong. Swedish healthcare or Karolinska is not that good. Next year, order will be restored." But this is the order. This is how good Swedish healthcare can be, and this is how good Karolinska is," says Björn Zoëga, CEO at Karolinska University Hospital. Find out what else Zoëga had to say on the Karolinska Hospital website.
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The website is in French, so please use Google translate to find what you are looking for.
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Being the leader in healthcare within Israel and the region, it has never been Sheba’s ambition to make Israel the sole focal point of our cutting-edge treatments and personalized care.
Sheba’s mission is to extend hope beyond boundaries. In 2023 alone, Global Patient Services made it possible for thousands of patients from across every continent to come to Israel for the treatment they could not receive in their home countries.
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Universitätsspital Zürich have been placed in the top ten for the first time.
The ranking is the result of the outstanding work of the staff at the USZ. Many thanks to all those who work for the well-being of our patients every day – without them, this would not be possible.
The above is compiled by Newsweek and Statista, based on a number of interesting factors. Of course there are other sources of “world’s best hospitals”, such as the one compiled by Webometrics or those shown on the medical tourism website. Always do your research and ask your healthcare insurance company for their opinion as well. Many of these insurers have their own referral methodologies that are not publicly released and will help you find the treatment with the best outcomes.
