by Rod Hughes

San José’s oldest private clinic is focusing its services on an ever-growing segment of the tourism industry: visiters who come to have medical or dental work done at much lower prices than are standard in the U.S. Until two decades ago, the majority of medical tourism was mainly for quality cosmetic surgery  at a fraction of the price that would be charged in Switzerland, for example

But tourists became aware that other medical/dental services are available at rates that more than offset the pricy airfare to and from Costa Rica, a happy situation caused by the rarity of malpractice suits that drive up U.S. health care costs. Yet most treatment is up to U.S. standards.

But the 77-year-old Clinica Biblica has gone the extra mile, reports the weekly English-language weekly, The Tico Times. Not only does the largely English-speaking staff help with medical procedures and recovery but will find a hotel, rent a car and plan activities during the patient’s stay, because many combine their treatment with vacation activities.

Brad Cook, director of the hospital’s International Client Services section, told the paper that Clinic Biblica is “about 80% through” the process of accreditation from the International Joint Commission, the worldwide arm of the organization that accredits U.S. hospitals. Bilbica is already accredited by Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance as well as other health care providers. This accounts for some of the 15% of all patients at the facility who come from outside Ciosta Rica.

Spiralling health care costs have already forced many corporations and even state government (such as West Virginia) to offer incentives to employees using accredited foreign medical facilities.

The clinic is not the only health care facility to court foreign patients. The Prisma Dental Clinic also has targeted foreign patients through their Internet pages and advertising.