Riding the wave
The economic benefits of Medical Tourism are not limited to the hospitals concerned but are shared by various industries in the community. Jacksonville can be considered as an example to highlight this aspect.
Medical tourism is already a money maker for the First Coast economy. In the first half of 2006, according to data available from the Health Planning Council of North Florida, more than 10,300 people traveled to the region for inpatient care, 12 percent of all inpatient admissions at area hospitals.
Mayo Clinic and its affiliated St. Luke's Hospital feed business to about 30 hotels in the Beaches and Southside area.
Treatment often extends for weeks, and the visiting patients and their families funnel millions of dollars into the community annually on medical care, lodging, food and entertainment.
It is also an ideal destination for medical conventions. It has adequate infrastructure like exhibit space and hotel rooms. The concentration of businesses interests the attendees. Expenses are reduced because local industry experts can be recruited to speak at the event; this saves on the cost of flying in an expert.
Jacksonville may not top the list for the biggest and most number of hospitals. It is rather a combination of various things that has led to its popularity as a medical destination.
Jacksonville's success
Medical tourism is already a money maker for the First Coast economy. In the first half of 2006, according to data available from the Health Planning Council of North Florida, more than 10,300 people traveled to the region for inpatient care, 12 percent of all inpatient admissions at area hospitals.
Mayo Clinic and its affiliated St. Luke's Hospital feed business to about 30 hotels in the Beaches and Southside area.
Treatment often extends for weeks, and the visiting patients and their families funnel millions of dollars into the community annually on medical care, lodging, food and entertainment.
It is also an ideal destination for medical conventions. It has adequate infrastructure like exhibit space and hotel rooms. The concentration of businesses interests the attendees. Expenses are reduced because local industry experts can be recruited to speak at the event; this saves on the cost of flying in an expert.
Jacksonville may not top the list for the biggest and most number of hospitals. It is rather a combination of various things that has led to its popularity as a medical destination.
Jacksonville's success
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