Medical Tourism And JCI Accreditation

By: Khaki Scott
Joint Commission International is a non-governmental organization whose mission it is to “continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.” Their efforts stem from a long history of professional health care providers who saw the need for standardization and improvement of care as early as 1910. As the world has grown smaller, Joint Commission International has broadened its reach to include every health care specialty, as well as to include hospitals and health care facilities around the world.

When Mexico Real Estate Investment ran our first story on Joint Commission International accredited medical facilities in Mexico, there were only two and they were both in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Today, in September 2009, there are a total of eight JCI accredited medical facilities in Mexico and more on the way. These internationally accredited medical facilities include:

In Mexico City: Both of the ABC Hospitals are accredited by Joint Commission and are a part of the Methodist International Hospital Network.

American British Cowdray Medical Center IAP – Observatorio Campus, The
Mexico City, Mexico
Program: Hospital
First Accredited: Dec. 6, 2008

American British Cowdray Medical Center IAP – Santa Fe Campus, The
Mexico City, Mexico
Program: Hospital
First Accredited: Dec. 12, 2008

The CHRISTUS hospitals are a chain that is owned and operated by the CHRISTUS Foundation, a Catholic non-profit organization. They now have 7 hospitals, 27 Clinics, a very modern ambulance service, 2 Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Centers, and 7 Social Assistance Clinics in Mexico, as well as hospitals throughout Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Christus Muguerza Alta Especialidad
Monterrey, Mexico
Program: Hospital
First Accredited: July 22, 2007

Hospital CIMA Monterrey
San Pedro Garza Garza, Nuevo Leon
Program: Hospital
First Accredited: Dec. 19, 2008

Hospital CIMA Hermosillo
Hermosillo, Sonora
Program: Hospital
First Accredited: Dec. 11, 2008

Hospital San Jose Tec de Monterrey
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Program: Hospital
First Accredited: Dec. 25, 2007

Hospital Y Clinica OCA, S.A. de C.V.
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Program: Hospital
First Accredited: Sept. 27, 2008

Clinica Cumbres Chihuahua
Chihuahua, Mexico
Program: Ambulatory Care
First Accredited: April 23, 2008

These are, by no means, the only good hospitals in Mexico. There are thousands of excellent hospitals throughout the nation, as well as internationally recognized university teaching hospitals. As one would do in one’s home country, before choosing a hospital in Mexico, please do as much of an investigation of their reputation within the hospital and expat communities as possible. With that one caution, there is no reason not to choose Mexico for elective medical services and certainly no reason to fear them in case of emergency.

(source: Joint Commission International)