Discussion 1: Marketing for International Health Care Organizations

As a result of globalization, many health care organizations have established facilities in other countries. These international endeavors have created new challenges for marketing products and engaging potential consumers. For this Discussion, you examine the impact of globalization on international health care organizations and recommend marketing strategies.

To prepare:

• Select a U.S.-based health care organization that has opened or is planning to open a branch in another country.
• Consider the impact of global marketing on the success of the branch facility.

Briefly describe the health care organization you selected. Assess the impact of global marketing on the success of the organization’s branch facility. Include specific marketing strategies that may improve the organization’s international success. Then, evaluate competitive advantages for this organization in relation to medical tourism. Support your response by identifying and explaining key points and/or examples presented in the Learning Resources.

Discussion 2: Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is becoming increasingly popular, and it is important to understand why consumers might seek medical care outside of their home countries. Consider Maria, a 68-year-old female who lives in the United States. Her doctor has recommended a hip replacement, but because it is not life-threatening she is put on a wait list for surgery. Medical tourism is an alternative for Maria, but she has never even considered the possibility of traveling to another country to seek medical care. How might you market medical tourism to patients like Maria? For this Discussion, you examine benefits and barriers to medical tourism and recommend marketing strategies for consumers.

To prepare:

• Identify benefits of and barriers to medical tourism. Reflect on reasons consumers may or may not seek medical care outside of their home country.
• Consider marketing strategies to help consumers overcome potential barriers.

Analyze benefits of and barriers to medical tourism. Then, recommend marketing strategies to help consumers overcome potential barriers and seek medical care outside of their home countries. Defend or argue your recommendations. Support your response by identifying and explaining key points and/or examples presented in the Learning Resources.