The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

PEOPLE travel to locations all over the world just to have medical procedures done, and the Bahamas is one such location that is increasingly exploring avenues to make the country a premier destination for medical tourism.

As the country slowly builds itself in that arena, local professionals and those abroad believe there is still a long way to go before the Bahamas becomes a destination for sun, sand, sea and healthcare.

One such professional, Dr Hakop Hrachian, who specialises in clinical cardiac electrophysiology at Baptist Health International in South Florida, said he views the Caribbean, particularly the Bahamas, as a medical tourism destination of the future.

“It has the potential, but needs significant investment to be able to compete in the healthcare market and attract patients,” he told Tribune Health.

Dr Hrachian said without significant investments, the Bahamas will not become a thriving destination for medical tourism.

Many countries around the world are recognising that medical tourism is indeed a big boost to the economy and welcome efforts to help attract tourists for healthcare reasons.

“Significant investment is needed to provide high-level medical care in order to compete with other countries. One of the benefits of medical tourism is that profit margin will probably be much larger in comparison to regular tourism,” he said.

Baptist Health International has one of the largest hospital-based international programmes in the United States. Thousands of people travel to Miami each year from around the world to receive care from respected physicians at the South Florida facilities. The organisation said it is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality services for international physicians and their patients, including hospital admissions, outpatient testing and physician consult, as well as other concierge services.
Also, Baptist Health South Florida is the largest faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organisation in the region. The organisation includes Baptist Hospital of Miami, Baptist Children’s Hospital, South Miami Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Baptist Cardiac and Vascular Institute and Baptist Outpatient Services.

Baptist Health offers a variety of executive healthcare services, including executive health physicals, wellness coaches and other healthcare services. Baptist Health Foundation, the organisation’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities affiliated with Baptist Health South Florida.
Dr Hrachian also specialises in treating atrial fibrillation (AF), which he says affects 2.7 million Americans.

“Atrial fibrillation, or AF, is the most common type of arrhythmia in human. An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heart. During AF, heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm.

“AF occurs if rapid, disorganised electrical signals cause the heart’s two upper chamber, called the atria, to fibrillate. The term ‘fibrillate’ means to contract very fast and irregularly. This inefficient contraction causes blood pooling in the atria, which in turn becomes a substrate for development of blot clot. These blood clots may travel out of the heart and cause stroke.
He said AF is one of the important causes of embolic stroke.

“In patients with embolic stroke, if work up turns out to be negative and no specific cause can be identified, then stroke can be classified as cryptogenic,” he said.

“Atrial fibrillation has many risk factors such as hypertension, heart failure, sleep apnea, COPD, diabetes, valvular heart disease, electrolyte and hormonal imbalance,” he said.

Treatment for atrial fibrillation treatment include medications to reduce the heart rate, or keep the rhythm normal, and medication to reduce development of the blood clot in heart.

“If medical therapy is not effective, then ablation of AF can be considered.”

Dr Hrachian was recently in the Bahamas to attend the 29th Annual Caribbean Cardiology Conference, which saw more than 200 cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and allied cardiovascular professionals converge on Atlantis.