Private dollars and competition for patients have prompted private U.S.
medical centres such as Unasource to go the extra mile when it comes to
atmosphere and extras.
But even their sophisticated hallway chaises and in-room DVD players
pale in comparison to the luxury offerings of some American hospitals.
Starting from around $300 a day more than what American insurance
companies will pay for a semi-private room, patients on the 12th floor
at Houston’s Methodist Hospital can be treated to room service, limo
transfers, manicurists and high-thread-count sheets in private suites.
“The whole philosophy behind it originally was security and privacy
for VIPs,” said Alice Baker, the floor’s patient liaison. “But now, if
you have that extra money — you know the baby boomers out there that
want the Mercedes instead of the Cadillac — it’s about providing a
higher level of service and amenities.”
Forbes Magazine recognizes Methodist on its list of America’s Ten Best
Luxury Hospitals, which offer a select number of suites dedicated to
above-average surroundings.
While hospitals on the Forbes list deliver highly reputable general
care, they also offer some patients the little perks that make a stay
more Five Star Resort than Anytown General.
Others on the list include Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, which
boasts tuxedo-clad wait staff and oriental rugs, and The Phillips House
at Massachusetts General, which offers panoramic views of the Cambridge
skyline and flat-screen TVs.
At Methodist, patients receive a top-of-the-line amenity kit and luxury terry robes.
They can order favourite foods from the floor’s private gourmet
kitchen, staffed by an executive chef. There is also a program set up
so patients can visit with pets.
While most of the Texas hospital’s international patients hail from
nearby Mexico and Guatemala, the floor has seen a few Canadians
recovering in its high-thread-count sheets, Baker said. For many, the
amenities and world-class medical care justify the cost.
“Some people spend more money on hotels on vacation,” she said. “We
started putting it in those terms and we’ve been getting a lot more
people who aren’t billionaires or millionaires, but they’re
comfortable.”