GMVCB, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and Seven Hospitals Launch Miami Health Initiative to Attract International Medical ‘Tourists’

MIAMI, Fl, November 11, 2009 – Through a collaborative effort by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMVCB), Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and seven local hospitals, a new Miami health initiative has been launched to draw international patients to take advantage of the world-class hospitals and doctors available in Greater Miami and the Beaches.  The medical tourism program was unveiled at the Medical Travel Summit of the Americas held at the Doubletree Miami Mart Hotel. The marketing initiative includes a brochure and advertising campaign as well as a new website – www.MiamiHealthcare.org. 

“Patients from around the world can come to Miami with the knowledge that they will be receiving world-class care by compassionate and highly skilled doctors and nurses in a setting that facilitates healing,” Rolando Rodriguez, president of the Jackson Memorial Foundation and past chairman of the Healthcare and Bioscience Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.  “This is an exciting collaboration among some of Miami’s best known health organizations, the Chamber and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.”

The hospitals and organizations participating include: Baptist Health International Center of Miami, Florida International University College of Medicine, Jackson International, Mercy Hospital , Miami Children’s Hospital, Mount Sinai Medical Center and UHealth – University of Miami Health System . 

Considered a world leader for many medical and surgical procedures, Greater Miami patients have access to the largest neurosurgery ICU, neonatal ICU and pediatric intestinal transplant facility in the United States .  The hospitals in Miami have been consistently ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s “America ’s Best Hospitals ” and “ America ’s Best Children’s Hospitals.”  Miami has also made multimillion-dollar investments in biomedical research facilities to find cures for diseases and lay the groundwork for future medical breakthroughs. 

“At the crossroads between Latin America and Europe, and offering the hemisphere’s best health care services, Miami is the natural choice for health care services,” said Barry E. Johnson, president/CEO of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.  “In addition, Miami International Airport offers the most direct flights to cities in the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe , along with easy connections to the rest of the world.”

Flights to hundreds of international cities are scheduled regularly from Miami International Airport .  Many hospitals and medical centers offer free shuttle service for international patients as well as a wide range of other concierge services.  Services include: assistance with travel and accommodations; passport and visa arrangements; 24 hour, on-call physicians; special long-term accommodation rates for patients and their families;  on-site apartments at certain medical centers; coordination of medical, hospital and diagnostic appointments; and language assistance from multilingual healthcare employees.

# # #

About the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and professions organized to create economic progress in Miami-Dade County . To carry out its mission, the Chamber serves as the voice of business enterprise and involves the private sector in community leadership. For more than 100 years, the Chamber has been widely recognized and respected for its extraordinary record of economic development and community improvement.

The Greater Miami Chamber is an activist chamber. Its program of work is organized in five areas: Advocacy, Domestic Business Development, International Business Development, Leadership Programs and Marketing & Member Services. The Chamber has an award-winning website, www.MiamiChamber.com; holds the license to the Miami Free Trade Zone, Inc.; and is widely recognized as one of the Top 10 Executive Speaking Forums in America .