1 = Lowest Risk. Country has an overall healthy environment.
2 = Low Risk. Country has a mostly healthy environment.
3 = Average Risk. The country’s environment presents some health challenges and endemic diseases.
4 = High Risk. The country has an often unhealthy environment with some serious health challenges and endemic diseases.
5 = Highest Risk. The country has an overall unhealthy environment with several serious health challenges and endemic diseases.
Quality of Care Risks
1 = Consistently meets or exceeds commonly accepted international standards of care.
2 = Often meets commonly accepted international standards of care.
3 = Does not meet international standards of care, but may be acceptable for primary and secondary care.
4 = Below commonly accepted international standards of care, but may be acceptable for minimal care.
5 = Well below commonly accepted international standards of care. Mostly unacceptable even for basic medical care.
Remoteness Risks (Access to Healthcare)
1 = Consistent access throughout the country to the highest standards of care.
2 = Access to high standards of care may not be consistent throughout the country, but access to better care is easily coordinated.
3 = Quality care in-country has limited access, but access to higher standards of care outside the country is easily coordinated.
4 = Access to quality care is extremely limited in the country. Coordinating access to better care outside of country can be difficult and/or lengthy.
5 = Access to quality care in country and neighboring countries is limited. It is difficult, lengthy and complex to arrange access to any quality care. Appropriate care is often thousands of miles away.
Cultural Challenge Risks
“Cultural barriers” refer to differences experienced by travelers from the United States and other similar countries. This includes differences in the local healthcare system, languages spoken, and supporting care, such as type of hospital room, quality of food, privacy available, personal care assistance from nursing staff, etc.
1 = Foreign patients experience few, if any, cultural barriers.
2 = Foreign patients may experience minimal cultural barriers, with no significant difficulties to overcome.
3 = Foreign patients can experience cultural barriers, with at least one presenting significant difficulties.
4 = Foreign patients will experience several significant cultural barriers and difficulties.
5 = Foreign patients will be extremely challenged in coping with cultural barriers.
