How we choose
We are not paid by hospitals. Ever. Our only client is you.
Most medical travel companies receive referral fees from the hospitals they recommend. We don’t. This is not a small distinction — it changes every recommendation we make.
Annual surgical volume & team stability
Volume is the most consistent predictor of outcomes in surgery. We look at how many of a specific procedure a team performs per year — and whether the same lead surgeon and team are in theatre consistently, rather than rotating through a high-volume unit.
Complication and revision rates
Where data is available through hospital quality reports and national registries, we review it. Where it isn't, we ask directly and assess the transparency of the answer. A hospital that can't discuss its complication rate is a signal.
Equipment generation
We check what imaging, surgical navigation, and robotic systems are in active use — not what's in the brochure. Robotic-assisted joint replacement, for instance, should be the default at the hospitals we recommend, not a premium option.
Response quality for international patients
We have walked the process ourselves. How quickly does the international patient liaison respond? How accurately do they answer clinical questions? How does the pre-admission process work for foreign patients? We find out before sending anyone.
Price transparency
We only work with hospitals whose published price lists we can verify independently. If a hospital can't give us an itemized written estimate, we don't recommend them — regardless of their reputation.
Real example (anonymised)
Why we recommended Hospital B instead of the more famous Hospital A.
A patient came to us with a complex knee revision — a previous replacement that had failed. The obvious choice, by name recognition, was Hospital A: one of the most prestigious orthopaedic units in Beijing. We know their coordinators. Their reputation is real.
But for revision arthroplasty specifically, Hospital B had a revision caseload three times higher that year, a dedicated revision team (rather than the general arthroplasty surgeons doing occasional revisions), and a faster turnaround on pre-operative imaging interpretation.
We recommended Hospital B. The patient had a successful revision and returned home seven weeks later.
We don’t receive commission from either hospital. Our recommendation was based purely on which team we would choose for this specific case.
We'll find the right team for your specific case.
Not the most famous hospital. The right one for you.
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