ADVICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO AUSTRIA FOR TREATMENT

Dr. Anirudh Sharma

HOW TO CHOOSE A CLINIC?

  • The question of choosing a clinic is one of the very first that patients face when considering treatment in Austria.  
  • The leading medical centers of this country are located in the capital – Vienna, and in its vicinity.  
  • Locations of hospitals makes the arrival of the patient as convenient as possible – there is no need to go to other cities and make transits/transfer along the way.  
  • The situation is different with rehabilitation and recreation centers – they are usually located in the mountainous regions of the country.   In addition to the capital, large medical centers are also located in the city of Graz, which is located about 200 km from Vienna.

HOW TO CHOOSE A DOCTOR?

Another important question is choosing a doctor for treatment. The qualifications of the doctor will determine the success and effectiveness of the prescribed therapy. It is important to pay attention to the membership of a specialist in professional organizations, to get acquainted in detail with his resume and the scope of narrow specialties of the doctor.   Many doctors operate on completely different pathologies as part of their specialization and are considered experts for individual diseases (for example, an oncologist specializing in breast cancer or an oncourologist operating on prostate cancer using the Da Vinci robot system).   Thus, the patient has the opportunity to contact not just a doctor, but a recognized expert. It is necessary to be prepared for the fact that there may be a waiting list for a well-known specialist. Because of this, a visit to him will need to be planned in advance.
 

HOW TO ORGANIZE A TRANSLATOR?

HOW TO ORGANIZE A TRANSLATOR? Majority of doctors in Austria conduct consultations mainly in German, only in some cases, doctors can consult the patient in English.   Comfortable communication and the absence of a language barrier between the patient and the doctor will require the presence of a qualified translator who has sufficient medical knowledge of the terminology.   Translator is provided by the host party for a fee (hourly billing). Cost of interpretation services in Austria starts from € 40 per hour.   Patient has the full right to invite his translator, confirming his competence and knowledge of medical terminology in order to avoid inaccurate interpretations of the words of a specialis.

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS OF ACCOMODATIONS?

Hotels and rented apartments are available for accommodation in Austria.   On various booking sites, the patient can independently choose the most suitable option for comfort and budget for further stay in the country. If necessary, the host can help with the selection and pre-booking of the apartment or hotel.   In case of the surgical treatment, hospitalization of the patient is included in the cost of treatment.   Examinations takes place most often on an outpatient basis, provided that the patient’s condition does not require his stay in the clinic.