Medical tourism, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), "refers to traveling to another country for medical care."
Now, however, Colorado Springs is aiming to broaden that definition, as it becomes one of the few cities in the United States to introduce a medical tourism website.
The new site, ChampionshipCareColoradoSprings.org, features a partnership between the Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and Venue Health & Analytics LLC. Using search engine optimization (SEO,) the site has been designed to target potential patients in the United States who search for information on specialized procedures.
Search results will present users with options on why to travel to Colorado Springs for treatment. The site includes a categorized listing of highly rated Colorado Springs healthcare services, information and resources for these consumers.
Colorado Springs and nearby Manitou Springs, Colorado, has a long history as a healing destination. The city with its healing mineral waters, fresh mountain air and natural sunshine was a popular recovery choice for people suffering from tuberculosis during the 1800s.
"There is a lucrative and untapped market for medical tourism," said CVB Chief Innovation Officer Amy Long. "People are willing to travel to other U.S. destinations, for longer periods of time, for top-quality health care and a beautiful location in which to recover. There's no better place to do that than right here at the foot of the Rocky Mountains."
Colorado Springs often attracts top-of-their-game athletes who both vacation and train there, which means it has also drawn best-in-class medical practitioners, especially those focused on sports medicine.
"Colorado Springs has naturally attracted an incredible talent pool of medical practitioners and sports scientists," said John Suthers, Mayor of Colorado Springs. "That, along with our unrivaled natural beauty, an abundance of training grounds and the presence of tens of thousands of amateur and elite athletes, make Colorado Springs the ideal place to get quality care and the inspiration to reach your personal best."
At Penrose-St. Francis, for example, the physicians offer advanced solutions in hip, knee and heart valve replacement.
"As healthcare providers, we have to reach consumers and patients wherever they are, and this partnership is an excellent opportunity to connect platforms," said Chris Valentine, Director of Marketing and Communications for Penrose-St. Francis. "We are on a mission to build flourishing communities by providing world-class whole person care and we want to share that mission with everyone, no matter where they are located."
Colorado Springs is home to the famed Broadmoor resort, the longest-running Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond property on the planet, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2018.
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