Beyond desire: attracting foreign patients requires real preparation
Saying "I want international patients" is easy. But making it happen requires structure, strategy and professionalism. If your clinic doesn't have certain elements in place, you're not ready to compete with destinations like Colombia, Costa Rica or Turkey.
This checklist is for clinics, medical centers and hospitals looking to attract patients from the U.S., Canada or other high-value markets. It serves as a guide to detect what you have in place, what you are missing and what is holding back your global growth.
1. Professional and functional website in two languages
Review:
- Does your website have an English version (not just a literal translation)?
- Is it optimized for international SEO?
- Do you have pages per treatment with prices, duration and process?
- Is navigation clear for a foreign patient?
🔴 If you don't have a website or it is only in Spanish, you are losing 90% of your opportunities.
2. Specific content for international patients
Includes:
- Landing pages with focus on USA and Canada.
- Blogs with real questions: "Is it safe to get IVF in Mexico?", "How much does stem cell therapy cost?"
- Success stories of foreign patients (videos, reviews, photos).
- Processes explained step by step (travel, stay, postoperative period).
✅ This is not optional: patients want clarity before deciding.
3. Equipment prepared for care in English
Evaluates:
- Can your staff answer calls, emails or WhatsApp in English?
- Do you have translated forms and documents (consents, quotations)?
- Do you have someone who can guide the patient before, during and after?
📉 The language barrier is one of the main causes of intention abandonment.
4. Active presence in Google and networks (with international content).
Review:
- Does your clinic appear on Google Maps with positive reviews?
- Do you have active campaigns in Google Ads for USA or Canada?
- Do your networks publish useful content in English?
👉 It is not enough to have "followers", but a clear visibility and conversion strategy.
5. Rapid response and follow-up structure
Consider:
- How long does it take to respond to a request from abroad?
- Does your form capture the patient's country and treatment of interest?
- Do you follow up by mail, WhatsApp or call?
⏱️ If you take more than 12 hours to respond, the patient has already made another choice.
6. Infrastructure and differentiators ready to be communicated
Your website and materials must show:
- Certifications, technology and medical equipment (without exaggeration).
- Lodging and logistics (nearby hotels, transfer, accompaniment).
- Clear and safe postoperative protocols.
- Flexibility in payments or ways of scheduling.
📌 It is not enough to "be good", you have to communicate it correctly to the international market.
How many checks did you check?
- 🔲 5 or more: you can start investing in international campaigns with good results.
- 🔲 3 to 4: you are on the right track, but you need to reinforce structure before climbing.
- 🔲 Less than 3: focus first on preparing your clinic before investing in global promotion.
Attracting international patients is not a promise, it is a strategy.
At Torres Creative we work with clinics that understand that medical tourism is not based on likes, but on systems. We help you build the entire base: website, content, structure, campaigns and care designed for the foreign patient.
If you want to compete for international patients, you need to play with strategy. Not luck.