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According to this source, medical tourism is "an emerging form of medical outsourcing" (at least it was in 2007). And this 2006 article says that medical tourism is "a term that also can be used to describe medical outsourcing". So are the terms "medical tourism" and "medical outsourcing" synonymous or is the former a category of the latter? Whatever the relationship between these terms is it should certainly be reflected in this article. Everymorningtalk to me16:14, 6 July 2018 (UTC)[reply]
They are under no circumstances synonymous, but the view that medical tourism is a type of medical outsourcing is certainly relevant for the article. Carl Fredrik talk16:26, 6 July 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your note. As the lead states, "medical outsourcing" as discussed in the article is something done as a business decision by a practice or hospital, generally as a way to save money or get staff where it can't be hired... medical tourism is a "business decision" that patients make. I am not opposed to adding a section on medical tourism saying that. Jytdog (talk) 20:27, 6 July 2018 (UTC)[reply]
You can also see it from the health system perspective, e.g. that the NHS outsources certain health IT functions — which is bigger than the individual hospital. While the US doesn't have any such health system, medical tourism can be seen as an effect of the US health system, where patients are forced to seek care elsewhere. It is most certainly known by those who maintain the system, so it can be seen as intentional outsourcing. There are likely sources which consider it as such. Carl Fredrik talk10:13, 7 July 2018 (UTC)[reply]