Getting the Word Out to International Patients
UHealth goes above and beyond to make the transition to care for international patients as easy as possible.
A recent symposium showcased UHealth’s services for people who live abroad but want medical care in the U.S.
Although they live abroad, international patients represent a substantial slice of the community served by the UHealth—the University of Miam Health System. A the The UHealth Difference Symposium 2025, physicians and administrators sought to reach out to this population, most of whom come from countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.
“These patients may have friends and family in South Florida, but they don’t necessarily know where to get the best eye care or the best cancer care, for example,” said Chad R. Ritch, M.D., associate director of UHealth International and an associate professor of urologic oncology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “At the symposium, a number of specialties showed the latest and greatest we have to offer them.”
International Patients and UHealth
The more than 100 attendees represented 15 countries and included international insurance brokers, hospital administrators, physician leaders, government employees and executives from medical concierge groups, which organize overseas medical care for their clients. Through their positions, these professionals may refer international citizens to medical care in the U.S.
Seeking care outside one’s country of origin can be intricate. International patients often come to UHealth for sophisticated, technology-intensive care, such as robotic surgery or treatment for advanced cancer, according to Dr. Ritch. They are often drawn to the system’s high-profile specialty centers, such as Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks as the nation’s top ophthalmology center, and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated center in South Florida.
The symposium gave physicians from Bascom Palmer, Sylvester and other specialties, including cardiology, orthopaedics, neurosurgery and colorectal surgery, the opportunity to discuss the high-level care they provide to patients. The discussion mentioned, for example, the orthopaedics department’s new affiliation with the top-ranked Hospital for Special Surgery, a New York City hospital.
The Virtues of Telemedicine
Speakers also discussed virtual care. Just as telemedicine platforms make it possible for American patients to see their providers without leaving home, this technology can allow patients abroad to receive limited care without traveling to the U.S.
“They may need a medical opinion, and may not necessarily get treated right away,” Dr. Ritch said.
Regardless of whether an international patient is paying out of pocket or has coverage through an international insurance plan, obtaining care in the U.S. is expensive. To address this concern, discussions at the symposium highlighted the value of the services provided, he said.
The event also emphasized how UHealth helps international patients navigate another major challenge: logistics. Not all health care organizations can set up appointments and arrange for payment from people outside the country. However, the health system has a department, UHealth International, that employs coordinators to streamline this process and keep patients informed. While other major medical centers accept patients from abroad, the UHealth symposium is unique, according to Dr. Ritch.
“This international audience rarely has folks addressing their needs front and center,” he said.
For International Patients
Considering care at UHealth? Here’s how you do it:
1. If you have insurance, verify it covers care in the U.S.
2. Collect all medical records and diagnostic imaging relevant to your diagnosis.
3. Visit the UHealth International Office online or call 305-243-9100.
We’ll assist with scheduling appointments, verifying your benefits or, if you do not have insurance coverage, supplying a cost estimate. The office can provide other information too, including on discounted rates for housing and transportation.