The Costa Rica health care system is well recognized internationally and its quality and affordability are second to none. Though health care in Costa Rica it is widely discussed among interested foreigners, the extent to what makes it so great is relatively unknown; from high quality, broad coverage in the public and private sectors, to the prestigious training of medical staffs, Costa Rica truly has an amazing health care system.Costa Rica’s public health care is recognized as being of the best 20 systems in the world. There are 29 public hospitals and hundreds of clinics scattered around the country. In addition, in locations with out hospitals there are local, top notch doctors. The government run Social Security System (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social – CCSS) sponsors the hospitals and is largely responsible for providing affordable, quality health care to the people. In 2010, a new immigration law implemented mandatory monthly payments to the CCSS by all expatriates. The monthly fees are $55 a month for anyone under 55 and $37 a month for anyone older than 55. In addition, the CCSS covers insured tourists in coordination with their providers in their home countries.Costs on procedures can be 30-70% cheaper that US or European standards depending on a number of factors. Due to the prominence of the Costa Rica health care system and the country’s accessibility, it has become a celebrated destination for medical tourism, particularly for elective surgeries. Any plastic or dental surgery can be completed at US standards, but up to 65% cheaper! All medical tourism is completed through private health care. Even if the surgery is not elective, the private sector provides state-of-the-art facilities and doctors for patients in need. Again, the primary reasons for coming are cost and reliability. Other places in Central and South America not have the proper care available to people in dire need of treatment, which adds to the list of reasons Costa Rica is a medical haven.The three main private hospitals in the Costa Rica health care system are CIMA, Clinica Biblica, and Clinica Catolica. CIMA has a hospital in San Jose and a brand new one in Liberia; they specialize in just about every medical category. Clinica Biblica is situated within metropolitan San Jose; it is prominent in many forms of major surgery, including heart and cancer care. Clinica Catolica is locate in surrounding suburb of San Jose called Guadalupe; it has a great ER and specializes in many zones of medicine, including: audiology, respiratory, nutrition, and mental, to name a few. Access to private health care comes through the government’s provided insurance company, INS. Depending on a multitude of factors, it costs roughly $60-$130 monthly.Pharmacies are all over the country and provide easy access to medication, much of which can be obtained over the counter. Migraine medication, birth control pills, and many other remedies are available at any pharmacy without a prescription. Some stronger painkillers, such as low dosages of codeine, are available over the counter as well. Since there is often someone capable of writing prescriptions at a pharmacy, additional medications can be much more accessible than in other places. Many pharmacies are provided through the public Costa Rica health care system.

Students can pursue their interests in health and business by completing educational training in health care administration. Schools provide students with the skills needed to manage medical systems. Through this specialized understanding of the field students will have many health care administration career possibilities.Several main career fields exist in this industry and students can enter one with the correct education. The main focal point of each area is working to provide a smoothly ran medical office, which branches out to include many aspects of the health industry. Possible career options include:* Health Care AdministrationProfessionals work at a variety of management levels to oversee different components of health care. Managers are trained to properly handle the continually changing and expanding world of healthcare. The supervision of employees, analyzing charts, working with human resources, and monitoring finances are main job duties. Job responsibility will change depending on the facility professional’s work for.* Geriatric Care ManagementProviding help and counsel to elderly people at their home or inside a facility makes up the overall job description for this career field. Professionals coordinate all services provided by the government, insurance, home health care, or assisted living agencies. Professionals work with the business and human service side of this field to properly care for the geriatric community.* Health ManagementLeadership and organizational skills are used at a high level as professionals work to maximize the potential of facilities. This often includes staying current with new technologies, medical treatments, and providing positive health environments for patients and employees at a facility.* Hospital Unit CoordinatorCareers in this field have professionals working on non-clinical duties inside medical facilities. Coordinators answer phones, take messages, transfer discharges, and file paperwork for admissions. Professionals work with patients before and after their visit to obtain a complete medical history. The goal is to help make a hospital run smoothly.Within these main career fields students will be able to enter job opportunities at several levels. The broad spectrum of careers is a direct result of the schooling that students complete. Education is obtainable at every level allowing students to complete programs for specific careers. Undergraduate degrees typically prepare students for entry-level careers such as medical secretaries and health information managers. Graduate degree programs prepare students to become executive administrators, consultants, and directors.Through coursework students develop a strong skill set that helps them transition into careers with ease. Course topics examined will be determined by the degree level and area of concentration students enter. Some possible courses include:Health Care Finance
Global Health Issues
Record Keeping
Health Care PolicyCompleting a health care degree program is the best way for students to enter careers that match their interests. The health industry is complex, which requires students to have a formal education.Many colleges and universities offer programs that give students the needed knowledge for professional opportunities. Students will become professionals by working through specialized health care administration degree programs that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation Healthcare Management Education ( http://www.cahme.org/ ).DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.Copyright 2010 – All rights reserved by PETAP.org.