Liv Hospital Group… New Era in Healthcare
In this exclusive interview, Mrs. Meri İstiroti, the Group Coordinator of Liv Hospital, shares her insights into the innovative services that set Liv Hospital apart in the ever-evolving world of healthcare. Liv Hospital Group is known for its cutting-edge approaches and has established itself as a leader in both local and international healthcare. Mrs. Istiroti examines the distinctive approach and services that define Liv Hospital, from personalized care to integrating advanced technologies. She also discusses the Hospital Group’s prominent role in international healthcare. Additionally, she offers a forward-thinking perspective on Healthcare 5.0, a concept that is revolutionizing patient care and reshaping the future of the medical industry.
We will discuss the future of health and trends in detail, but first of all, can we get to know you a little bit?
I have been working in the healthcare industry for 34 years. After graduating from Boğaziçi University, Department of Psychology, I completed my Master’s degree in Health Management at Istanbul University and Bahçeşehir University. I have worked in many healthcare organizations, such as International Hospital, American Hospital, and Yaşamkent, a subsidiary of Bayındır Holding. I took part in the opening of many new hospitals in Acıbadem Health Group. When I left the Group as Assistant General Manager, the organization had 9 hospitals and 24 branches, a Health Insurance Company, a University, a project company that carried out turnkey hospital works, and many group companies focused on health. Since 2012, as Liv Hospital Group Coordinator, I took part in the establishment of the brand and the processes of a new health institution. Liv Hospital continues its journey that started in 2013 with eight hospitals in both Türkiye and other countries.
Could you tell us about the innovative healthcare services offered by Liv Hospital Group?
At Liv Hospital, we always aim to offer innovative healthcare solutions. Internationally, we provide treatment for many genetic and neurological diseases with Stem Cell and Regenerative therapies. Our recently developed robotic surgery, smart hospital applications, and telemedicine services reinforce our leadership in this field. The solutions we offer, especially in the fields of robotic rehabilitation and personalized medicine, attract great interest in the international arena. We also organize continuing education programs for doctors and healthcare professionals through Liv Academy, creating a permanent network of knowledge sharing and development.
What are the general trends that stand out in the Hospital sector today?
The hospitality sector has been undergoing significant changes in recent years, and several key trends stand out. Firstly, digitalization and technology integration are one of the most noticeable trends. Innovations such as electronic health records, telemedicine, artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis, and treatment methods are improving the patient experience while increasing the operational efficiency of hospitals. In addition, patient-centered care is becoming increasingly important. Patients are now demanding not only treatment but also a comprehensive healthcare experience. Therefore, hospitals are focusing on providing personalized services to improve patient satisfaction. Another important trend is sustainability and green hospital concepts. Building environmentally sensitive, energy-efficient structures and adopting sustainable practices ensure that hospitals benefit both environmentally and economically. In the post-pandemic era, resilient and emergency-prepared health infrastructures have also become important. Finally, driven by globalization, hospitals are expanding their services for international patients and investing to become more competitive in this area.
What are the features that make Liv Hospital different from other hospitals?
At Liv Hospital, many advanced applications are performed by the latest technology and experienced specialist physicians. With the personalized “Regenerative Medicine Stem Cell Production and Application Center” established in GMP standards for the first time in a hospital in our country, all kinds of treatments ranging from cosmetic dermatology-aesthetics to orthopedics, from wounds that do not heal to burn treatment, muscle diseases in children and autism are performed.
The most complicated cancer surgeries are performed with robotic surgery infrastructure and operating room suites, hybrid operating rooms that bring a new dimension to healthcare services by combining traditional surgical methods with modern technology. Not only in cancer, robotic knee and hip replacements are performed with the MAKOplasty robot. We are the AOSpine Surgery Training Center for spine treatment in many European countries such as France and Germany. Non-surgical laser treatments such as HIFU, Nanoknife, ThuLEP are performed for prostate cancer and surgery. Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Applications are handled individually with the latest technology. Since we are a hospital with a team of experts and technology in cancer, our investments in this direction continue at full speed. With MR Linac, a 4-dimensional real-time radiotherapy investment, we have a truly groundbreaking technology in cancer.
The “Heart Health Team,” consisting of important academicians in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery who are experienced in cardiovascular diseases, decides on the most appropriate treatment for every age group, from newborn to adult.
The Pediatric Clinic offers a child-specific approach and comprehensive treatment options with specialists in 19 sub-branches. Special approaches to rare and complex diseases, innovative treatment practices, child and family-friendly spaces, family support centers, and child life programs are offered.
How do you evaluate Liv Hospital Group’s position in the international healthcare market?
As the premium brand of Türkiye’s largest hospital chain, Liv Hospital Group is in a very strong position in the international healthcare market. Our success is based on our mission to deliver high-quality healthcare, our innovative approaches, and our global connections. Our hospitals in Türkiye have become centers of choice not only for local patients but also for international patients. We are also an important actor in the international health tourism market. The special services and personalized treatment options we offer to our patients from the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) make Liv Hospital stand out in this market.
In addition, thanks to our global connections, we have the ability to rapidly implement the latest medical technologies and treatment modalities. This makes us a recognized and trusted healthcare provider in the international arena. As Liv Hospital Group, we not only have a strong position in existing markets, but we are also constantly developing strategies to expand into new markets. Our goal is to consolidate our leadership in international healthcare and provide world-class healthcare services to more patients.
What is Cross-Border Healthcare and what role does Liv Hospital play in this field?
Cross-border healthcare refers to when a patient receives medical treatment in another country outside their country of residence. These services involve patients traveling to another country for different reasons, for example, for lower costs, shorter waiting times or access to treatments that require advanced technology and expertise.
At Liv Hospital, our team works with specialized units for international patients and creates professional teams that understand the language and cultural needs of each patient. To make our patients feel at home during their treatment, we offer a comprehensive support service, which provides them not only with medical care, but also with a complete healthcare experience from start to finish.
We also offer services specifically designed to facilitate our patients’ travel, accommodation and post-treatment processes. This is part of the versatile and personalized care that Liv Hospital offers to its patients. As Liv Hospital, we continue to offer world-class treatment options to our patients by maintaining our leadership in cross-border healthcare services.
Would you like to evaluate the situation of health tourism in Türkiye?
Health tourism is a huge economy that provides serious income to our country. In the 2005s, the main reason for tourists to choose our country was that they could get more affordable services. But then the reasons for preference gave way to receiving more qualified services. In other words, they started to experience good and successful medical outcomes with a better service approach in better environments. Our strongest point as a country in health tourism is our ability to provide diagnosis and treatment services by combining experienced and highly specialized physician staff with up-to-date technology.
We also have extremely successful results that demonstrate our strength in high-risk treatments. Highly professional patient services, a hospitable and comfortable hotel management approach, up-to-date technology, a very rich culture and geography in terms of tourism are among our most important reasons for preference.
What is Liv Hospital’s approach to health tourism?
Liv Hospital has so far received patients from 182 countries, mainly from 35 countries. It has an overseas marketing team speaking 25 different languages. But the difference of this team is not only that they speak 25 languages, but that they are all citizens of the country they are responsible for. Thus, Liv Hospital guests do not feel lonely even if they are hundreds of kilometers away from their country. They are hosted by people who know their culture, language and country. Knowing the needs of different cultures and acting according to their sensitivities requires a different kind of attention and virtue.
Our guests from abroad become members of the Liv Hospital Family from the moment they set foot in the country until they return to the airport. Our most important reasons for preference are our experienced physician staff, successful implementation of challenging surgeries requiring specialized teamwork, highly professional patient services, a hospitable and comfortable hotel management approach, up-to-date technology, and a vibrant culture and geography in terms of tourism.
The fact that Liv Hospital has accreditations such as “Center of Excellence” and “JCI” since the day it was opened, and that it is accepted as a Turquality brand by the Ministry of Economy imposes a great responsibility in the international arena.
What could be the innovations and developments that will stand out in the future in multicultural health services?
In the future, I think technology-driven innovations in multicultural healthcare will become more prominent. In particular, artificial intelligence and big data analytics will be used to better understand the cultural and personal preferences of patients and offer them specific treatment plans. This will make patients feel more understood and comfortable during the treatment process.
In addition, technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can be used to enrich training and patient experience in healthcare. For example, VR trainings that simulate different cultural scenarios can help health professionals become more aware and sensitive about this issue.
Finally, with the increase in global health tourism, I foresee that cultural collaborations between hospitals will also increase. This will ensure that international patients feel safe and respected at every stage of their treatment process. As Liv Hospital Group, we closely follow these innovations and are committed to implementing developments in this field to maintain leadership in multicultural healthcare.
You have received the Best Digital Health Innovation Award in Europe in Rotterdam. What do you think made this project successful?
Receiving Europe’s Best Digital Health Innovation Award in Rotterdam was a great honor and a source of pride for us as Liv Hospital. There are several important factors behind this success among many of Europe’s leading hospitals participating. First and foremost, our commitment to innovation and our investments in digital health solutions were key to the success of this project. We see digital transformation in healthcare not just as a trend, but as a necessity to provide the best service to our patients.
For the first time, a digital platform with leading technology in the field of telehealth was put into service at Liv Hospital in cooperation with Türk Telekom and Healthverse PanoramicWEB.
Thanks to the Healthverse PanoramicWEB platform, patients can visit the hospital in 360 degrees under the guidance of a patient counselor from anywhere in the world, meet with their doctor and get information about the treatment to be performed. This, in turn, positively affects patient satisfaction and treatment results.
In Healthverse PanoramicWEB, which brings patient counselors, doctors and patients together online in a digital environment, healthcare professionals can fulfill their duties by being digitally cloned into the hospital thanks to the software, even if they are not in the hospital. Thanks to this project, we can bring our guests and our physicians and patient consultants together through a single link without downloading any additional application, and they can consult their physicians about all processes in the hospital from A to Z without any question marks in their minds.
We see that you value digitalization in your studies. What would you like to say about this?
Digitalization has become one of the most critical elements of modern healthcare. Technology is not only improving the operational efficiency of hospitals but also improving the patient experience and the quality of treatment. As Liv Hospital Group, we put digitalization at the center of our healthcare services because we believe that the healthcare system of the future will be built on digital solutions.
Thanks to digitalization, we are able to make our health services more accessible, fast and effective. For example, electronic health records provide instant access to patient data, enabling more accurate and faster diagnoses. Our telemedicine applications are expanding access to health services by making it possible for our patients to receive remote counseling.
In addition, technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics help us create personalized treatment plans, which significantly improve patient results.
Our goal is to continuously improve our health services by using the most advanced technologies and to provide the best experience to our patients. This is part of our vision to become a leader not only in today’s healthcare but also in tomorrow’s.
How are international hospitals taking steps regarding environmental sustainability and quality standards?
Environmental sustainability is becoming an increasingly critical issue for international hospitals. Hospitals usually have a significant impact on the environment with their large energy consumption, waste production and carbon footprints. Many hospitals are developing various strategies to minimize these effects. Green hospital initiatives, energy efficiency projects, water conservation measures and comprehensive waste management systems are at the forefront of these strategies. Hospitals also achieve their sustainability goals by using environmentally friendly materials, investing in renewable energy sources, and organizing staff training to raise environmental awareness. Such measures not only fulfill environmental responsibilities but also support financial sustainability by reducing operational costs.
However, it is also crucial for hospitals to obtain internationally recognized accreditations for environmental sustainability. For example, accreditations such as JCI (Joint Commission International), Planetree, and Center of Excellence show that a hospital has high standards not only for medical excellence but also for environmental awareness and patient-centered care. Such accreditations certify hospitals’ compliance with sustainability and quality standards and increase their recognition at the international level. In order to compete in the global healthcare market, hospitals have to offer safe and effective treatment at high standards. In this direction, it is important to pass through the accreditation processes in order to certify that they are in compliance with international quality standards. These processes, which are constantly being improved, strengthen the reputation of hospitals and increase their preference rates, especially in the field of health tourism.=
What is Healthcare 5.0 and how is it revolutionizing healthcare?
Healthcare 5.0 refers to an era in which healthcare is reshaped by digitalization and advanced technologies. This concept has emerged with the integration of artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and biotechnology into healthcare. Healthcare 5.0 makes healthcare services more personalized, proactive and patient-centered. In this new era, health services are not only focusing on treatment but also aiming to improve the overall quality of life of patients. The biggest difference between Healthcare 5.0 and previous healthcare services is the level of integration of technology into healthcare services. In previous periods, health services had a more reactive nature; that is, they were treated when diseases appeared. Healthcare 5.0, on the other hand, offers a more preventive and proactive approach. In this era, thanks to artificial intelligence and big data analytics, patients’ health data is collected and analyzed, and potential health problems can be diagnosed early. In addition, thanks to IoT devices and wearable technologies, patients can monitor their health status even at home and communicate with their doctors instantly.
It significantly improves the patient experience. In this era, patients can access health services more easily and quickly. Innovations such as telemedicine and remote patient monitoring allow patients to communicate with their doctors without geographical barriers. In addition, thanks to digital health applications and platforms, patients can track their own health data and make informed health decisions based on this data. This allows patients to participate more actively in health processes. Sustainability is at the heart of the Healthcare 5.0 vision and is critical to ensuring that healthcare is effective and accessible in the long term. Therefore, the solutions developed with Healthcare 5.0 integrate sustainability principles such as energy efficiency, waste management and environmentally friendly practices.
What are the future plans and goals of Liv Hospital Group?
Globalization in health has become much more important in our country, not only because of the importance given to health tourism by the private sector but also by the state, and because our country has been working primarily in this field. I hope that the participation of the Ministry of Health and the State personally in these policies will carry Türkiye further.
Our biggest goal in the future is to further consolidate our leading position in the global health tourism market. In addition, we want to increase the patient experience to the highest level by constantly updating our technological infrastructure and medical innovations.
We will also continue our efforts to explore new markets in international healthcare services and increase our share in our existing markets. As Liv Hospital Group, we will always continue to offer the most advanced healthcare solutions and provide safe, effective and people-oriented service to our patients.
How does global connectivity affect innovation in healthcare?
Healthcare is a field that transcends borders and requires global collaboration. Global connections enable the sharing of information, the transfer of best practices and the rapid adoption of innovations. In this way, standardization can be achieved between health services in different countries and patients will have the opportunity to access the best treatment methods. In addition, global networks play a vital role in rapid and effective response to global health crises such as pandemics. Strong ties between healthcare professionals, researchers and institutions from around the world accelerate knowledge exchange and facilitate the development of innovative solutions.
As Liv Hospital, we aim to provide our health services at world standards by establishing international business associations. In this context, we actively participate in global health networks and cooperate with leading health institutions from different countries. This strategy not only helps us provide our patients with the most advanced technology and best treatment methods but also ensures the continuous development of our medical staff. Through our regular participation in international conferences, seminars and training programs, our healthcare professionals have access to the most up-to-date information and practices worldwide. Thanks to our collaborations, ranging from Boston Children’s Hospital to Cleveland Clinic, we follow the best practices from around the world and implement these practices in our hospital.
