Other businesses in Arizona and the Southwest are expanding into Mexico or sending patients and clients across the border.

In Texas, the large Catholic hospital chain Christus Health expanded into Mexico in 2001, two years after it opened, and began coordinating travel for health care several years ago.

“We were really interested in becoming a cross-border system,” spokeswoman Abby Lowe said from the company’s Dallas-area headquarters. “We know the world is getting flatter and borders are less important than they used to be, at least where care is concerned.”

Christus has hospitals in six U.S. states and operates clinics, ambulance services and hospitals in five Mexican states.

Some of the Mexican facilities are able to do procedures U.S. hospitals can’t, Lowe said, because of different testing, patents and technologies that have hit Mexico first.

The company also coordinates medical travel for patients to be treated in Mexico.

The online system involves reviewing information about the procedure a patient wants and checking prices, selecting a specialist and filling out medical information. A medical coordinator reviews the information and a specialist responds within 24 hours to report whether the patient has been selected, date availability and an estimated quote.

“We’re definitely looking to move forward and expand internationally,” Lowe said. “People have been moving back and forth across the border for years and years — this is a natural fit.

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