It is important to know your client — and with that in mind, Massachusetts General Hospital decided to pay the island a visit this week to do exactly that.

Boston’s biggest branch of Harvard Medical School, which is ranked number three among hospitals across the United States, caters each year to between 200 and 300 patients from Bermuda.

“We thought it would be a good idea to come down and look at the healthcare needs on the island,” said Misty Hathaway, Mass General’s chief marketing officer and director of specialised services.

She visited local patients and insurers as well as King Edward VII Memorial Hospital with Jordan Romano, a physician from the hospital’s specialised healthcare services.

The pair examined patients’ manifold reasons for travelling to seek healthcare, with the aim of improving the continuity of care when residents return home.

“It’s important to understand where patients are coming from and where they’re headed back, to make that transition as seamless as possible,” Ms Hathaway said.

Local needs range from cancer care, traffic accident treatment and neurosurgery to comprehensive wellness and executive health screening — and, because of its proximity, Mass General gets more Bermudians than others.

Dr Romano declared himself “impressed with what’s here” — but for those who need care farther afield, “you have to know who you’re dealing with”.

“I’m really impressed with the level of care here,” he added.