Far from home, a traveler is injured when the taxi he is riding in gets hit by a delivery truck. The traveler is rushed to the hospital, where he is diagnosed with cracked ribs and a concussion. But should that diagnosis be trusted? When should travelers seek care locally or arrange for medical evacuations through an international medical transport service instead?
There are good resources available that can help answer that question. The U.S. Department of State’s website provides information on the level of medical care available in specific countries. Information can be found by using the “Learn about your destination” box on this webpage. After typing in a specific country name, click the search icon and then look under the “Health” category for more detailed information.
In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers helpful information and contacts for people who need to obtain health care abroad. That information includes a list of facilities accredited by the Joint Commission International, and links to country health advice and a directory of local physicians from the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers, a nonprofit organization.
The CDC cautions that medical care can vary greatly from urban to rural areas. And as a general guideline, even if a country’s health care system is considered to be good, the quality of care can be different from city to city, or even from public to private hospitals.
As a general rule, travelers should seek emergency care abroad if they experience any of these conditions:
- Chest pain
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Slurred speech or sudden paralysis
- Broken bones
- Poisoning or overdose
Other, non-emergency conditions may also need to be evaluated by a reputable urgent-care clinic. These include strains or sprains; urinary tract infections; flu symptoms; sinus infections; ear or eye infections; or minor lacerations. These conditions can worsen over time, causing extreme discomfort.
Before leaving for long-distance trips, travelers should take time to research the quality of medical care available in the areas they will be visiting. The CDC stresses that this is especially important for travelers who have medical conditions that require regular treatment and monitoring.
When an International Medical Transport Service is Needed
Travelers should also take a few minutes to review their health insurance policies if they plan to travel outside the United States. If a policy does not cover medical care outside the United States, the CDC recommends purchasing a separate travel insurance policy that covers international medical transport services.
SentinelMED provides a range of international medical transport services, including medical repatriation, medical transport, and medical escort services. In addition, SentinelMED also assists travelers who are elderly or experiencing mental illness by helping them navigate the complexities of long-distance travel.
The SentinelMED team can arrange door-to-door care and transportation for travelers from discharge at a medical facility to arrival at a receiving health care facility, or family member’s home. In many cases, trained medical escorts travel with patients on commercial airlines to assist with the TSA screening process and provide appropriate medical care throughout the trip. If a patient’s condition is stable, this care can be provided on commercial flights at a much lower cost than an air ambulance service.
The SentinelMED team understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel, whether for an existing medical condition or after an accident that results in injury. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
