Nothing can ruin a vacation or business trip faster than getting sick while traveling. While many illnesses pass quickly after a few days or with the use of a well-packed medicine kit, some require a doctor’s care. It can feel like an overwhelming challenge to find a doctor when a person is ill or in pain, or can’t communicate in the language spoken in the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that travelers contact the U.S. embassy in their destination country to register their travel plans. In the event of an emergency, the embassy can help locate medical care and contact friends and family members back home. However, embassies will not recommend specific doctors or hospitals and cannot guarantee the quality of service or care they provide.
Other sources for referral recommended by the CDC include:
- The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (membership required, but it is free)
- Joint Commission International
- The International Society of Travel Medicine
- Travel Health Online (this site gets information from various sources so quality is not guaranteed)
The U.S. State Department provides detailed information on its website, by country, on the quality of medical care available, how easy or difficult it is to buy over-the-counter and prescription medications, and payment requirements for medical care. Type in the name of the country at the bottom of the page to get started, and then click on “health” to read more.
Of course, travelers may be able to care for themselves with medicine they have brought from home, such as pain relievers, antidiarrheals, antihistamines, antacids, and motion sickness pills or patches, and any prescription medicines. The CDC also recommends that travelers carry a card written in the local language of the country they are visiting with information including blood type, any chronic illnesses or allergies, and any medications they are taking.
When Affordable Medical Repatriation Services Are Needed
Depending on the country or region visited, the quality of medical care may be excellent or well below the standards provided and expected in the United States. Emergency response services may be unavailable or unresponsive.
If a traveler becomes extremely ill or become injured, a medical repatriation service may be needed to help him or her return home to receive necessary or continuing care. SentinelMED provides affordable medical repatriation services, medical transport, and medical escort services to help navigate the complexities of long-distance travel for sick or elderly patients.
The SentinelMED team can arrange door-to-door care and transportation from discharge at a hospital or medical facility to a receiving health care facility or family member who is able to assume their care. For patients who do not have a family member or friend to travel with them, a medical escort can make it possible to arrive home safely and in comfort. The SentinelMED team understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel, whether for an existing medical condition or in the event of an injury or accident while traveling abroad. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
