How to be prepared for illness or injuries while you’re away from home

International travel is rebounding to pre-pandemic levels. By May 2023, 36,270,571 American citizens traveled from the U.S. to destinations overseas, a year-over-year increase of more than 35%.  By July, overseas departures reached pre-pandemic levels. While Europe was a top destination, a growing number of people also traveled to Africa, the Middle East, and South America.

If international travel, or even travel within the U.S., is on your agenda, it’s wise to plan and get resources in place to deal with an illness or injury while you’re away from home and your trusted healthcare team. The first step is to gather information about potential health risks at your destination. You can find a list of countries facing disease outbreaks on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) website and learn more about health risks and resources on the Department of State’s travel website, including lists of medical specialists and hospitals and vaccine recommendations. A PinnacleCare Health Advisor can also prepare an in-depth travel advisory report about your destinations.

A PinnacleCare travel advisory report provides members with specific information about the location they are traveling to, including:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for vaccinations, disease concerns, and overview of healthcare in the area
• Identification of local medical resources, including available physicians should the member need medical support during their trip
• The best local hospitals to seek care, if needed, as well as important emergency information and phone numbers for the region

See your healthcare provider before your trip

If you have a chronic condition like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, make an appointment with your primary care provider (PCP) at least a month before your departure date to check that:

• Your condition is well managed
• No new health issues have developed
• You have paper prescriptions for all the medications you take regularly (in case you lose your medication, run out, or need to prove you have a prescription for a specific medication)
• You’re up to date on any vaccines you need, including ones for disease risks at your destination

Ask if there are any special precautions you should take in light of your health issues. You may want to consult a travel medicine specialist to ensure you have the vaccines and prophylactic medications needed to protect against diseases that are common at your destination but that may not be on your PCP’s radar.

Traveling with prescription medications

Another issue to consider is whether it’s legal to bring certain prescription medications into the countries you’re visiting. It can be helpful to contact the embassies in the U.S. of the countries you plan to visit and ask for their guidance on bringing medications and medical equipment with you.

Other strategies for traveling safely with prescription medications include:

• Keep everything in its original packaging: Prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements, and medical equipment such as needles and syringes, should be in their original packaging. The name on prescription containers must match the name on your passport.
• Carry the supporting paperwork: In your carry-on bag, have a copy of your original prescriptions, and, if possible, a letter from your doctor on the practice’s letterhead outlining what medications you take and what conditions they are for. The documentation should include the generic and chemical names of all medications since brand names vary from country to country.
• Consider changing medications: If a medication you take is illegal in a country you’re traveling to, talk with your doctor about finding a substitute that is permitted in that country. If you’ll be staying for more than 90 days (the usual medication supply that most countries allow), it may be wise to find a qualified physician at your destination who can manage your medication and refill prescriptions. That can be especially important for students who are studying abroad and will need the medication for six months to a year.
• Have a backup plan in case your medication is confiscated: Having your original prescription and a letter from your doctor explaining your condition and the medications you take to manage it can help a local doctor at your destination prescribe replacement medications if yours are confiscated by customs or lost in transit.

Make sure your medical records are up to date and can be quickly accessed in an emergency

Before you travel, it’s wise to have all your medical records organized, reviewed by a physician, and securely stored in an electronic format. If you become ill or are injured while traveling, essential information can be quickly accessed by your treating physician.

In addition to basic health information like your blood type, the record should include information about surgeries you’ve undergone, chronic conditions you’re being treated for, serious diagnoses like cancer, the results of recent diagnostic tests, contact information for all your healthcare providers in the U.S., and a list of all medications you take.

How to find qualified healthcare providers overseas

Some large academic medical centers work with an international network of hospitals. Ask your PinnacleCare Health Advisor to connect you with one of these Centers of Excellence and ask for a physician recommendation at your destination.

Other strategies include:

• If you’re already outside the U.S., contact the State Department or local U.S. consulate. They can help you locate medical services.
• Ask the concierge at your hotel for recommendations for physicians who speak English.
• If you have travel medical insurance, your insurance provider can connect you with healthcare providers overseas in an emergency.
• Contact your Health Advisor, who can provide you with access to experienced physicians trained in Western medical care who speak English. If an English-speaking physician is not available, your Advisor can arrange for a translator to be present when you receive care.

Have a medical evacuation in place

In some emergencies, you may need to be evacuated to a major medical center or back to the U.S. to receive the most appropriate care. Some travel health insurance policies include this coverage. You can also purchase separate medical evacuation and/or medical repatriation coverage.

Connect with PinnacleCare to learn how we can support your health while at home and while traveling.