September 19, 2013
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When I broke my ankle in India a few years back, I was surprised to learn that the local hospital didn’t stock plaster for casts, or crutches, and that I’d have to send out to a nearby market for them. But overall I received very good care.
About two thirds of overseas travelers end up confronting some sort of health problem during their trips, according to the United Nations. And many of them don’t get the good treatment I did. In my case, it wasn’t luck—since I’m in the international health care field, I usually know how to track down high-quality, safe medical care in most countries. But you don’t have to be an expert, or even a seasoned traveler, to avoid a bad health care experience overseas. You just have to take a few important precautions. Here’s what I would recommend:
Do a bit of digging before you go. What you want to know is who will give you a referral to a doctor or hospital overseas should you need one. You can buy travel insurance that may provide this service, but first check your employer, credit card company, frequent-traveler club or other organizations you’re affiliated with to see if any has a referral hotline. Don’t wait until you’re alone in a strange city vomiting or in severe pain to start your research.
Pick up your smartphone. New apps are coming out that can find you an international referral based on your location, language and medical needs. Load (a trustworthy) one ahead of time and explore how it works—and make sure it has listings in the countries you’ll be in. If you’re in need of help and the app fails you, call a friend, family member or colleague back home and ask them to do some fast research on their laptop. Keep the number of your nearest home country embassy or consulate on your contact list, too—they almost always keep urgent health care referral information at hand.
Look for accreditation. If you need to head to a hospital, try to find one that’s accredited. The most widely recognized accreditation is that conferred by the Joint Commission International (JCI). You can search out a JCI-accredited hospital here. Johns Hopkins has helped many overseas hospitals attain and maintain this accreditation, and I can assure you its standards are extremely high. Some countries have their own accreditation bodies, though standards may vary. If you’ve been referred to a hospital, you can call and ask about its accreditation. If the answer isn’t reassuring, consider going elsewhere.
Think prevention. The best way to deal with a medical problem is to avoid it in the first place. Before leaving, call a local travel clinic or visit the Centers for Disease Control’s travelers’ health website to find out about infectious disease in the regions you’ll be visiting, and whether vaccines or medication will be helpful. Keep your resistance and accident-avoidance skills strong while traveling: Try not to let yourself get exhausted, overwhelmed, dehydrated or bloated with too much unfamiliar food (as tempting as that always is). Keep a small medical kit in your luggage. Some people benefit from sleep aids, but first discuss possible side-effects with your doctor. Think twice about renting a car (in some countries, such as India or China, driving styles can render experience on U.S. roads useless), and be super cautious as a pedestrian. Always make sure someone knows where you’re going and when they can expect you to check back in.
I wouldn’t go as far as suggesting you carry around your own plaster and crutches. But just a little preparation and knowledge can help smooth out what might otherwise be some very unwelcome surprises.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Featured on:Business Travel
Posted by:Steven J. Thompson
