Healthcare Article

Note: The highlighted portion below (in “Bring all necessary medications with you”) is useful information provided by Christina, but it still needs to be fact-­‐checked. (Also, my paraphrasing of what she said might have altered the meaning.) My other concern: I’m afraid that the first point of “Know Before You Go” and the sidebar might be too similar.

Tonya Johnson and Ryne Steinacker 10/5/12 ELang 430R Word Count: 482

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Meeting Travel Medical Needs Tara Walker 10/10/12 11:29 PM Comment [1]: This still seems a little awkward, but I really like where it is going.

Every international traveler cringes at the thought of getting sick or needing to find health care in an unfamiliar place. Even if you’re not frightened by the thought of illness, the prospect of spending a couple of days in bed during your vacation might take the wind out of your sails. Follow the tips below to help you avoid illness and spend your trip the way you planned it.

Know Before You Go •

Get to Know Your Destination

TEC Lab 10/10/12 6:16 PM Comment [2]: I think labeling the tips as “informative” might be tooting our own horn a little too much. (Though of course , we DO hope that they’re informative!)

Tara Walker 10/10/12 11:49 PM Comment [3]: I don’t think it is at all, but if you really think it sounds that way go ahead and keep it out.

No two countries, or even regions of the same country, are identical in terms of healthcare. Check out the US State Department’s website for country-specific information about health, safety, and a variety of other important topics for safely traveling abroad: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html. The article sidebar contains more detailed information about finding healthcare providers during your trip.

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Get Your Vaccines Go to the Center for Disease Control’s website to learn about vaccinations specific to your area of travel; http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx.

TEC Lab 10/10/12 5:53 PM Comment [4]: The website has information about LOTS of topics, not just hospitals. Does removing that intro sentence solve the problem? (It DOES make the article shorter…)

Tara Walker 10/10/12 11:49 PM Comment [5]: Keep the text if you need the article to be a little longer, but I think it reads better without everything else.

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Bring Your Medications Check when your prescriptions expire, and make sure to get them renewed before you leave. Be aware that customs officials may confiscate prescribed drugs that are not accompanied by a written prescription. If you can’t bring enough medication with you to last your whole trip, ensure that you know how—and where—to get more at your destination.

You should also plan to bring along travel-sized, basic medicines that might prove useful during your trip. Learn the names of common over-the-counter drugs so that you can purchase them abroad, if needed. For example, Tylenol is actually a brand name of the drug acetaminophen. Knowing a drug’s real name will help you to get the correct drug in countries where the brand name you’re familiar with is not sold. Be aware that an over-the-counter drug in your country may require a prescription in another country, and vice-versa.

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Plan for Allergies If you have any allergies, bring the necessary medications or epinephrine autoinjector with you. During your trip, have on your person some form of physical information about your allergies, such as an allergy bracelet or card. (This should be in the language of your travel destination.) Learn a few key phrases in the language about your allergic condition and the allergens that trigger it. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America lists several useful tips for travelers with allergies: http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=20&cont=291

[Sidebar-­‐122 words] Once You’re There…

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You should, of course, follow all of the tried and true traveler’s rules of health during your trip: only drink safe tap water, wash your hands regularly, and be discriminating if you want to buy food from street vendors. If you follow those tips and still get sick, though, then use a trustworthy source, like the ones listed here, to find a reputable doctor and hospital. Ideally, you will have enough time to talk to trusted people, get references, and then visit establishments to get a feeling for what kind of practices they run. You won’t have lots of time if an emergency arises, but try to follow this process as closely as possible.

There is a wealth of information available about healthcare providers through the CDC website, which refers travelers to organizations such as US embassies, the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM), and others: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-2-the-pre-travel-consultation/obtaining-health-care-abroad-for-theill-traveler.htm

Tara Walker 10/9/12 6:35 PM Comment [6]: I checked a few websites, and it said that as long as your medications are in the original pill bottle with the name that matches your airline ticket that you should be fine. Non prescription meds should also be kept in the original container.

They suggested bringing an empty pillbox to use after you get through security.

Lab 10/11/12 9:25 AM Comment [7]: Christina said that a group she traveled with to Japan had some prescription pseudoephedrine taken because of not having a written prescription. We might need the senior editors to fact-­‐check this again and make an executive decision. (Ryne)