Inside Infectious Disease
The Role of the Pharmacist and Retail Clinicians in Travel Health by ADELE CHATELLIER, PHARMDc, and ANN JOHNSON, PHARMD
International travel has been increasing exponentially over the years, and it will continue to increase with the number of international tourists expected to reach 1.6 billion by 2020.1 }} }} IN THE UNITED STATES, citizens travel not only for tourism, but also for business, study abroad programs, research, visiting friends and family, and mission work. With travel increasing, there will be a greater demand for travel health services, and pharmacists and retail clinicians are in an excellent position to provide these services.2 Traveling poses a risk for various illnesses and health hazards, especially in certain patient populations such as pregnant women and persons with diabetes. For healthcare practitioners to administer quality travel healthcare, they need to have specialized knowledge and training, and be up to date on the most recent risks associated with geographic areas.
advice to avoid spreading diseases and minimize environmental risks. They may also provide necessary warnings regarding the destination of travel and travel-related medications (prescription and nonprescription). Travel consultations also address nonbiologic health risks, discuss behavioral risk factors, and identify measures that special populations and those with chronic disease states must undertake. Practical travel-related information, such as required documents and records, is also given. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that travelers consult a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before traveling to allow ample time for vaccines and/or medications to take effect before departure.
Travel Clinics Defined Travel clinics offer travel health services to minimize the risk of acquiring illnesses while traveling abroad.3 Clinics provide preventive health
Pharmacists’ Roles Pharmacists are in an excellent position to become involved in travel medicine because of their high accessibility and visibility to the public.
InsidePatientCare.com
KEY POINTS ❚ Pharmacists are in an excellent position to offer travel health services, because of their visibility and accessibility to the public ❚ Travel health clinics not only provide necessary immunizations for traveling abroad, but they also address nonbiologic health risks, discuss behavioral risk factors, and identify measures that special populations must undertake
INSIDE PATIENT CARE: PHARMACY & CLINICS ❚ December 2014
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