Corporate Health Management - Travel Medicine Consultants in North Texas

TRAVEL MEDICINE SERVICES

[Pre- and Post-travel Exams] [During pre-travel exam] [During post-travel exam] [Travel consultations] [Recommendations for special areas] [Case example]

Link to The Travel Doctor here

Pre and Post Travel Exams
Health conditions and availability of medical care are often uncertain when traveling outside the country. Extra attention both before and after travel decreases the possibility that an unexpected medical situation will catch your key employee unprotected.

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During the Pre-Travel Exam, the physician will:
Monitor known or chronic conditions and make recommendations.

Identify medical problems that may need attention before traveling.

Recommend appropriate immunizations, and make arrangements for their administration.

Recommend supplies and where needed, prescribe medication the traveler may need.

Provide a travel packet with information on diseases, management of travel related problems, access to help, check lists, etc.

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During the Post-Travel Exam the physician will:
Re-evaluate the person's health, and document any changes.

Check for the presence of infection that could have been acquired traveling.

Treat medical conditions as needed.

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Travel Consultations
Less extensive than the pre-travel exam, the travel consultation will meet the needs of those who are planning a brief business trip out of the country. The consultation will include:

Appropriate immunizations.

General information for travel, including prevention of jet lag, medications to carry with you, sources of emergency assistance, and other helpful tips.

Special health considerations for traveling to specific destinations.

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Travel recommendations for special areas
Whether your employee is traveling to a country with modern medical facilities or to a remote area, the medical staff can provide information on what to expect on arrival--precautions to take for food and water safety, availability of medical care, infectious diseases prevalent in the area and symptoms that might accompany infection and treatment of common ailments.

Travel offers an excellent opportunity to practice preventive medicine. By utilizing pre-travel medical consultation, your company can protect employees and reduce costs.

When an employee travels abroad on business, the company is responsible for medical care and problems that may occur. It is important, therefore, to take all appropriate precautions to protect the business traveler. Being prepared can mean the difference between a disaster and a productive trip.

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Case example
A 52 year-old male manager was referred by his employer for a pre-travel examination prior to being sent to the middle-east for two years of work there. He was scheduled to work primarily in the remote areas several hundred miles from medical care and support facilities. At the time of his examination, a stress test was recommended because he had multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease and would be living in an area where no sophisticated medical care would be available. He initially resisted the recommendation saying that he "felt fine, had no symptoms and needed to start packing," But, he eventually agreed to the test.

Four and one-half minutes into the test he developed major changes on his electrocardiogram, a feeling of tightness in the chest and irregular heart beat. The test was stopped immediately, and he was transferred to the hospital where cardiac cauterization revealed advanced coronary artery disease with major obstruction in three different areas. Two days later, he underwent triple bypass surgery and had an uneventful recovery. There was no evidence of heart damage, and he had a full recovery.

At discharge, the cardiologist commented that a major, potentially fatal heart attack would have occurred within had the abnormalities not been found with testing. Following discharge and rehabilitation, he returned to full-time employment.

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