I'm Leaving for India In 3 Days - A Clinical Challenge for Pcp's

Background:  Global travel is on the rise. Most travelers do not receive pre-trip medical consultations before international travel. Some don’t realize they need anything until the last minute and look to their primary care providers (PCP’s) for advice. Many primary care practices are not prepared to provide travel health services to those going to developing countries and yet find themselves in the position of having to deal with the last minute traveler without the option of referral to a travel clinic.

Setting: Primary care practices

Population: Adult patients

Project Description:  PCP’s are presented with a typical patient encounter/ challenge. Critical information needed for assessment is provided. The goal of providing optimum care in less than optimum circumstances will assist the clinician to establish priorities for risk reduction for injury and illnesses associated with travel to India. A plan for providing realistic protection for vaccine preventable diseases and prescriptions for prophylaxis and self treatment is designed. It is critical that PCP practices be prepared for this type of patient encounter and has handouts and resources available ahead of time to distribute to the traveler.

Results/Lessons Learned:  PCP’s need to anticipate that last minute travelers will present to their practices and be prepared to provide optimum treatment to these patients. It is hoped that these practices will also help educated patients to get pretrip travel consultations 4-6 weeks before travel and to keep all adult patients current with routine adult immunizations.