(expatriate) finding health resources when you live abroad

7/28/2019 (Expatriate) Finding Health Resources When You Live Abroad

1/6

40026-1003

Finding Health Resources When

You L ive Abroad

When living abroad, you will want t o make sure you and your family have

access to good health care. Making the best choice of doctors requires

some advance planning and knowledge about the country where you will

be living. I t is important to learn about cultural differences and the impact

they may have on the health care you receive. The information that follows

can help.

Planning aheadBefore leaving for your familys assignment abroad, there are a number of

steps you can take to be better prepared so that you get t he best health care

services possible throughout your stay.

Become familiar wi th the count rys climate and plan accordingly. Your preparations

may include taking certain types of clothing, prescriptions, and medications to

deal with allergies or other health issues. There may be vaccinations that your

family members should have. The D epartment of State provides background

information on countries on its Web site at www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/. You

can also request print information from t he D epartment of S tate. The Fit for

Travel Web site at www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.ukcan help you learn about the

diseases and health conditions in your host country. The resources listed at the

end of this article may offer other helpful information.

Consul t your embassy, consulate off ice, and other sour ces for informat ion on healt h

servi ces in the area where you wi ll be livi ng. Embassies and consulate off ices

typically organize lists of docto rs for expatriates. O ther private sources may be

helpful. For example, H ighway to H ealth at www.highwaytohealth.com

provides information on medical clinics and doctors by city and country.

Br ing your fami ly members health histor ies wi th you and have copies on hand. This

includes each persons medical records, inoculation history, etc.

Ask your doctors at home if they are wi ll ing to consul t by phone or e-mai l wi th doctors

in your new locati on.

Be sur e your health insur ance information is in order . If you are concerned about

complete coverage while abroad, you can learn more by consulting with

programs that provide health insurance to expatriates. See the list o f programs

at the end of this article.

Br ing the medicati ons you wi ll need with you from home. Robin P ascoe, author of

Cul ture Shock!, refers to this as your t raveling medicine cabinet. C onsider

Overview

How to find and use health

resources when living

abroad.

Planning ahead

Learning about local health

resources

Finding and meeting your

doctor

Being a good health care

consumer Resources


2/6

2 l Finding Health Resources When Living Abroad

bringing enough medication for at least one year. Your traveling medicine

cabinet might include: a thermometer; Band-Aids; infant analgesic for fevers or

toothaches; an adult analgesic such as aspirin or ibuprofen; antihistamines; an

antibacterial cleansing agent; calamine lotion; anti-diarrhea medicines;antifungal ointments or sprays; rehydrat ion tablets; over-the counter cold

medicines; and prescription medications you are currently taking.

Br ing along a good fi rst -aid book. Be sure everyone in your household knows

where the book is.

Consider obtaini ng specialized health insur ance coverage if a fami ly member has

special health needs or if you will be livi ng far fr om good health care servi ces. Health

insurance for expatria tes and special programs like Wor ld C are may provide

you with the array of medical help you need during your familys assignment

abroad. Before signing up, be sure to g et references on the policy or program.

See a list of suggested programs at the end of this article.

Learning about local health resourcesOnce you have arrived in your new host country, begin the work of identifying

a family doctor and any specialists you may need, including a dentist. Become

familiar with nearby health care facilities and hospitals as well.

M ake a list of the doctors and other speciali sts you will need to fi nd i n your new host

count r y. You will want to find a family doctor or general practitioner.You may

also need to find specialists such as a pediatrician, an orthodont ist, or an

allergist. Find out what kinds of specialists are available and learn about the

nearest lab facility. Ask how payment is accepted in the event you need

immediate care but have no cash on hand.

Find the near est hospital and learn about i ts admi ssions procedur es and special

ser vices.

Learn how to call an ambulance so you are prepared for any emergency. P ost the

numbers near your phone. If you do not speak the local language, learn how to

say your address.

Learn about local poison cont rol cent er s and post phone numbers near your phone. I f

you have young children, have complete information about poison antidotes

and safety measures on hand at home where you can find them easily.

Put together a fi r st -aid ki t for home and for your car. For information on this, go

to the U .S. H omeland Security Web site at www.ready.gov/first_aid_kit.html.

Be sur e you know how to say key phr ases in case there is a medical emergency. For

example: H e fell down. H e has a bad cut. We need a hospital

(ambulance), quickly. My phone number is . . . . I need a doctor .


3/6


Understand the prescr ipti ve drug that has been r ecommended to you. A drug may be

prescribed to you under a brand name you have never heard of before. For

example, the generic drug, penicillin, is produced and sold in many places

under the brand name D ynapen . Although you may not be familiar with thisbrand, it may be widely available in your host country. The Web site

www.rxlist.com, allows you to search on a generic name of a drug (e.g.,

amoxicillin or naproxen) for information about the various brand names of the

drug, its composition, and side effects. You can search by brand name and

obtain detailed information about prescriptions drugs you are considering or

using at htt p:// www.mythos.com/ pharmacy/I ndex_D rugName.aspx. The Web site

www.dr ugstore.comis also helpful.

While this online information may be useful, it is important to check with your

doctor about the brand that has been prescribed to you. D ifferent brands mix

the drug d ifferently. I t is important to be sure you consider allergies you oryour child may have to a certain generic drug or brand, and t hat you rule out a

drug that might interact with something else you are taking. A good source for

general information about drugs is the U .S. C enter for D rug Evaluation and

Research, http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/default.htm.

Finding and meeting your doctorIdentifying a general practitioner or a pediatrician or dentist for your family is

best done after your arrival in your host country.

Talk t o local people and use onl ine sour ces to find doctors. Your embassy or

consulate office will be able to give you a list o f doctors. Your host countrymay have a professional association of pediatricians or family doctors that can

provide lists or referrals. C heck online sources as well, such as

www.highwaytohealth.com. Also talk with local friends, colleagues, and o ther

expatriates. They may be able to refer you to a good doctor . E veryone has an

experience they can share that w ill help you figure out who to choose to care

for your family. You can also call the nearest hospital for a referral. Ask if it

has a family practice unit, staff pediatricians, or a referral list of doctors and

dentists.

Find out about the reputation of doctors. Word of mouth is best. C onversations

with other expatriates and friends will help you learn more. You will want t oknow about the doctors communication style, his training and background,

how long he has practiced in the area, and whether his patients have good

results and feel well taken care of.

Ask the doctor questions to help you understand her practice. Is she accepting new

patients? D oes she speak English? Is there a lab nearby? What hospital does

she use? What days and times does she see patients? D oes she have experience

with the medical issues your family may need?


4/6


M ake an appointment to see the doctor before someone gets sick. This will help you

and your children feel more comfortable. This is especially important if you

are pregnant and meeting your obstetrician for the first t ime.

Being a good health care consumerC ultural beliefs and norms will influence the way your doctor interacts withyou and the medical treatment you receive. For example, you may find that

there are differences in the type and freq uency of childhood vaccinations, or

treatment differences concerning such issues as pain management. You may

find it impossible to obtain a prescription for certain drugs. Simply meeting

with a male doctor privately if you are a woman may be a problem in some

eastern cultures. The more you learn about the cultural differences in the

practice of medicine where you will be living, the more comfortable you will be

with the treatment you receive. This information will help you communicate

with your doctor and other health care providers.

If cultural differences or your doctors knowledge or interest in a certain

medical problem is making you feel that your care is incomplete, you may want

to consult your physician back home or t ravel to a city w here you can see a

specialist who is willing to use all the methods you feel are appropriate.

In add ition to understanding cultural differences, you will want to use common

sense and good judgment so that you and your family get the best medical care

possible when living abroad.

Pay att ent ion to your healt h and your chi ldren s healt h. You do not want a cold to

develop into something w orse, or your childs mild case of asthma t o worsen.D ont wait t o get professional help if you are ill or your child is ill.

I n evaluat ing a diagnosis, share your knowledge about your chi lds personal i ty and

temperament , including his tolerance for pain, wi th the doctor . Pay attention to

your instincts about the possible source of the problem. You know your childs

history better than anyone.

Use a language interpreter available to help you i f you are havi ng a hard t ime

communicati ng wi th doctors or staff . D octors, technicians, and hospital staff may

have different approaches, offer different treatments, or have a different

bedside manner than you are used to. U sing an interpreter will help them

understand how you feel, as well as pinpoint answers to detailed questions you

may have.

Always check medicines provi ded by the pharmacy. Mix-ups can occur. Ask the

pharmacist to help you understand the prescription, the dosage, and possible

side effects.

Get a second opin ion i f you have doubts or questions about the recommendat ion.

D ont be afraid to ask questions. There are cultural differences in all areas of


5/6


life, including health care. You may be prescribed medicines you are not used

to or t reatments that are foreign to you. For example, homeopathic medicine is

more common in many parts of Europe. If your doctor recommends an herbal

remedy, you may want to learn as much as you can about it before using it.You might correspond with your doctor back home to get a second opinion or

with a friend who is knowledgeable about homeopathic medicine.

Through careful research and double-checking information with expatriates

where you are living, you will be able to find good right health care for your

family. As is true with health care in the U .S., its important t o be a

knowledgeable advocate fo r your familys health.

Resources

Country background

D epartment of State

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/(see country background not es)

H ighway to H ealth

www.highwaytohealth.com(see lists of doctors and clinics by country)

Health insurance/medical care

Allianz World Wide

www.all ianzworldwidecare.com

BU P A International

www.bupa-intl.com

G ood Health

www.Goodhealthwor ldwide.com

Medjet Assistance

www.medjetassistance.com(hospital-to-hospital emergency travel)

World Clinic

www.worldclinic.com(see Expatr iates)

Emergency and travel medicine online

International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers

www.iamat.org


6/6


Travel H ealth O nline

www.t r ipprep.com

Health facts

Fit for Travel

www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk(see health fact s by country)

The Merck Manual

http://www.merckhomeedit ion.com/home.html

PP P H ealthcare

www.ppphealthcare.co.uk(see health fact sheets)

Web MDwww.webmd.com

2003 Ceridian Corporation. All rights reserved.

(expatriate) finding health resources when you live abroad

Documents