Sending a comprehensive file of your medical records is much easier than in years past. You can still opt to hand carry X-Rays and MRI's if you choose, however they are safer being submitted via electronic or digital transfer.

Phone calls between your primary doctors and the doctor who will be attending abroad are a must. This expectation is no different than if two doctors were collaborating in the same city or hospital in your homeland. The attending doctor can request medical records that are believed will be needed, however it is not wise to assume that all are being requested. It is a wise patient who takes the initiative to send all records. Many patients are opting to hand carry a hard copy of their records, secure in a binder and organized in such a fashion as to be easily read.

A summary statement should be prepared and a copy carried on your person throughout your travel time. The summary statement should include a paragraph about your medical condition, the purpose of your medical tourism plans, medications that you are taking, emergency names and contact information, as well as medical names and contacts in both your home country and your destination. Having this prepared statement can alleviate lengthy delays at customs and other checkpoints, as well as give information quickly-should there be a medical emergency. Include your itinerary in the statement.

A comprehensive family medical history should be added to the information being prepared. Many patients are not aware of all of their family history, and dismiss it as unnecessary and irrelevant to their situation. Because of the distance between the medical tourist and the majority of family members, it is critical that this information be prepared ahead of time. If you have never obtained a comprehensive family history, this is a good time to do it. There are forms available at your doctor's office or online that will give you a guideline as to what information needs to be obtained. It is wise to send a copy electronically, with the medical records and to also include a family medical history section in the hard copy binder that you are preparing.

Another important section that needs to be prepared is the homeland medical facility and staff contact information. Do not discount the importance of providing for each and every person or facility that has been involved in your medical care in the past. There is always the question of how far into the past the information should be provided. Five years is an acceptable number of years to go back. If you have had any tests, appointments or treatments over the past five years, prepare a list of where it was done (address), who you saw (doctor, lab etc), what the purpose of the visit was and what the results were. Be sure to include phone and fax numbers, pager and cell phone numbers. If during your stay overseas, there is a need to follow-up with any of your former medical providers, it will be critical to have complete contact information.

You will want to forward copies of your insurance policy to the medical provider you will be using overseas. Be sure to include cell, landline and fax phone numbers in the information. You will want to also have a hardcopy of your policies and contact information in the binder that you are compiling and hand carrying to your destination.

A wise patient will recognize that in any medical procedure, it is possible that the unexpected will occur. These delays or complications could create problems with your ability to manage your home office. Be sure to compile and carry with you (in a separate binder), all pertinent information. Include names, addresses, account numbers and contact phone numbers. A person would want to include mortgage companies, utilities, banks, credit card companies, and the employer.

Every traveler will want to be sure to obtain regional maps and guidebooks in your language. Do not assume that these will be readily available upon arrival at your destination, or that they will be available in your language. It is also a good idea to research the local and country laws and obtain copies if necessary.

It is worth stating the obvious. All medical tourists will want to have an original birth certificate, passport, and airline/train tickets. These will need to be accessible at all times. The wise traveler will make several copies of these. One can be left with an emergency contact person in the homeland, one given to a traveling companion, one put into a carry-on bag and another placed in the checked luggage.

The thought of gathering the above listed documents may seem very overwhelming. You may think that it is too much, and unnecessary. Before you decide to forgo adequate preparation, consider which of these you would want to be without when you are thousands of miles from home, dependant upon technology and interpreters to aid you in getting information from home in an expedient manner. It is better to be prepared!

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