As summer approaches, many people are getting ready to travel. Before packing your bags, it is essential to take the necessary precautions to stay healthy while traveling. This is where UnityPoint Health – Meriter’s Travel Clinic can provide a range of services to ensure a safe and healthy trip.
Located in UnityPoint Health – Meriter’s West Washington Clinic, the Travel Clinic is a one-stop
shop for all travel-related health needs. The clinic provides pre-travel consultations, vaccinations, medications and education on how to stay healthy during a trip. The Travel Clinic is staffed by health care professionals who have specialized training in travel medicine, ensuring the best care for travelers.
The clinic’s pre-travel consultation allows health care professionals to assess an adult traveler’s health status, identify potential health risks based on their travel destination and provide guidance on how to stay healthy. The consultation covers a range of topics, including immunizations, malaria prophylaxis, traveler’s diarrhea and other illnesses related to specific destinations.
The clinic can provide necessary vaccinations to protect against diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid fever and yellow fever, that can be common when traveling to certain regions outside the U.S. The clinic can also provide medications to prevent illnesses such as malaria, altitude sickness and traveler’s diarrhea.
In addition to vaccinations and medications, the clinic also provides education on how to stay healthy during travel. This includes information on safe food and water consumption, insect precautions, and how to avoid common region-specific or common illnesses such as a cold or flu that travelers can catch while traveling.
“As the world becomes increasingly connected, it’s important for travelers to stay informed about the health risks in the destinations they plan to visit,” says Megan Foss, APNP. “We work closely with each patient to assess their individual travel risks and create a personalized plan to help ensure their health and safety during their travels.”
Providers at the Travel Clinic can see adult patients going on international vacations, business trips or international service mission trips, as well as adult students going to a foreign destination for study or research.
It’s important to schedule your appointment well in advance of your travel to ensure enough time for health plans or vaccinations. The Travel Clinic team recommends scheduling appointments at least six weeks in advance.
To schedule an appointment for your summer travels and for more information, call 608-417-8300.
