COMMON QUESTIONS
Answers to Health Related Questions
This section answers health related questions
for international patients seeking treatment in the United States of America.
Learning About Your Medical Condition | Making a Medical Appointment | General Medical Terms | Meeting With Your U.S. Physician or Specialist
Health Concerns
Learning About
Your Medical Condition
How can I find more information about my specific medical condition?
Click on Medical Resources for more information.
In this section, you can link to American health associations and societies,
American medical journals and pharmaceutical guides, and information about
standard medical tests, symptoms and illnesses.
You may also click on Medical Specialties,
which will pinpoint health organizations that may be able to provide you
with information on specific areas of medicine. For example, if you are
inquiring about a heart condition, you will click on Medical
Specialties, then on Cardiology. On the Cardiology page, you will
find the American Heart Association among a list of other heart-related
organizations that can provide you with current information about heart
disease and related heart ailments, treatment, prevention, and research
in this field.
NOTE: Make sure to ask your physician for referrals
to any support groups or to medical organizations and associations that
may help you in your own country.
Making an Appointment
How far in advance should I make my appointment?
As soon as you determine that you will be seeking treatment in the
U.S. and have decided which hospital or clinic you will visit, you should
make an appointment. Most hospitals advise that you write, call, e-mail,
or fax them to obtain information about their services as well as payment
options prior to making an appointment. If someone is traveling with you
and would also like a medical examination, inquire about appointments
at the time you arrange your own.
NOTE: Visit Hospital
Selection Criteria, Hospital/Clinic
Locator or Featured Organizations
to learn more about U.S. hospitals and health facilities.
May I visit a U.S. clinic or hospital without a medical appointment?
You may visit a U.S. facility without an appointment; however, this is
not recommended. We suggest you call ahead and make arrangements, or inquire
about the health facility's procedures for unscheduled appointments. Some
clinics have waiting lists for their specialists, so it is recommended
that you schedule an appointment ahead of time. Talk with your doctor
about any special tests or procedures you should obtain before you contact
the hospital or clinic that you are interested in visiting. In some cases,
if you do not make an appointment, you should prepare for possible delay
in treatment and a longer stay in the U.S.
What medical information is necessary to make a medical appointment?
Individuals or referring physicians should provide the patient's name
as it appears on his or her passport along with address, date of birth,
a brief explanation of the current medical problem, and the preferred
date of the appointment. Ask if the hospital/clinic provides interpretation
services if you will require them.
How long will I need to stay at the hospital/clinic I choose?
No two patients are the same. Discuss possible treatments with your doctor
and the hospital or clinic you plan to visit to determine the potential
length of your stay.
What is the procedure for rescheduling or cancelling my appointment?
Usually you must give the doctor/hospital 48 hours notice so that they
may allow other patients the opportunity to take your appointment and,
if necessary, reschedule your visit. However, it is most courteous to
call as soon as you realize you must reschedule or cancel. Try to be on
time for your appointment. If you are running late, call ahead and let
the hospital/clinic know your estimated time of arrival.
Can I have an American physician review my medical records before
deciding whether I need medical treatment in the U.S.?
It is possible to have a physician or specialist review medical records,
test results and/or x-rays prior to your visit for a designated fee. This
fee depends on the extent of the review and the facility/physician you
choose. You should request pretests and screenings from your doctor prior
to making an appointment with a U.S. physician or clinic. Telemedicine
(sending medical records, x-rays, and test results to a doctor via a computer)
is also a possibility. Click on Standard
Medical Tests for more information.
How do hospitals or clinics refer international patients to specialists
or physicians if patients are not referred by their home doctors?
If you directly contact a hospital or clinic about, for example, your
need for a sleep apnea test, they will refer you to or set up an appointment
with a doctor in that field. At this time, it may be useful to have a
prepared set of questions you would like to ask about the referred physician's
training and background, the tentative procedures you will undergo, costs,
if he/she will be your sole doctor or if you will be cared for by a team,
etc. Ask the hospital you choose if it has an international department
that can guide you to a specialist and any other services (such as interpreters)
that you may need.
NOTE: Visit Hospital and Physician
Selection Criteria for some questions you can ask when choosing a
hospital and/or physician.
Must international patients be referred by physicians or can they
make appointments according to their own selection?
Most hospitals and clinics do not require a physician referral, so patients
can make inquiries about medical treatment and appointments on their own
behalf. However, information regarding a patient's previous treatment
and medical records is necessary in order to make an accurate diagnosis.
Are hospital or clinic tours available?
Most hospitals and clinics offer tours. Be sure to request information
and view hospital websites and informational
packages before choosing the health facility you will visit. And talk
with your doctor! When in doubt, ask questions. You are the number one
advocate for your good health.
May I bring my family with me to my appointment?
Yes. However, in most cases they will have to sit in the waiting room
of the hospital or clinic you are visiting. Although many waiting rooms
have toys available, you may wish to bring something to entertain a small
child just in case.
General Medical Terms You
May Hear During Your Visit
Allied health professional: non-physician healthcare staff such
as nurses, therapists, and technicians
Consultations: physicians from different specialty areas collaborate
with one another to help determine your plan of care
Patient Relations Representative: helps coordinate your appointment
schedule and provides instructions for your specific tests
GME: general medical examination
PAME: pre-anesthetic medical examination
Primary care physician: the physician responsible for your examination,
diagnosis and treatment
Residents and fellows: physicians training in a particular medical
or surgical specialty
Specialist: someone who has concentrated training in a specific
part or system of the body. For example, a cardiologist is a doctor who
is highly trained in treating ailments of the heart.
Other Online Medical Terms Resources
MedicineNet's Medical Dictionary
Multimedia Medical
Reference Library
ThriveOnline's
Glossary of Medical Terms
Meeting With Your U.S. Primary
Care Physician
What medical records or documents must I bring?
Bring a list of your current medications and the amount you are taking
of each. Since the name of some medicines may be different in your home
country, it is a good idea to bring as much information about the medicine
as possible. Most prescription medication comes with a sheet describing
the chemical composition and other important facts about the medicine,
so bring this along for your U.S. physician to study if the need for additional
medication arises. Medical information and x-rays should be supplied by
your local physician because your records will be helpful in diagnosis.
Make sure to bring the name, address, and telephone number of the physician
who referred you and/or the primary physician who treated you in your
home country prior to your U.S. visit. You may also wish to obtain a living
will/advance directive, a written document that allows you to specify
what kinds of medical care you would or would not want should you become
incapable of deciding for yourself. Learn more about advance directives
from the American
Academy of Family Physicians.
Are there some tips I should remember regarding my appointment?
- Arrive on time.
- Bring along medications/records.
- Briefly explain the reason(s) for your visit.
- Stay focused on your problems and symptoms. It may help to write
everything down, including your symptoms, dates on which you discovered
them, and questions you have for the doctor.
- Answer questions accurately and completely.
- Listen carefully and ask for more explanation if you don't understand
something. If you have questions or doubts about your diagnosis or treatment,
do not hesitate to talk with your doctor.
- Schedule follow-up visits or make arrangements for a phone call with
your U.S. physician once you return to your home country. Working together
willingly with your physician saves you time and money, and it helps
you get the appropriate medical treatment.
- Bring something to pass the time while you sit in the waiting room
before your appointment. While some waiting rooms have televisions,
books, or magazines, others may not, so it is a good idea to bring something
you would enjoy reading or to engage in another small task like knitting
or writing a letter.
- Payment is usually due at the time of the appointment unless arrangements
are made to the contrary.
Will my home physician be updated about my medical results, treatment
and care?
When your diagnosis and tests are completed, your U.S. physician will
discuss the results with you and explain any treatment you need. If you
wish, your test results can be shared with your local physician.
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