Introducing MEDEX 360°^m Global Medical Monitor

Carl, a 56-year old diabetic, is planning a trip to India. As he packs his medication, he wishes he had some way of knowing what the healthcare in India is like. What if something happens while he’s there? How will he communicate with his doctors? What if his return home is delayed and he runs out of medication?

All of Carl’s questions can easily be answered using MEDEX 360°^m Global Medical Monitor. Created in partnership with Harvard Medical International, this user-friendly website incorporates their research and expertise in global healthcare with MEDEX’s 30 years of hands-on experience. Available to MEDEX’s direct clients through the online MEDEX Member Center, MEDEX 360°^m provides both country and city-specific information for travelers, medical directors, occupational health nurses and travel managers.

MEDEX 360°^m also has an innovative five point rating scale providing at a glance assessments for 236 countries and territories. You can quickly evaluate countries by diseases and health risks, standards of healthcare, access to healthcare, cultural differences and overall medical status. In addition, the website offers the following information:

• Quality of Care
• Emergency Services
• Hospital Care
• Non-Urgent Care
• Medications
• Blood and Medical Supplies
• Health Care Payment
• Medical Evacuations
• Contact Information
• Language Proficiency

Travelers, like Carl, can also read worldwide medical alerts, immunization information and travel advice just by accessing MEDEX 360°^m. Log into your MEDEX Member Center or contact your Client Relations Manager to find out more about this exciting new service.

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Educating Your Travelers About
MEDEX 360°^m

Having access to MEDEX 360°^m and other MEDEX services can help keep your travelers safe and healthy, but in order for them to get the most out of your travel assistance program, they need to be aware of the benefits available to them.

Does your organization have a newsletter? We can provide an article. Do you need help crafting a memo? We can write one for you. Our staff will work with you to determine the best way to notify and remind your travelers about MEDEX services, including an introduction to MEDEX 360°^m.

We have a wealth of information available to you and your travelers. Make sure to talk to your Client Relations Manager about the customizable options available to you and your company. From a list of your MEDEX benefits to a MEDEX travel guide, you can use these informational resources to regularly remind your travelers about the health and safety services provided by MEDEX.

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Travel and Heart Disease

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease affects 37.9% of the U.S. adult population and is the third leading cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. Problems associated with heart disease can strike at any time, at any place - at home, at work, on an airplane, and even in a foreign country.

“Heart problems are one of the most common reasons we are called on for assistance.”

Lori Parsons, MEDEX Nurse Manager

Lori recommends that international travelers with a history of heart disease take all of the usual medical precautions, such as updating their vaccinations and immunizations before they go. She also recommends the following for travelers with cardiac concerns:

“Being properly prepared before you leave for your destination can help limit your risk and help you respond appropriately should a problem occur.”

1. Visit your cardiologist before you go. Review your travel plans with your doctor, including destinations, modes of transportation and any physical activities you anticipate participating in. If necessary, have your blood pressure and arterial gases checked before you travel. If you are on medications such as coumadin or digoxin, make sure that your medication level is therapeutic.

2. Keep crucial information with you while you travel. Information for your medications, prescriptions, dosages, generic names, and their purpose should be kept with you. If you have one, also have a list of information pertaining to your pacemaker, implantable defibrillators, or coronary stents – the brand, the model, and the settings.

3. Limit the anxieties of travel. Learn as much as possible about your destination to minimize cultural stressors and plan rest breaks into your itinerary. Arrive early to the airport so that you are not rushed. You may also want to consider taking advantage of motorized transport shuttles or wheelchairs.

4. Have a plan for health emergencies. Be familiar with ways to seek medical treatment in the country you are visiting. Using resources such as MEDEX 360°^m, research and know the locations for hospitals that have cardiologists and treatment capabilities. It can also be beneficial to locate pharmacies in case you need help with your medication. If you have an established history of heart problems, be familiar with your symptoms so you can seek medical treatment immediately.

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3 Steps to Protecting Your Travelers in
Latin America

MEDEX publishes informational articles and papers to help you and your organization navigate international issues. Our latest article features safety and security tips in Latin America. Here is an excerpt from Three Steps to Protecting Your Travelers in Latin America:

Both organizations and individual travelers should be prepared for international trips. Organizations should have correct contact information for the traveler, and the traveler should know what to expect in his destination: cultural differences, anticipated language barriers, and safety and health information.

In Latin America, it is becoming more common for individuals posing as taxi drivers to pick up more than one passenger at a time. The second passenger may be an accomplice who, along with the taxi driver, kidnaps the victim, takes him to an ATM machine, and has the victim clear out his bank account. Once the kidnappers have the funds they desire, they typically let the victim go. Such “quick kidnaps” can be limited or avoided altogether by having an established plan for transportation.

To receive your copy of this complete article,
email mktginfo@medexassist.com,
subject: Request for Article.

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