Traveling with a Chronic Condition

Tips to know before you go

Traveling with a chronic condition might seem overwhelming, but it may be achievable with careful planning. Trips, whether for business or pleasure, always require some level of thinking ahead. When it comes to chronic illness, the sooner you can map out logistics and communicate with your care team, the better. Your CareConnect Case Manager and Patient Education Liaison (PEL) are here to help and may be able to support you with your travel plans.

Here are a few pointers to help you maintain your care schedule while away from home.

 

Consider

• How long will you be away?
• Do you have enough medication and medical supplies?
• Are you traveling in the United States or going abroad?
• Are there hospitals, clinics, or pharmacies nearby?
• Is your destination in a different time zone?
• Are you driving, taking a train, or flying?
• What are the transportation and accommodations like?
• Do you have medical documentation (for example, doctor’s notes, medical records, properly labeled prescription packaging)?
• Does your insurance cover you in the state or country where you’ll be traveling?
• Who is your emergency contact?

Answering these questions may help you determine what you need to pack and who to contact ahead of your trip to ensure you have all your necessary medications and medical supplies with you while you’re away from home.

 

Inform

Inform your support circle of your travel plans as soon as possible and be sure to let them know how they can contact you while you’re traveling. Your support circle may include:

• Your doctor
• Infusion site/staff or home infusion nurse
• Close family member(s) or friend(s)
• Your CareConnect Case Manager and PEL

Letting your support circle know about your trip early on may help you and them plan appropriately.

 

Plan

Work with your doctor to write a plan of action in case of an emergency

• Ask your doctor and insurance company to help you identify medical facilities (such as infusion centers) and pharmacies in the area of your destination
• Prepare your treatment plan well in advance of your trip. See our article, “Treatment and Travel” for more related tips.
• Wear your medical ID bracelet or keep your medical ID card with you at all times
• Carry a medical alert card to notify local emergency medical services of your condition, including any critical information and emergency contacts  
  Example: “I HAVE POMPE DISEASE. Lying flat on my back can worsen my breathing difficulty. If I am unresponsive, please contact [healthcare provider] and [family member/friend]”
   

 

Manage

Look into digital resources and phone apps to organize and easily access important health information on the go, including:

• Medical records
• Prescriptions
• Infusion orders
• Emergency contacts
• Location of medical facilities near you
• Travel letter from your healthcare provider
• Health insurance information

Remember to always prioritize your health and adjust your plans based on how you feel. For any questions you may have about managing your condition while you travel, your CareConnect team is just a phone call or email away. Call 1-800-745-4447, option 3, or email info@CareConnectPSS.com.