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John D. Wilson, M.D.
1200 Hilyard St., Suite S-560
Eugene, Oregon 97401-8130
541/343-6028 fax 485-7702
www.TravelClinicOregon.com |
Dear Traveler,
It is relatively easy to decrease your risk for illness as you travel abroad and it can be done at a reasonable cost. You will likely need preventive measures if you travel to Mexico, Central or South America, Southern or Eastern Europe, Africa,
Asia or Oceania. It would be best to begin your evaluation at least six weeks before departure (two months is better, especially for more complex trips or for
groups), though we can often give useful advice or treatment up to the time of
departure. Please look over the
enclosed materials, decide whether you want us to help you and call for an appointment for your consultation well in advance of your departure.
You should read this whole letter, but if you don’t, please bring the
following with you when you see us in the office::
- the completed questionnaire form.
- any immunization records you have or can obtain from previous doctors, etc. (You
can phone them to request that they fax immunization records to us at
485-7702).
- a deposit payment for of your consultation and other services by check,
cash, VISA or MasterCard. The usual range is
$100. to $300. or more per person depending on which vaccines are needed.
- your insurance card (which we will copy) if you would like us to bill your insurance.
After you have made your appointment, please complete both pages of the questionnaire
before your visit
so enough information is available to make appropriate recommendations. When you
are here, we will suggest that you watch a short videotape and choose handouts
appropriate for your situation. Using this system (questionnaire, videotape, web
site, consultation and
handouts) should maximize your understanding and minimize your costs. Your visit
could take an hour of your time (or more, especially for those with complex needs
or parties of two or more). Some vaccines are not compatible with
others. Please note that it is preferred that vaccines either be given together on the same day, or that doses of different vaccines be separated by at least a month.
We advise postponing any vaccines until your entire needs are determined.
In addition to a deposit for each recommended vaccine as noted on the price list, there will be a
charge for physician consultation which varies with the amount of time needed to make recommendations (which usually depends on the complexity of the trip). The average deposit required for physician consultation is
$70.00 per person, or $45.00 each for two to four people with the same itinerary
seen in the office at the same time. For groups of five or more with the same itinerary,
additional discounts for larger groups may be arranged at a time and
place outside the office convenient for you.. The visit fee includes educational materials, often as important as injections or prescriptions. After your situation is reviewed, there will be no charge to you if you decide that no services are
needed. If you choose no services, you may leave at any time if you take only
what you brought with you to the office.
We expect a deposit at the time services are delivered. If you have managed care insurance, consider asking your primary doctor for a referral well in advance of your visit with us. Unfortunately, many medical insurance contracts specify that services related to overseas travel will not be reimbursed. We will provide you with an itemized receipt at the time of your visit, and will bill your insurance company at
customary rates if we have a copy of your insurance card. If payment is made to us on any item by your insurance company, we will refund up to the amount of the
deposit for each item. You may wish to review our financial
policy in more detail in the office or at our website. Influenza shots are available on a walk-in basis
each Fall. The Travel Clinic
and Immunization Clinic are not participating providers for Medicare.
If antimalarials are not covered by your insurance (or sometimes even if they
are), we may be able to supply the malaria prevention needs for travelers we see
at a lower cost than available elsewhere. Please see
our price list (next page) for prices of antimalarials and other supplies
available for purchase at our office. Manufacturers control the distribution and cost of these biologicals; availability and cost to us (and you) depend on the manufacturer; our prices are subject to change without notice. You may wish to wear a short sleeve shirt or blouse if you expect to receive injections.
Health Information for International Travel, a valuable resource with useful information for any traveler as well as for medical professionals, is available from the Public Health Foundation at 1-877-252-1200 or
www.phf.org; the cost of the latest version is about $30.00. You may also access much of this information on the internet from the Centers for Disease Control
(www.cdc.gov/travel) or linked through our
home page. Especially if your medical insurance does not cover the vaccines you need, you may wish to access your county health department for lower cost
options possibly including hepatitis A and B, MMR and Td vaccines). Lane County Health Department, 135 E. 6th Ave., Eugene, 682-4041 has a weekly walk-in
immunization clinic; you should consider calling for more information.
Thank you for considering us as your travel service provider. We look forward to hearing from you.
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