International Elective Checklist

Pre-Travel

 

 

  
  TIMING OF ELECTIVE
  • The earliest that residents can complete a rotation is January of 2nd year of training.  Residents should complete a PICU rotation in the fall of 2nd year.  Please consider this when planning your schedule for 2nd year.
 

CHOOSING A SITE (begin researching early in your residency training)

 

 

DETERMINE YOUR SITE (at least 6 months before travel)

 

SCHEDULE REQUEST
(Spring)

  • Alert the residency program of your plans for an international elective – and request which block you would prefer

 

MEDICAL LICENSE (begin as soon as you pass Step 3)

  • Determine whether your site requires a medical license to practice in the destination country and begin application process for this. Usually the site coordinator on the international side assists with this. Most nations require at least a U.S. medical license.

 

PASSPORT + VISA (prepare 6 months before travel)

 

LEARN ABOUT YOUR TRAVEL DESTINATION

 

REGION-SPECIFIC DISEASES

 

PRE-PLANNING WORKSHEET (complete 4 months before)

 

ADDITIONAL FUNDING IDEAS

 

PRE-TRIP MODULES (complete prior to pre-trip meeting)

 

PRE-TRIP MEETING (do 2 months before trip)

  • Meeting with Dr. Cramton. Communicate with site preceptor to make sure that no changes have occurred with your elective.

 

BOOK FLIGHTS

  • Preferably select US-Based/affiliated airlines (as it may be easier to work with them to change your flight) – and sign up for their frequent flier program

 

TRAVEL CLINIC/VACCINES (1-2 months before trip)

If you will need yellow fever or Japenese encephalitis vaccines, then you will need to make an appointmnet with Passport Health. Other travel prophylaxis (such as malaria medicine, diamox, or oral typhoid vaccine often can be handled by your primary care physician). Please review the CDC guidelines for your site in detail. Consider a visit for your annual physical, dental and eye care providers is you haven't been seen by your provider in awhile. Please discuss all of your travel precautions and meds you may need to bring with Dr. Moore.

 

EVACUTION/TRAVEL INSURANCE (book 1 month before)

Often the oprtional travel insurance with your airline ticket will have some medical coverage overseas. U.S. based health insurance typically has no coverage overseas. The travel insurance sometimes does not provide adequate evacuation insurance. Dates of coverage for any insurance should extend from date of U.S. departure to the day after your return. Companies listed below are just a small fraction of the insurance options available. Highway to Health (HTH is one that the UA Office of Global Initiatives has recommended. 

 

TURN IN PRE-TRAVEL DOCS (2 weeks before travel)

  • Submit to Dr. Cramton electronic copies of: passport/visa, flight itinerary, proof of travel insurance, updated emergency contact info, destination contact info (med site/preceptor, housing), US embassy site, copy of medical license, travel itinerary.

  • http://usembassy.state.gov/ - Lists US embassies in countries throughout the world. 

 

REGISTER INTENT TO TRAVEL

 

PACK (1 week before travel)

 

CONFIRM ROTATION (1-2 weeks before)

  • Check with hotel, site preceptor, and transport reservations. Should have ride at the airport arranged. Be sure Dr. Cramton has your up-to-date travel and emergency contact info.

 

During the Elective

 

 

NOTES

 

BOOKS FOR ROTATION
  • Oxford Handbook of Tropical Medicine, WHO Pocket Book of Hospital Care for Children

 

DISEASE RECORD
  • See UA Disease record document. Please track diseases that you see during the rotation. Can fill out in journal if you don’t want to complete document on a daily basis.

 

DRIVING
  • Avoid driving and nighttime travel if possible

 

JOURNALING
  • I recommend writing daily about your travel and medical experiences – this will help in developing an essay and presentation on your return.  And, it helps with coping with the culture shock

 

 

    

 

Post-Travel: Within 2 Months of Return

 

 

NOTES

 

DEBRIEFING MEETING
  • Meet with Dr. Cramton to complete debriefing worksheet

 

SUBMIT DISEASE RECORD

 

COMPLETE SITE EVALUATION

 

COMPLETE ESSAY AND SUBMIT PHOTOS
  • Use guided questions in the International Elective Essay. Comments from this essay may be accessible to other residents.
  • Comment on why you chose the elective, if it met your learning objectives, whether this will influence your future career choices, whether or not you would  recommend it to others. You are not required to answer all of the questions but they are helpful in thinking about your experience. 

 

PREPARE PRESENTATION
  • Prepare and deliver presentation at morning report or teaching day.

 

PPD TESTING
  • Consider 3 months after travel