Managing Health Abroad

Follow our step-by-step guide for obtaining medical assistance abroad. You can contact Penn State Global Safety or our emergency assistance provider International SOS (ISOS) 24/7 for help. If your situation is a medical emergency, you should first immediately seek local treatment. Depending on the type of medical care you need, you may take one, some, or all of the following steps:

1.  Seek Medical Treatment, If Necessary

When able, contact International SOS’s 24/7 assistance center via call (+1-215-942-8478) or the ISOS mobile app. They can help you find a quality-of-care vetted medical facility, schedule any appointments, help answer any medical questions you may have, and take care of payment on your behalf through the university's international health insurance.
If emergency medical attention is needed, get to the nearest medical facility for treatment first, then call ISOS to establish a case.
For non-emergency concerns, such as minor injuries or prescription issues, it’s best to reach out to ISOS and open a case for assistance first before receiving treatment.

2. Notify Penn State If You Need Assistance

Travelers can contact Global Safety's 24/7 emergency line at +1-814-360-2829. This emergency line has most major messaging applications, including WhatsApp, WeChat, and KakaoTalk.
For non-emergencies, please contact Global Safety at +1-814-863-8788 (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST) or globalsafety@psu.edu.
Contact your Education Abroad adviser, if applicable, once the situation is under control.

3. Who Else to Call?

Contact the local police or emergency services, if necessary. Learn the emergency '911' number for your country.
If you are an American citizen and need consular assistance, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or Diplomatic Mission.
If you are not an American citizen, contact the nearest embassy or consulate for your country of citizenship.
Contact the local institution or organization at which you are working or studying.

4. More Resources

Please see the U.S. Department of State Emergencies and Crises Advice website for additional information.

Meet with a doctor prior to traveling internationally for a general health check-up and to ensure all routine vaccinations are up to date. Discuss with your doctor any pre-existing health concerns and discuss treatments or general health maintenance preparations for while you are abroad.

Members of the Penn State community who are interested can schedule a pre-travel appointment with the University Health Services Travel Clinic.

Before you leave, renew any prescription medications, glasses, contacts, or other medical items to take with you. Confirm that the medications you are taking are legal in the country you will be visiting. Research the specific health risks of your destination and whether any additional vaccinations/prophylaxis are recommended or required.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for comprehensive health information for travelers, including information about recommended or required vaccines for different parts of the world.

Prescription Medications

Be aware - medication brand names, strengths, and applications may vary in different countries. What is over-the-counter in the U.S. may not even be legally sold in your host country. International SOS can provide information on whether it is legal to bring specific medications with you from the United States to your destination country.

Please note that in most cases, routine medications are not covered under the university's international health insurance. Be sure to plan ahead and bring enough with you to last for the duration of your travel.

Take an adequate supply of any needed prescription medications with you in the original, labeled containers.
Obtain a letter from a doctor including a description of the problem, the generic name(s) of the required medication, and the prescribed dosage.
If you need a medication containing habit-forming or narcotic drugs, carry a doctor's certificate attesting to this need to avoid problems with customs agents and police abroad.
Students who require injections for a specific health concern (e.g., diabetes) should obtain a doctor's letter explaining the need to carry needles and/or syringes.
If you wear glasses, bring an extra pair and, if you wear contacts, it is best to bring enough for the duration of your time abroad.
It is wise to bring copies of prescriptions for glasses, contacts, and any other medications in case yours are lost, damaged, or stolen and need to be replaced.

Medical Marijuana

Never travel internationally with any amount of medical marijuana. Marijuana is illegal in many countries. Students with a US prescription for marijuana can be arrested, prosecuted, and deported if in possession of any illegal substance.

Airports and airplanes are federal jurisdictions. You can be detained and arrested when going through security. Federal authorities do not recognize the medical marijuana laws or cards of any state.

Vaccinations

Some countries may require you to have certain vaccinations prior to entry. Visit the University Health Services Travel Clinic (or another health care provider) as soon as possible to get required immunizations and other pre-travel medical and health advice. It is important to make this appointment early, as some vaccinations must be administered over a period of days, weeks, or even months in some cases.

Penn State Global is committed to supporting international travel for all students, faculty, and staff. Travelers should be prepared for the fact that how "disability" may be culturally defined, attitudes towards disability, or levels of accessibility may vary greatly from country to country.

Before you go, find out as much as you can about your host culture and local views on disability by reading, talking with other students, and attending pre-departure orientation sessions. The more you know, the better prepared you will be for the interaction between your disability and your new environment. While international travel can be challenging, an overseas experience can help you learn more about yourself and your capabilities. The Office of Student Disability Resources is an excellent resource both on the Penn State campus and while preparing to travel abroad.

Before traveling internationally, you should discuss any serious allergies, prescriptions, physical and/or mental health considerations, documented disabilities, or any health-related accommodations you will need while abroad with your physician/counselor, group leaders, Education Abroad adviser, International SOS, Global Safety, University Health Services, or other on-campus resources.  Education Abroad students should complete the "Special Accommodations" questionnaire located within the online Penn State Education Abroad application (after acceptance).

If you may need any assistive equipment abroad, be sure to research local procedures and the availability of wheelchairs, portable machines, batteries, respirators, oxygen, or other medical equipment. If your assistive equipment requires electricity, prepare for different voltages, electrical outlet types, and try to determine if local electricity is reliable.

Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate of your destination country for information on possible restrictions to bringing service animals overseas, including quarantine, vaccination, and documentation requirements. Talk with your vet for tips on traveling with your service animal, and make sure your hotel will accommodate your service animal.

Make Use of Additional Resources:

Mobility International.
US Department of State Guidance for Traveling with Disabilities.
Check with your host provider or university, or ask your Education Abroad adviser!

Talk to your doctor about how to manage your allergies while abroad. Some medications are illegal overseas. If you have any life-threatening food allergies (such as peanut allergy, shellfish allergy, etc.), allergies to medications (such as penicillin), or other types of life-threatening allergies (such as insect stings, pet dandruff, latex, etc.), talk to your treating physician before you travel. Determine if you need to bring medication for acute allergy symptoms with you, and ensure it is legal where you are going.

If you have a health condition that restricts your diet, such as gluten intolerance, research the availability of the types of foods you can eat safely, and plan to bring some emergency supplies with you.

Consider printing a small card with your allergy or dietary information translated into the local language (or even including a picture of the allergen or dietary restriction) that you can show to hosts, doctors, or restaurants to alert them and ensure they understand.

International travel can be both fulfilling and challenging in various ways.  Be proactive in planning for how to manage your mental health while overseas. 

Each individual will experience culture shock and acclimate to a new culture in different ways.  Being away from home in a different country far from your family and friends can exacerbate existing medical conditions. It is also possible that the impact of cultural adjustments can create mental stress even for individuals with no prior history. It is important to learn to spot signs of distress in yourself and others.  

Behaviors to watch out for:

Substance abuse - Over-medicating/self-medicating.
Sleep deprivation or disturbance.
Change in eating habits; dramatic weight loss or gain.
Seeming more tired or apathetic than normal.
Mood swings or erratic behavior.
Stress, fear, panic, isolation, or anger.

There are a wide array of disorders and conditions that you or a colleague/friend could face. Often the stress of traveling or living overseas can bring depression or anxiety bubbling to the surface. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or offer assistance if you see someone in need. Mental health care is covered under the university's international health insurance.

Penn State Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) can provide counseling services for students at Penn State and also maintains a database of mental health providers located close to Penn State campuses as a resource for all students, faculty, and staff.

Students studying abroad are highly encouraged to self-disclose any existing mental health conditions within the optional Wellness Plan of their Education Abroad application, or to reach out to their Education Abroad adviser with any concerns about adjusting abroad. If you anticipate you will want to see a counselor while you are overseas, you may contact International SOS or Penn State Global Safety for assistance with identifying providers in your destination country before you travel.

Be aware that in some regions, STI/STDs are more prevalent than others.  In some countries, well over 10% of adults are HIV-positive. STI/STDs and birth control may not be discussed publicly or may be widely misunderstood in the country you are traveling to. You may find it challenging to find a healthcare center that offers STI/STD testing, so conduct research ahead of time and keep yourself informed. Abstinence or mutual monogamy is the most reliable way to avoid acquiring and transmitting STDs according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you are sexually active, bring an adequate supply of condoms and/or other contraceptives from your healthcare provider in the United States.

Information about sexual health issues in your destination country can be found at CDC Travelers' Health.
The CDC also maintains specific pages on resources concerning HIV and AIDS and on STI/STD considerations while traveling internationally.