Surprise Souvenirs: Why Clinicians Should Always Ask About Foreign Travel | Research (2024)

FAQs

Surprise Souvenirs: Why Clinicians Should Always Ask About Foreign Travel | Research? ›

Americans take 60 million international trips each year, and as many as half of those travelers bring back unwanted souvenirs in the form of gastrointestinal illnesses, fevers, skin disorders and other ills. That's why physicians should routinely ask patients if they've recently been out of the country, says Dr.

Physicians and surgeons may travel between their offices and the hospital to care for patients.

If you want to work as a physician internationally, you need to have completed your medical degree and residency, and you must be board certified to practice medicine. Depending on the position, you may need to have a specific work visa. Your employer may sponsor that.

Several nonprofits recruit travel doctors to provide medical aid where it's needed around the world. For example, Doctors Without Borders is an organization that recruits medical professionals to provide care for many countries worldwide.

A locum tenens physician is a doctor who temporarily fills in for another doctor at a hospital or medical practice. People sometimes assume that all locum tenens physicians are traveling physicians, but that's not necessarily the case. Most traveling doctors are locum tenens physicians.

Can a doctor be fired from their job? It may come as a surprise, but the answer is “yes.” A doctor can be fired by his or her employer — a medical practice, hospital, or other healthcare facility.

Now that we've gone through each country in detail, which one is the most competitive? Based on the data, Canada is the most competitive. The process and requirements of getting into medical school are very similar to the U.S.; however, more students are competing for each medical school spot.

In which country is the process of becoming a doctor considered to be the easiest in terms of requirements and duration? The perception of the easiest country to become a doctor varies, but some Caribbean nations, including Antigua, are known for streamlined processes and shorter durations for medical education.

Why do doctors ask about international travel? ›

Americans take 60 million international trips each year, and as many as half of those travelers bring back unwanted souvenirs in the form of gastrointestinal illnesses, fevers, skin disorders and other ills. That's why physicians should routinely ask patients if they've recently been out of the country, says Dr.

In the 2020-2021 global medical tourism ranking based on 46 destinations, Canada came first with an index score of 76.47.

Locum Tenens (Physicians and Advanced Practitioners)

Working as a locum tenens healthcare professional offers greater choice and control of your career and the ability to travel and explore new practice settings.

Telehealth — sometimes called telemedicine — lets you see your health care provider without going to their office. You can have a telehealth visit online using your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Being a traveling healthcare clinician allows you to have flexibility in where you work and how often. Though it's harder to get vacation time as a traveler, you can decide if you want to take time off between assignments. You'll also gain experience working in a variety of environments.

A locum doctor is one who temporarily fills a rota gap within a hospital, clinic or practice. This can often be on a relatively short-term basis, although in the healthcare sector, it's not uncommon for loc*ms to hold their post as part of a practice's core medical team for more extended periods.

The time spent with family can vary greatly depending on the individual's specialty, work environment, and personal circ*mstances. For instance, some surgeons might work long hours, often exceeding 12 hours a day, leaving little time for family.

In emergency situations or public health crises, their shifts may be longer. To make up for their long shifts, surgeons often work less than six days a week, with an average weekly schedule of four days.

Surgeons work an average of 50 to 60 hours per week, and this does not include their on-call hours. Surgeons' shifts can be anywhere from 12 to 28 hours long. Many private surgical practices and hospitals do not allow surgeons to work for over 80 hours a week.

While the field of robotic surgery is fairly well established, most of these robots are controlled by surgeons at the location of the surgery. Remote surgery is remote work for surgeons, where the physical distance between the surgeon and the patient is less relevant.