Foreign countries, exotic food and spectacular destinations - our vacation fever is unbroken! But what to do if you suddenly get a sore throat on vacation in Thailand or experience dizziness in the Australian bush? Language barriers or limited health services often make illness and injury a problem when traveling. With the Reisedoc , the European Travel Insurance, travelers now have the option of conveniently consulting a doctor via an app and addressing health problems in a virtual consultation. Dr. Matthias Karrer, head of Reisedocs, answered Falstaff TRAVEL's questions. PLUS: his tips for safe travel planning.

As a travel doctor, Dr. Matthias Karrer provides vacationers with advice and assistance. ©Matthias Karrer

Simply explained, what is the concept of Reisedoc?

With the Reisedoc, we offer customers the service of establishing a direct conversation with a doctor within 30 minutes if necessary. This allows us to quickly and specifically request the important information and, if necessary, initiate the next steps. Previously, calls were made via emergency centers, which was sometimes very time-consuming because a doctor had to be requested in the background.

The whole thing works via the "My Urlauberia" app. What are the advantages hereof?

One of the advantages is that we already know the person's location when we contact them. This means that even if you are in an unfamiliar environment, the doctors know where the customer is. It also works offline and without data roaming, which has advantages when traveling outside the EU.

 

 

 

 

 

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Why is the travel doc important and how many doctors are available?

The offer is very important, because even minor illnesses can become a problem in a foreign country. In many destinations, medical care is not on the same level as Austria and the language barrier can also lead to misunderstandings. With the Reisedoc, travelers are cared for at Austrian standards. For this purpose, an average of 12 doctors are available as Reisedocs. These are not "only" general practitioners - each of the doctors must also have additional knowledge about country-specific diseases so that the remote diagnosis can be made as accurately as possible.

What is the consultation process and what happens if medical care is needed on site?

 We are notified via the function in the app and then contact the customer by phone or video chat. The information and symptoms are then requested in order to clarify the treatment options. If they are easily treatable illnesses and injuries, this can sometimes be solved with the right medicines from the first-aid kit, or "treated" by means of precautionary measures. If travelers need medical care or even a hospital, we refer them to our reference hospitals and, if necessary, also act as a bridge between the medical staff and the patients.

If necessary, we will of course bring the travelers back home as soon as possible. Whether the repatriation happens in an ambulance jet or with an escort on a scheduled flight depends, of course, on the health of the traveler and the situation. Since the calls still go through the emergency call center, we are quickly ready to act.

What should we think of as "reference hospitals"?

Worldwide we are naturally well connected in most travel destinations. Therefore, we have a network of doctors and hospitals that work on a Central European standard and are therefore recommended by us. Many of the hospitals we either know ourselves or they have been visited by our emergency service. This ensures that the traveler receives the best possible care in an emergency.

How is the offer accepted?

Travelers are very grateful for the service, because especially through Corona one often does not want to enter a waiting room or hospital immediately. We have been able to help many customers quickly and easily via the Reisedoc and prevent lengthy therapies and recovery processes due to missing or incorrect diagnoses. Customers have also used the service to ask for preventive advice. In this way, potential health problems could be prevented in advance.

What should you currently pay attention to when traveling?

One of the most important aspects is preparation. On any trip, you can get injured or fall ill. That's why you should find out in advance where you can find medical care or who you can turn to in the vacation country - regardless of whether you are traveling within Europe or visiting an exotic destination. Of course, we help travelers in case of emergency, but I still advise everyone to inform themselves before starting their trip and also to carry a travel pharmacy with them.

What belongs in the travel pharmacy?

In addition to bandages and plasters, painkillers, antipyretics and disinfectants should not be missing on any trip. Anyone who regularly needs (prescription) medicines should definitely carry them in their hand luggage. If the checked baggage is lost, the basic therapy can be continued.

What else is important to consider?

If you are traveling alone, family or acquaintances back home should be in the know and know the approximate itinerary and stopovers so that if you are not reachable, they can provide information on where you might be if necessary. Which brings me to the next point: accessibility. Even if the "My Urlauberia" app works offline, you should make sure that you can be reached in case of an emergency and (if possible) that data roaming is also working.

Would you currently travel?

It depends on the destination. I was recently in Bangkok and the USA for retrievals and I would currently travel to these destinations myself with the necessary preparation, which includes the Corona vaccination. I would not travel to other countries where there is a high risk of Corona infection, for example. Websites, such as those of the State Department, are helpful here for gathering up-to-date information on the situation in each country. If a destination is relatively safe and you make the necessary preparations, nothing should stand in the way of your vacation.

Whether it's a city trip or a beach vacation - with the Reisedoc, travelers can enjoy their vacation in an even more relaxed way. ©Apple Bautista/ Unsplash

You can find more info about the Reisedoc and the "Meine Urlauberia" app here >