Regardless of whether you have come to Singapore seeking cancer treatment, heart surgery, orthopedics, or cosmetic surgery, once you have underwent the necessary medical procedure, you need to gather critical information and make proper recovery plans before leaving Singapore.
Depending on your medical condition and the procedure performed by the Singapore hospital, the recovery process may last days, weeks or months after you return to your homeland. In any medical situation, your doctor has a responsibility to prepare you for the recovery process. This is even more applicable as a medical tourist.
Before leaving the hospital in Singapore, you will need a departure checklist, test results, medical records, prescriptions, post-treatment instructions, information for family doctor back home, insurance forms if necessary and receipts. In some cases, you may require pre and post-operative photos, depending on the procedure you have undergone. Hospitals may also formulate a Discharge Plan for you, which outlines in detail everything you need in order to make a smooth transition from hospital bed to your home.
Leaving checklist
While you are in hospital, it would be advisable to write down any questions you may have related to the leaving and checking out process. Remember, you are more than a patient, you are a customer and the priority for medical staff at any Singapore hospital is to ensure your departure is as comfortable and red-tape free as your arrival. Here are some of the questions that you should pose to your Singapore doctor:
- How long is the recovery period?
- How long before I can leave the country?
- In case of relapse while I'm still in Singapore, can I return for treatment. Are there extra costs involved?
- What should I expect during the recovery period. What reactions, conditions and situations should I look out for?
- How do I tell if there are complications? What are the signs and what should I do if the become apparent?
- How do I look after my incision wound, in case of surgery? How are the stitches removed?
- What medications should I take? What are they for? What are the dosages and what are the possible side-effects?
- What restrictions do I have in terms of physical activity and diet? How long would I have these restrictions?
- Do I need a personal nurse during my recovery period? Where can I receive such help and what qualifications am I looking for?
- Do I need any specialised medical equipment during my recovery period? If so, am I qualified to operate it or should it be done by a professional?
- What follow-up tests and procedures do I need to undergo? Do I need to return to Singapore and, if so, when and for how long?
Discharge Plan
Check with your Singapore hospital if they are able to provide you with a Discharge Plan. Many hospitals have a trained discharge planner who consults with your doctor and prepares a discharge plan for your post-procedural recovery period. The discharge plan helps to explain the stages of recovery and administration procedures and shows you how to perform tasks yourself and spot warning signs.
The planner will start his or her work in the days before you are scheduled to leave the hospital and will decide on a number of issues, including whether you need to be placed in a rehab centre, require nursing care, equipment, home care drills, bathing, dressing and other needs. You can liaise with your hospital's International Patient Service Centre (IPSC) to help plan your discharge.
Medical records and test results
Once you are under the care of your family doctor, or a rehabilitation facility, you need to provide them with as much information as possible about your Singapore procedure and what it entailed. Obtaining medical records and test results is, therefore, vital. All Singapore hospitals are able to provide you with these documents.
Singapore has recently set up an electronic database of medical records for hospitals belonging to the National Healthcare Group and Singapore Health Services. Singapore citizens and residents are able to access these quickly and your IPSC will be able to help you with your request. Hospitals have varying requirements before providing you with medical records but, generally, you should expect the following:
- Time: Anywhere from two to four weeks once you make an official request for your medical records.
- Delivery: You can receive the records by either collecting them personally or having them mailed to your home address.
- Documents: You need to provide some sort of identity with photo and possibly a letter from your doctor. You will need an authorisation letter if a third party is collecting the information on your behalf.
Prescriptions
Your Singapore doctor may prescribe drugs that you need to take while you are back at home. You may acquire these drugs in Singapore or after you return home. However, it is likely that you will be travelling home with some sort of prescription drugs or medicines. You should take adequate precautions. If you are traveling by plane, you should consider airport security, which these days is very strict on taking liquids above 100ml on board.
Do your homework on what you can and cannot take inside the plane. Make sure all prescription drugs are kept in their original containers with proper labels and keep handy a doctor’s note that explains your condition and supports the carrying of prescription drugs. The names of drugs may also vary. What is common terminology in Singapore may be alien in the United States. Find out from your doctor what obstacles you may face.
Post-operative instructions
If you have undergone a procedure, your Singapore doctor, possibly through a discharge plan, will provide you with details on how you can take care of yourself after your operation. This could involve referrals to another rehabilitation facility inside or outside Singapore, or specific instructions to be followed with the assistance of your family doctor. For this, you will need your medical records, test results and recovery schedule along with prescriptions as mentioned earlier.
Complementary healthcare & step-down care
Singapore has many complementary healthcare providers located conveniently within the city centre to provide subsidiary services such as traditional Chinese medicine, reflexology, chiropractors, spas and wellness centres. Your Singapore hospital can also provide a long-term step-down care plan, which may involve nursing home care. Your IPSC will be able to assist you with such services.
Insurance claims
Most insurance companies are unwilling to provide coverage for patients seeking overseas medical care. If they do, you are normally asked to pay up front and the company will reimburse you upon your arrival. To be safe, you should consider travel medical insurance, which can be helpful in cases where emergency evacuation may be needed.
Singapore hospitals are willing to accept payment against documentary support that you are insured for the procedures and treatments you are about to undergo. However, you will probably be asked to make a cash or credit card deposit that is equivalent to 10 per cent of your estimated bill. When you are preparing to leave the hospital, you should make arrangements to collect the required documents so that your insurance company can fulfill your claim:
- Medical certificate – you should ask your Singapore doctor to provide a medical certificate that proves you received treatment.
- Discharge summary – ask for a copy of the Inpatient Discharge Summary if you have attended a government or restructured hospital in Singapore.
- Receipts – Original hospital invoices and medical expenses receipts. Make sure the receipts are itemised for small and large expenses.
You can download insurance claim forms from websites of your particular health insurer. You are advised to liaise with your IPSC, which will help you with all the necessary details and documentation.
Pre and Post Operative Photos
Clinical photographs before and after procedures are usually recommended if you are undergoing cosmetic surgery. You should ensure that the two photos are taken with the same camera using the same light conditions and angle so that accurate comparisons can be made should the need arise.
Rest period before going home
Leaving the hospital can be stressful and fraught with hazards if you haven't planned it as well as your arrival in Singapore. Remember, travelling soon after a procedure can cause complications. Long flights can aggravate heart or breathing-related problems.
Experts also say that scars become darker and more noticeable if exposed to the sun. Therefore, you should plan some leisure time in Singapore between leaving your hospital and going home. Speak to your specialist and seek advice on what you can and cannot do with your vacation time. Singapore has a variety of leisure and tourist attractions, so there is sure to be something to accommodate your time and condition as you prepare to return to your homeland.
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