Passport Health News & Press Releases

  • Pre-Travel Physical Exams: Why You Need One Whether you are planning to travel for business or pleasure, the success and enjoyment of your trip will depend upon how healthy you are. When you’re feeling under the weather, you just want to stay in bed or curl up on the couch… but if you have been saving your money for months (or even years!) to take the trip of a lifetime, you surely don’t want to waste a minute of your time!  Minor ailments certainly affect how we feel and how we enjoy each day, and more major health problems could land us in hospital – the last place any traveler wants to be. The Importance of Travel Physicals A pre-travel physical exam may seem like an unnecessary way to part with more money, but if you’re already spending thousands of dollars on your vacation, the cost of a physical examination for travel is quite insignificant in comparison. Another way to look at this is: how much time and money could you potentially lose by having a ruined vacation? If you were going on a road trip, wouldn’t you have your car serviced before leaving? It’s only common sense to be sure everything is in good working order before taking a trip! Think of it this way: a pre-travel health assessment is like taking your car in for an oil change. You are checking to make sure all the parts are in good working order, and, in so doing, you can rest easier that no latent conditions will surface while you’re away from home. Being Ill Abroad You don’t have to sign up for thrill-seeking and adventures to need a medical exam for travel – though, obviously, if you are planning on extreme adventure travel, making sure your body is in tip-top condition becomes even more important.  However, even basic travel puts the body through a lot before we even reach our destination – long flights subject our bodies to many rigors, including increased air pressure, dehydration, and cramped conditions. Apart from the fact that being ill abroad is simply no fun, a sickness overseas may require you to cut your vacation short altogether. The standards of medical care you are used to at home may not be available overseas. Indeed, medical facilities may be sub-par, cleanliness could be an issue, and you may end up leaving the hospital sicker than when you came in.  Although it is impossible to rule out all risk, making good choices helps to keep you healthy. One such good choice is a pre-travel physical exam to help highlight any underlying conditions so you can act on those before departure. Indeed, a simple exam can help you stay well abroad and avoid ruining a vacation altogether. Travel Vaccinations A pre-travel health assessment is also a great way to discover which vaccinations may be needed for your destination. Your Passport Health Travel Medicine Expert will advise which vaccines are required and recommended for your trip and can administer the vaccinations during the exam.  This saves you from having to make a separate visit ...
  • Passport Health Attends GBTA Convention in Boston BALTIMORE, MD – Guillermo Giraldo, Passport Health’s National Sales Manager and Tammy Broghammer, Marketing Manager, represented the nationwide network of travel vaccine clinics at the Global Business Travel Association Convention in Boston July 22-25, 2012. The convention featured an impressive line-up of sponsors such as the Boeing Company and Concur as well as renowned keynote speakers. “We are excited to be a part of The Business Travel Event of the Year,” says Fran Lessans, Founder and President of Passport Health, the leading provider of travel medical services in the United States. “We are expecting tremendous growth over the next few years as Corporate America is realizing the importance of implementing travel health and safety programs, including immunizations, for their employees,” she adds. The convention featured over 6,000 attendees, including 1,400 travel buyers and more than 400 exhibitors from all over the world. Among exhibitors were big names such as Hertz, SkyTeam, Marriott International, Sabre, AmericanAirlines and Orbitz for Business. Keynote speakers included comedian and head writer of “Saturday Night Live” Seth Meyers as well as Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. “The convention was a full success,” notes National Sales Manager Guillermo Giraldo. “We received great feedback from attendees and fellow exhibitors and felt truly appreciated at the conference. We are already looking forward to attending next year’s GBTA Convention in San Diego.” Passport Health, the leading provider of travel medical services in the nation, surpassed the 200 locations mark earlier this year and is now represented in 42 States. The company’s business model is unique in the medical service industry. The Vaccine Specialists® counsel travelers before their departure and provide them with destination-specific travel information, a complete line of travel and wellness immunizations as well as specialty travel products. Passport Health has positioned itself to support the needs of corporations with its flexible on-site immunization programs—including on-site flu clinics, on-site travel medical services and on-site wellness clinics.
  • PASSPORT HEALTH, TRAVEL INDUSTRY LEADERS GEAR UP FOR THE NATIONAL TOUR ASSOCIATION’S CONVENTION BALTIMORE, MD – 12/06/2011 – Jorge Eduardo Castillo, Passport Health’s Corporate Director of Business Development & Marketing, will speak at the 2011 National Tour Association Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 5th to the 9th.  Passport Health is the leading provider of travel medical services and immunizations in the U.S.  The company’s travel medicine specialists counsel and prepare travelers whether they are traveling for business, leisure, mission or volunteer work. “We are honored to be a part of this conference,” commented Castillo.  “As thought leaders in our industry, we put a lot of emphasis and resources on patient education.  You have to ‘know before you go’ or you run the risk of succumbing to unnecessary ailments,” he said.  “Travel industry leaders need to understand the importance of travel health counseling and immunizations.  This can make the difference between a trip of a lifetime and a trip no one wants to remember.” The National Tour Association (NTA) is the leading association for travel industry professionals to and from North America.  There are over 40 Countries and 600 destinations represented.  “What sets NTA tour operators apart is the high-quality service they provide their clients.  And nothing supersedes the clients’ safety and health,” said Lisa Simon, president of NTA. “Passport Health will help our members understand how to prepare their customers for overseas travel.  The more tour operators can learn about what can go wrong, the better they can make sure everything goes right.” Mr. Castillo will be speaking about the importance of travel medicine as a crucial component of the trip planning process during the education seminar titled The Business Case Behind Protecting Your Client’s Health.  “One of the issues we will be discussing is the correlation between seeing a travel medicine specialist and a decrease in travel-related illnesses,” continued Castillo.  “This means a healthy traveler, good reviews for the travel agent and a return-client for the future. Everyone wins.” Earlier this year Castillo traveled to Dakar, Senegal to speak to the Africa Travel Association’s (ATA) delegates during the ATA 36th Annual World Global Congress.  Oftentimes, leisure and business travelers are left to find resources on their own or are advised to visit a health department; neither option is adequate for an individual who is traveling to areas in certain underdeveloped countries like India, China, Brazil, Peru and even some parts of Europe. About Passport Health: Passport Health is an innovative network of travel immunization clinics with offices in 36 states and 200 offices nationwide. The company’s business model is unique in the medical service industry.  The Vaccine Specialists® counsel travelers before their departure and provide them with destination-specific travel information, a complete line of travel and wellness immunizations, specialty travel products and travel and evacuation insurance.  Passport Health has positioned itself to support the needs of corporations with its flexible on-site immunization programs—including on-site flu clinics, on-site travel medical services and on-site wellness clinics.
  • HPV Vaccine Recommended for Males The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for males aged 9 through 26 years. A newly published study shows a link between the HPV virus and neck and throat cancers in men. (link to study abstract) This year more than 8,500 HPV-positive head and neck cancers have been recorded. According to the CDC about 60% of throat cancers are linked to HPV. More than half of people who are sexually active will contract the HPV virus at some point in their lives. However, most people with HPV do not develop symptoms. The HPV vaccine is a safe and effective way to possibly prevent these cancers in the future and is given as a three shot series over the course of 6 months. Please visit the HPV page on our website to learn more: http://www.passporthealthusa.com/vaccinations/human-papillomavirus-hpv/. Call Passport Health at 1-888-499-7277 to make an appointment to receive your HPV vaccine.