Summer is a season of traveling and exploring God’s creation. One of the most important steps in preparing for travel is often overlooked: a visit to your physician.

A pre-travel medical check-up doesn’t feel as urgent as booking flights or reserving lodging, but it plays a critical role in ensuring your trip is enjoyable, safe, and uninterrupted.

Prevention is better than interruption

Research suggests that 30–60% of international travelers experience some form of travel-related illness, ranging from mild gastrointestinal issues to serious infections. Many of these conditions are preventable—or at least manageable—with appropriate preparation.

A pre-travel visit helps your physician identify potential risks specific to your destination and personal health history. Whether it’s updating routine medications, addressing chronic conditions, or recommending preventive measures. In short, seeing your doctor before traveling significantly reduces the likelihood of a medical issue disrupting your plans.

Accessing care before you go

For many, scheduling a visit with a trusted primary care physician is straightforward. However, if you lack access to a local physician or can’t get an appointment scheduled before your trip, as a CHM member, there’s another excellent option.

CHM members are encouraged to use HealthTap, included in your membership. HealthTap provides access to virtual primary care visits—allowing you to consult with a physician from the comfort of your home.

Peace of mind for the journey

There is another equally important benefit to pre-travel healthcare: peace of mind.

When you travel after a medical review, you carry confidence with you. You know your prescriptions are up to date, you have a plan if symptoms arise, and you are not caught in an unfamiliar place trying to learn a foreign healthcare system.

Stress often turns small problems into larger ones. Preparation, on the other hand, allows you to enjoy the people, places, and purpose of your trip without distraction.

Special considerations for travelers

A pre-travel exam becomes especially important if:

• You have chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or asthma
• You are traveling internationally or to remote areas
• You are pregnant, elderly, or traveling with young children
• You are planning physically demanding activities (hiking, mission work, etc.)

For those planning international travel, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide guidance on required and recommended treatment in advance of visiting other countries. Reviewing this resource with your physician can help prepare you for your specific itinerary.

Your physician may recommend vaccinations, preventive medications, or adjustments to your current treatment plan. In some cases, they may even identify concerns that should be addressed before travel—preventing what could become a serious issue away from home.

A real-world reminder

CHM member, Donald Sorensen, underwent routine medical testing before a mission trip and discovered a serious underlying condition. What could have become a crisis abroad instead became an opportunity for timely treatment and recovery.

Stories like his serve as a powerful reminder: preparation is not merely about avoiding inconvenience—it can be life-changing.

Caring for the whole person

Healthcare isn’t only responding to illness but stewarding the health God has entrusted to us. Taking time to prepare your body for travel reflects wisdom, responsibility, and care for yourself and those traveling with you.

Scripture reminds us in Proverbs 27:12, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” A pre-travel medical visit is a practical expression of that prudence.

Before you go

As you prepare for your next trip, consider adding these items to your checklist:

• Schedule a visit with your physician (in-person or virtual)
• Review medications and refill prescriptions
• Discuss destination-specific risks
• Review CDC travel guidance for international trips
• Create a simple plan for managing unexpected illness

These small steps can make a profound difference.

The goal of your journey is not simply to arrive—but to experience it fully, safely, and with peace.

Resources

International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM): https://www.istm.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Travelers’ Health: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

HealthTap (Virtual Primary Care): https://www.healthtap.com

DPC Frontier (Direct Primary Care Physician Finder): https://www.dpcfrontier.com