·        Make a Travel Packing List. I use a templates and modify it – adding in its TITLE the Travel Inclusive Dates, Destination – as reference for present and future travels

·        Check weather websites and plug requirements – add it to the page

·        There are three types of luggages – check-in, hand-carry and the allowed extra hand-carry.

·        Verify baggage weight limit from carrier airline website and/or travel agency.Bring portable weighing scale IN the hand carry for easy use prior to entry to check-in counters.

·        In the travel packing list, I provide column for labeling / coloring to which bag a particular item belongs – matching the column color highlight with the bag color (sample : passports go into the blue hand carry bag à it will have blue column highlighting. See sample in 

·        Subsections are made in the Travel packing List

o   Documents to bring: 

§  Passport w at least 6-month validity; other passport with effective visas if doing cross-country travels with active visas in other old passports

§  Appropriate Visa with correct number of allowed entries and correct dates

§  Appropriate Funds and options

§  Confirmation of Hotel Accommodations

§  Activity Confirmation (Conference Registration, etc)

§  Insurance Coverage

o   Other subsections in Travel Packaging List include:

§  Communications Equipments, Options, Provisions AND SPARES

·      Mobile phoneS, Watchphones, iPads , tablets, powerbanks, etc

§  Medications List and required Rx – I use Travel prescription format that describes Meds brand, generic, its use and how to take them

§  Other equipments ( Photography, medical,etc.)  

·      I bring Surgitech pulse oximeter, EMAV ECG Monitor and wireless stemoscope

·      Enough Masks for the duration of travel – just in case

·      Spare Contact lenses / eyeglasses
Do NOT put all meds in 1 bag - redistribute

§  Worship Materials 

·        Clothing – consider WEATHER the WEEK before travel dates, AND ITS potential VARIABILITY during your stay. Check update on destination weather. How long is the travel?

o   Don’t Use prolonged unused footwears. Wear something comfortable that you are used to. Don’t experiment during travel…

·        Accommodation Amenities – are NOT always provided. Anticipate. 

·        Other subsections as you see fit.

o   +/- Souvenir to look for …

o   +/- Pasalubong sections …

o   ENJOY YOUR BREAK!!

THE EVOLUTION OF THE 8.5x11 PRESCRIPTION Sheet

Through the decades, the routine prescription form, or Rx as we call it, has evolved to address the various needs of the patients we see - there are common needs that stand out though. First, they need to know what they have, or at least  what disease(s) is/are bring entertained on them, What is our Working Diagnosis?

Patients also need to understand what those individual meds are for, how long they are to be taken, some are concerned on the milligrams of meds, the generic names are required for senior citizen or PWD discounts, and more importantly how they are going to be taken.

As they often have comorbidities, they need to be reminded to let their other doctors know of the new prescription meds they receive. Furthermore,follow up visits have to be known and options to come earlier if needs arise should be advised in written form.

Patients need to be advised as well on unexpected adverse events of medications, or interactions with their other meds, and this has to be conveyed written in a language they understand in a font size they can read, hence the example of such Rx below.

A simple reminder is added to avoid substitution of drugs, a practice not so rare in the local setting, (esp after an incidental consult from a neighbor who was trying to be a doctor ha ha)

Lastly, the Rx shall serve as  a Consult Summary obviating the need for another certification of consult.

My Teleconsulting How-To's

Set-Up:

Patient communicates via Secretary first whose contact number is known to them in the past or available from hospital website and/or this MD's website

They are sent Evaluation Form by secretary. After accomplishing Eval Form, it is sent back to secretary , together with copies of  recent labs / xray reports patient may have. Digital xray images too are sent and evaluated for quality –at times, they are sent to clinic via courier for hard copy review prior to telecon.

Patient profile is then reviewed by MD if okay for telecon. Febrile or dyspneic patients are advised immediate ER consults.

1.    Make sure there is a properly-signed consent form and dated by patient or assisting relative.

2.    Relatives are advised to get ready with their  pulse oximeter and BP Monitor.  Other apps are taught to patient if need arises.

3.    Prior to any teleconsult, 

a.    the Pre-Teleconsult Evaluation Form will need to be signed AS WELL, there the symptoms will be asked in BIG fonts with wide space for answering;

b.    REMINDERs are included in the EVAL FORM and are given to patients or relatives with regards to telecon set-up

                                              i.     Stay steady in a preferably quiet open space with good wifi connectivity FIRST

                                             ii.     Avoid moving around when teleconsult starts

                                           iii.     Keep phone steady.

c.     MAKE SURE the patient can hear (and if not, remind relatives to stay with him/her)

4.    During the consult, the usual audio-video interaction occurs. I prefer with video so I can see how they talk, how they breathe, how they use their inhalers or peak flow meters or exercisers, if neck veins are distended, if neck muscle retractions occur, if pulsations in the pulse monitor are regular (there are helpful downloadable apps), we can see leg swelling or other gross abnormalities.

5.    After the consult, the usual Rx is provided, complete with the following entries 

Medicine / Tabulated – Para Saan, Ilan, Name, Generic, Paano Inumin – Eng/Tag  Big Font 12-14

-Also Included in the 8.5 x 11 or A4-sized Rx sheet are the following:

What to do in case of medicine intolerance and / or allergy

            For Non-covid

            For Covid Px - w concerns on mask use, O2 use, Leave from office work, travel concerns, infectiousness issues, vaccination  issues.

            For Post-covid Pxs – Covid-format Rx PLUS long-term concerns / resumption to activities

Rx’s are sent to patient via Viber using the teleconsult phone and re-checked if received clearly after cropping / cartoonized editing which  is very helpful in making Rx image clearer with darker fonts and whiter background.

A recap of Rx entries is done to make sure the patient or accompanying relative understands the whole prescription.