Infographic
Leaving hospital is not the end of treatment abroad. Before you fly home you should have a discharge summary, your medicines, fitness-to-fly advice from your doctor and a follow-up plan. Get copies of all records before you leave India. Once home, IndiaMedica arranges teleconsultations with your treating doctors and helps share results with your local doctor.
IndiaMedicaFrom discharge to home- In hospitalDischarge planningThe treating team decides when you are ready to leave and explains care for the days after.
- Leaving hospitalDischarge summary and medicinesCollect the written summary, prescriptions and enough medicine, with clear instructions for each.
- Before bookingFitness to flyYour doctor advises when it is safe to fly and whether you need any precautions on the flight.
- Before departureCollect all recordsGet copies of reports, scans, operation notes and test results to take home.
- JourneyFly homeFollow the doctor’s advice on moving, fluids and medicines during the flight.
- At homeSee your local doctorShare the discharge summary so your own doctor can continue care and arrange local checks.
- Follow-upTeleconsultationsVideo reviews with your treating doctors in India, with results shared through IndiaMedica.
What is in a discharge summary?
It is the hospital’s written record of your treatment and the plan that follows. Ask that it lists your diagnosis, the procedure, your medicines and the warning signs to watch for. Your local doctor will rely on it, so check that it is clear and complete before you leave.
Who decides when you can fly?
Your treating doctor does. CDC notes that flying after surgery can increase the risk of blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis. The safe time to travel depends on the operation and on you. Ask the doctor for written fitness-to-fly advice and keep it with your travel documents.
Which records should you take home?
- Discharge summary and operation notes
- Test results and imaging, as files where possible
- Prescriptions with generic medicine names
- Implant or device details, if any
- The follow-up plan and contact details
CDC advises getting copies of records from the treating facility before you return home. It also advises confirming that follow-up care will be available where you live.
Plan follow-up before you travel
Talk to your local doctor before leaving for India. Ask whether they will see you on your return and which tests they can arrange.
How does follow-up from India work?
After you return, IndiaMedica arranges teleconsultations with your treating doctors. It helps share new results so both teams stay informed.
Questions people ask
What if I have a problem after I get home?
Contact your local doctor or emergency services first if symptoms are urgent. For non-urgent questions, your case manager can arrange a teleconsultation with your treating doctor in India. Keep the discharge summary handy so any doctor can see what was done.
Can I book my return flight before treatment?
You can, but your doctor decides when it is safe to fly, and that may differ from your booking. Many patients choose flexible tickets. Your case manager can help change plans if the treating team advises a later date.
Sources
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.