Pre-travel medical services are provided by 11 nurses, including 10 registered nurses (RNs) and 1 licensed practical nurse (LPN). This trained nursing staff receives continuing travel medical education and participate in the training of Thiazovivin new providers. All nurses have completed a full training program and 7 of the 11 (64%) of clinic nursing staff serve more than 10 patients a week. Quality assurance measures show that approximately 0.5% of charts reviewed contain a vaccine or prescription error which require patient notification for correction. Conclusion. Using an initial training program, standardized patient intake forms, vaccine and prescription
protocols, preprinted prescriptions, and regular CME, highly trained nurses at travel clinics are able to provide standardized check details pre-travel care to international travelers originating from Utah. It is estimated that 880 million people crossed international borders in 2009 and that this number will rise by 3% to 4% in 2010.1 Continual increases in international travel have amplified the prevalence of travel-related morbidity and mortality and have led to the development of the field of travel medicine.2 In the last two decades, travel medicine has emerged as a field with its own professional society; the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM),
and a Certificate in Travel Health (CTH) Exam.3 The Infectious Disease Society of America and the ISTM recommend that pre-travel health and
disease-prevention advice comes from providers with specialized training in travel medicine.4 The percent of travelers seeking such pre-travel health advice is currently estimated at 31% to 86%.5,6 The increase in people traveling coupled with guidelines advocating that professionals who offer pre-travel counseling be specially trained in travel medicine has created an increased awareness in the value of a specialized travel clinic. Such a clinic can offer up-to-date pre-travel counseling, vaccinations, prescriptions, and post-travel evaluation. The ideal qualifications for travel-clinic providers include a solid knowledge base, adequate experience, and continuing medical education (CME).7 This is supported by a study from Canada finding that increased education is the greatest desire of travel medicine practitioners and staff.8 To date, only Phospholipase D1 one previous study, out of the Netherlands, has tried to quantitate training at travel clinics. It indicated that while 93% of physicians were adequately trained, only 55% of nurses working in travel clinics were sufficiently qualified.9 The University of Utah has long been a resource for international travelers, and in 2008 an estimated 228,000 airline passengers left Utah for an international destination.10 In 1996, the University of Utah partnered with a local health department and created a community travel clinic to provide pre-travel services.