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since June 2005

© 2005 Clyral Design

Starting a Clinic

What is a Travel Clinic?

A Travel Clinic provides up to date, accurate information of the health and safety aspects of specific destinations, to travelers.
By applying specific interventions, it ensures that the traveler remains healthy during his travels and returns home healthy.

Type of Travel Clinic

Dedicated travel clinic
Part of GP practice
Pharmacy provided there is medical supervision by a travel medicine qualified doctor
Integrated immunisation service
Occupational health clinic i.e corporate health

Type of Service

Pre travel screening and advisory service only
Pre, intra- and post travel screening, treatment & advisory service

Staffing structure

Doctor only
Sister run under travel medicine doctor supervision
Pharmacist run under travel medicine doctor supervision
Dedicated receptionist
Bookeeper
Cleaner

Premises

Is there a need in the area?
Yellow fever licenses are granted in areas of need only
one or two consulting rooms depending on usage & need of the area
Reception area may be shared by other health care professionals
Kitchen area is important & vaccine fridge may not be used for milk
Visible to the public, passing trade & for referrals & appointments
Easily accessible e.g. parking available

Yellow Fever License Requirements

A licence can only be obtained from the Department Of Health (DoH) & is issued in accordance with the International Health Regulations Act No 28 of 1974
Enroll for the Travel Medicine Course or any other recognised Travel Medicine qualification
Enroll for a dispensing course to dispense malaria medication and treatment
Apply for Section 38A for nursing staff through the DoH.

Equipment - general

Telephone with extensions
Credit card machine
Desks and chairs
Filing cabinet
Examination couch
Computer (INTERNET ACCESS IS ESSENTIAL)
Fridge with freezer
Fridge thermometer

Emergency Equipment

Portable oxygen
Ambu bag and airways
Emergency drugs
I.V .equipment
Accessible emergency numbers

Health , Safety and Environment

Work area well ventilated, clean and neat
Medical waste disposed of according to protocols & standards
Protocols for staff developed i.e needle stick injury
Legal requirements fulfilled in terms of Occupational Health & Safety Act.

Supplies

Vaccines
Medicines
Pill containers (if dispensing)
Syringes &needles
Swabs
Sharps containers
Travel kits
Repellents containing DEET
Nets etc.
Stationery
Vaccination cards
Patient medical & travel forms
Patient information leaflets & teaching aids.

Suppliers

Reputable and reliable
Correct transportation and storage - cold chain
Prompt delivery
Credit facilities
Continuation of supply
Notification of shortages

Storage of Medicines/Vaccines

Medicines in cool, dry place under lock
Pill counter
Printed containers/pill packets
All package inserts available
Vaccines refrigerated (2-8 degrees)
Temperature measured and recorded daily
Stored in centre of fridge (not doors)
Rotate stock regularly placing short dated stock in front
Record batch number and expiry dates

Training

Counselling techniques
Emergency procedures
Telephone answering techniques & triage
Basic IT including Word & Excel
Regular medical & travel medicine updates

Counselling

Patient to complete comprehensive form including destination, length of travel and a full medical history.
Utilise a dedicated data base with listed health risks worldwide or access to WHO/CDC websites.
Staff trained in consulting & counselling procedures
Maps / Atlas used to indicate areas of high risk & ensure staff & patients familiar with areas visited
Product knowledge including indications, contra-indications & adverse reactions
Information brochures used as detail aids

Administering Vaccines

Ensure protocols & procedures available for staff regarding all vaccines
Explain procedure to patient
Awareness of fear
Patient to sit or lie as vaso-vagal reaction may occur often as a result of fear
Observe patient 20-30 minutes
Ensure correct route is used as efficacy of vaccine may be compromised

Accounting

Computerised accounting system
Include Nappi codes/ICD10 codes for medical aid claims on the statement
Decide between cash only or accounts/medical aid
Stock control done regularly to minimize stock loss

Patient Records

Must be retained for 10yrs (travel), 40 yrs (occupational health)
Accurate recording by staff, particularly phone calls
Accessible to staff but kept in lockable cabinet
Name, age, destination and full medical history
Vaccines dispensed and batch numbers
Medication given with dosage and quantity
Adverse reactions clearly recorded
All follow up calls noted

Vaccination Cards

International Certificate of Vaccination Cards must be used for all Yellow Fever vaccinations.
For other vaccinations various other cards issued by pharmaceutical companies or your own designed card may be used.

International Certificate of Vaccination (Yellow Card)

Supplied by sanofi pasteur in accordance with the DoH. These cards are barcoded with a watermark
WHO format adhered to
Correctly completed in full including the following:
Only issue after yellow fever vaccine given
Only issue a card if you have administered the vaccine
Advise traveler to travel with the yellow card (certificate)

Other services

Pre and post travel medical assessment
Post travel medical assistance e.g. malaria screening
Travel related products e.g travel wallets
Travel insurance
Telephonic travel helpline

Membership

Join SASTM so that you have regular information on disease outbreaks, maintaining competence and up to date information on what is happening in the travel medicine world

Downloads

Click on a link to download.

Department of Health Contacts

YELLOW FEVER LICENSE APPLICATIONS AND PROCESSING

Ms Ester Morodi
PH: 012 3120310
morode@health.gov.za