Check Up 13

Welcome to Check Up 13, in partnership with Ascension St. Vincent

WTHR and co-anchor and health reporter Anne Marie Tiernon have partnered with Ascension St. Vincent, part of Ascension, one of the leading non-profit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., on an initiative called Check Up 13. The goal of Check Up 13 is to educate and encourage Indiana residents to take a proactive role in their own health. Check Up 13 includes news stories that will air on the 13th of every month during WTHR's Health Beat segment. The monthly program will highlight providers and patient success stories at Ascension St. Vincent and focus on the health topic screening, event or promotion for that month.

Please read the details about this month's Check Up 13 below. On the 13th of each month, you can register by filling out the form at the bottom of the page or by calling 866-UCHECK13 (866-824-3251).

Traveling this summer? How to avoid bringing home an unwelcome souvenir.

Many international travelers may be surprised to learn that in addition to packing your swimsuit or hiking shoes, you also need a doctor's appointment. You may also be surprised to learn that your general practitioner, pediatrician, pharmacist, or primary care physician may not have the training or medicines needed to help prepare you to travel.

Ascension St. Vincent offers a world-class Travel Medical Clinic in Carmel, Indiana to help families prepare for international travel, and to help those who come home with unwelcome symptoms or conditions. Ascension Travel Medicine is part of our Ascension Medical Group St. Vincent - Infectious Disease Care. Led by two high-level providers with special training in infectious disease and prevention, Ascension Travel Medicine treats patients of all ages and international destinations. Our team can also help with medically unique travelers, like those with a history of organ transplantation, auto-immune disorders, or other infectious diseases.

“For patients who are very young or old or have medical conditions, travel can get quite complicated,” said Dr. Christopher Belcher, infectious disease specialist. “A visit to a travel medicine clinic can make your trip much more safe and enjoyable. In a typical visit I find out where and why a patient is traveling and then we discuss the risks associated with the travel and how we feel they are best handled. This can include medications, vaccines, or careful behaviors.”

The best time to visit Ascension Travel Medicine is 2 months before your trip, but we can help travelers within 2 weeks to 5 months ahead of their travel time. You'll need to know the date and location of your destination, bring a copy of your immunization records, and bring your passport to your visit.

If you return home from travel with symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, a rash, or a fever, please schedule an appointment with Ascension Travel Medicine as soon as possible by calling 317-582-8180.

What will happen during my appointment?

An important part of your Ascension Travel Medicine visit is counseling, where one of our doctors offers infection prevention information to your family and answers your questions. You may need to adjust our behaviors overseas, like how you obtain drinking water, how you brush your teeth, and where you use the restroom. You'll also discuss the safety of the activities you may have outlined on an itinerary.

“Even if you are going to your home country or visiting family, you are still traveling and may be at even higher risk of developing a travel-related sickness than tourists. Being careful about your food and drink, avoiding insects, and being up to date with your vaccines and medicines can really make travel safe and fun,” said Dr. Belcher.

Another important element is discussing your vaccination history and scheduling vaccinations to ensure you are protected against tropical diseases such as yellow fever or typhoid fever. You may also discuss preventative medications to prevent diseases like malaria. Providers at Ascension Travel Medicine are prepared to administer all necessary vaccines for overseas travel, and rely on guidance and recommendations from the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Check-Up 13

In partnership with WTHR-13 News, this month's Check Up 13 outlines the services provided at the Ascension Travel Medicine. To schedule an appointment, call 866-UCHECK13 between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on April 13, 2024, or register online at www.wthr.com/check-up-13 anytime on April 13, 2024. Appointments are self-pay with a 40% provider visit discount, and insurance is not billed. To learn more about Ascension Travel Medicine, call 317-582-8180 or visit this website.