The medical journey does not end at the airport. What happens in the weeks after you return home determines how durable your treatment results will be — and most of it comes down to records and communication.
Before you fly
Request a complete discharge package in English: diagnosis summary, operative or procedure report, medication plan with generic drug names, pathology and imaging results, and follow-up instructions with specific dates. Ask for imaging on a disc or USB in DICOM format. Confirm who to contact for questions — ideally a named doctor in the international department with an email address.
Handing over to your home doctor
Book a follow-up with your own physician within two weeks of return. Bring the full package; generic drug names matter because brands differ between countries. Ask your Chinese team which alerts should trigger a return visit or an urgent consultation.
Remote follow-up
Most international departments offer video follow-ups for reviewing lab results, adjusting medication plans and answering questions between physical visits — a simple, low-cost way to stay connected to the team that treated you.
A simple records habit
Keep one folder — physical and digital — with everything: reports, receipts (for insurance), imaging and contact details. Patients who maintain complete records consistently get better continuity of care, wherever in the world they are treated.