ETSU Health opens travel clinic

KINGSPORT — ETSU Health is now offering a travel clinic to help patients prepare for international travel, according to a press release. The facility is located in the ETSU Health Infectious Diseases in Kingsport. It is led by an infectious diseases physician and provides personalized vaccinations, pre-travel consultations and guidance on travel destinations outside of the U.S. "Expanding access to specialized services like travel medicine reflects our continued commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our region," Dr. Deidre Pierce, chair for ETSU's Department of Internal Medicine, said in a press release. "This clinic builds on ETSU Health's long-standing role in caring for our communities while supporting our strategic vision to improve access to both primary and specialty care close to home." According to the news release, patients can receive customized health recommendations based on their travel plans and history. The clinic recommends scheduling appointments eight weeks before a trip, although it can work on shorter timeframes. The infectious diseases department also evaluates patients who get sick after traveling. "International travel can expose patients to health risks they may not encounter at home," said Dr. Matthew R. Krolikowski, the infectious diseases physician who manages the clinic, in the release. "Our goal is to provide thoughtful, individualized guidance so patients can prepare appropriately and focus on enjoying their trip."