Information for International Physicians

The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, a teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School, is consistently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the U.S. for care in ophthalmology (eye) and otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat, and head-and-neck). With a staff from more than 40 countries, the Infirmary has a long-established and proud tradition of providing care to international patients.

Each year, the Infirmary welcomes and treats patients from all over the world who seek the most advanced, specialized treatment available. The Infirmary understands that patients have unique requirements when undergoing treatment outside their own country. To address these needs and ensure that international patients receive high-quality, cost-effective medical care, the Infirmary established an International Office in 1996.

In serving the needs of international patients, the International Office also recognizes the special needs of referring physicians, overseas health care facilities, insurance providers and others.

Services for Referring Physicians and Other Health Care Providers

To determine whether it would be appropriate for you to refer an international patient to the Infirmary, our physicians will review your patient's medical records, and recommend treatment options. We have established Consultation Service Guidelines for both ophthalmology and otolaryngology, as follows:

Referral Guidelines: Ophthalmology

• Explain Reason for Consultation
• Chief Complaint
• Specific Questions to be Answered
• Detail History of Present Illness: detail chronological history of the onset of the problem and the time course of its development, including
• Signs and symptoms
• Performance status
• Detail Prior Medical History: List disease that may influence the patient's present condition
• Describe Pertinent Habits
• Use of Cigarettes: number of packs per day; number of years smoked
• Use of alcohol: number of drinks per week
• Use of Caffeine: Number of cups per day of coffee, tea, soda
• Use of Other Drugs
• Include Copies of All Studies and Lab Tests Performed, And Clinical Procedures
• List Current Medications, Generic if Possible
• Describe Treatment Plan
• Detail any Other Pertinent Information

Referral Guidelines: Otolaryngology

• Chief Complaint
• Specific Questions to be Answered

• Signs and symptoms
• Performance status
• Renal, Pulmonary, Cardiac, and Hepatic functions

• Illnesses and Surgeries and their dates
• Known Allergies
• Chronic Problems

• Use of Cigarettes: number of packs per day; number of years smoked
• Use of alcohol: number of drinks per week
• Use of Caffeine: Number of cups per day of coffee, tea, soda
• Use of Other Drugs

Medical records should be mailed or faxed to the International Office. In addition, up to 1Mb (megabits) of images can be scanned, digitized and sent as an email attachment. Images should be attached as jpeg files.

If one of your patients decides to come to the Infirmary for treatment, the International Office can provide an estimate of expenses

Post-Treatment Services

Following treatment, the International Office will continue to work with you to ensure that the patient's needs are met, by:

• Recommending follow-up treatment
• Sharing medical records

Services for International Patients

The International Office offers comprehensive services to meet your special needs while you are undergoing treatment at the Infirmary. Services include:

• Scheduling medical appointments
• Assisting with hospital registration and admitting
• Providing complementary interpreting services during hospital consultations
• Making financial transactions as simple as possible (Payments may be made in cash or traveler's checks, U.S. dollars, or by American Express, Visa or MasterCard)

In addition, the Infirmary provides:

• 24-hour security force

Contact Information

The International Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. For further information on the Infirmary's services for international patients, physicians, overseas health care facilities, and insurance providers, please contact:

Camille Condon, Director
International Patient Office
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
243 Charles Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114 USA
617-573-4362 (voice)
617-573-5513 (24-hour fax)
camille_condon@meei.harvard.edu (e-mail)

In and Around Boston

Boston has been called one of America's most "European" cities. It is a commercial and cultural center located on the Atlantic coast 210 miles northeast of New York City. Home to some of the world's finest universities, Boston also attracts multinational corporations and prestigious international conferences. Voted "safest U.S. city" by tourists, Boston offers many artistic and recreational activities throughout the year.

To ensure that your patients and their families enjoy their trip to the Boston area, we have provided the following links to additional information about Boston.

Hotels
Multilingual Multimedia Guide
Boston Globe newspaper
Boston Magazine
Boston Red Sox
City of Boston
Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau
Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of Science

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