After Your Treatment: Records, Prescriptions & Follow-Up
How to come home well-equipped — the documents to collect before you leave, getting prescriptions, and setting up follow-up care back home or remotely.
The trip isn’t over when you fly home — aftercare is where your recovery really continues. Here’s how to make sure you leave China with everything you need.
Collect these documents before you leave
Ask the hospital (or your coordinator) to give you official copies of:
- Discharge summary (出院小结) — the single most important document
- Diagnosis & procedure report(s)
- All lab results and imaging (on a USB / CD if possible, plus printed copies)
- Operative / surgical report if you had surgery
- Medication list — names, doses, and duration
- Official invoice (发票) and itemized bill — for your insurance claim
- Referral / follow-up plan — what to do next and when
💡 Request English translations of the key documents (discharge summary, diagnosis, med list). Some international departments provide this; if not, a certified translation helps your home doctor.
Prescriptions & medication
- Ask whether your prescription can be issued so you can fill it — and whether any meds are restricted (some can’t be carried across borders).
- Carry your medication list + doctor’s note explaining what each drug is and why (for customs).
- Confirm refill availability back home, especially for specialty oncology or cardiac drugs that may differ by country.
- For controlled/restricted substances, check the rules of your home country and transit countries before you fly.
Setting up follow-up
- Book your follow-up before you leave — either a return visit in China or a tele-consultation.
- Ask your home doctor to coordinate: send them the discharge summary and results in advance.
- For remote follow-up, ChinaCare can help set up a tele-consultation with your treating team (see Tele-consultation).
- Set a calendar reminder for key post-op or post-chemo checkpoints.
Practical post-trip checklist
- Discharge summary + diagnosis (English copy)
- All results + imaging (USB/CD + print)
- Med list + doctor’s note for customs
- Invoice (发票) + itemized bill for insurance
- Follow-up appointment booked
- Results shared with your home doctor
- Insurance claim filed (see Insurance & claims)
Red flags that need prompt attention
Fever, worsening pain, unusual swelling/drainage, or symptoms that return after treatment — don’t wait for the scheduled follow-up. Contact your treating team or see a doctor promptly.
⚠️ Verify before you travel. Document availability and translation services vary by hospital. Request your full file and translations directly before you leave.
📮 Want help setting up your follow-up after the trip? Contact us →