Before You Travel
- Medical Records Checklist
- Medical Record Translation Preparing CT, MRI and PET-CT Images
- Understanding DICOM Files
- Pathology Reports & Slides
- Laboratory Test Results
- Medication List
- Previous Treatment History
- Allergy & Medical History
- Preparing for a Remote Case Review
- Questions to Prepare for Your Doctor
- Pre-Travel Medical Checklist
Prepare for medical treatment in China by organizing your medical records, imaging files, pathology reports, medication list, and treatment history. This guide helps international patients understand what information to prepare before travel and how to get ready for consultations or case reviews.
Preparing for Medical Treatment in China: What to Do Before You Travel
A practical guide to medical records, imaging, pathology, medications and case preparation for international patients
Traveling to another country for medical care requires more preparation than booking a hospital appointment and purchasing a flight.
Before travelling to China for medical treatment, international patients should organize their medical records, diagnostic imaging, pathology reports, laboratory results, medication information and previous treatment history.
Having complete and well-organized medical information can help doctors understand your case more efficiently and may reduce missing information during a medical case review or consultation.
In some situations, your medical records may also be reviewed before you travel, helping determine which hospital, department or specialist may be appropriate for your condition.
This guide explains what medical information to prepare before travelling to China for treatment and how to organize your records for hospital consultation or remote case review.
On This Page
Prepare Your Medical Records Before Traveling to China
Your medical records provide the clinical background doctors need to understand your condition.
The exact documents required will depend on your diagnosis and previous treatment, but patients should generally collect the records most relevant to their current medical problem.
These may include:
- diagnosis reports;
- consultation notes;
- hospital records;
- discharge summaries;
- laboratory test results;
- imaging reports;
- CT, MRI or PET-CT images;
- pathology reports;
- pathology slides where relevant;
- surgery records;
- previous treatment records;
- medication lists;
- allergy information;
- relevant medical history.
The purpose is not simply to collect as many documents as possible.
The goal is to create a clear medical history that allows the receiving medical team to understand what has already happened and what question you are currently seeking help with.
Medical Records Checklist for Treatment in China
Before sending your case to a hospital or travelling for treatment, organize your records into several categories.
Diagnosis
Include the most recent diagnosis and any previous diagnoses related to your condition.
If the diagnosis has changed over time, keep the earlier reports as well so doctors can understand how the case developed.
Medical history
Prepare a summary of your relevant medical history.
This may include previous illnesses, hospital admissions, surgeries and other significant medical events.
Diagnostic tests
Collect relevant test results such as:
- blood tests;
- laboratory reports;
- imaging reports;
- pathology reports;
- other diagnostic examinations related to your condition.
Previous treatment
Include information about treatments you have already received.
This is particularly important when you are seeking another treatment option, a second opinion or further care after previous treatment.
Current medication
Prepare a current medication list that clearly shows what you are taking now.
Allergies
Make sure known medication allergies or other medically relevant allergies are clearly documented.
Keeping these records together can make communication with hospitals and doctors more efficient.
Do Medical Records Need to Be Translated?
Language can become an important part of international medical care.
If your medical records are not already available in a language that the receiving hospital or medical team can review, translation may be necessary.
However, translation requirements may vary depending on the hospital, specialist and type of medical review.
For this reason, it is usually better to confirm what documents need translation before translating an entire medical file.
Prioritize clinically important information
If translation is needed, priority should generally be given to records that directly affect medical decision-making.
These may include:
- diagnosis reports;
- pathology reports;
- imaging reports;
- operation records;
- discharge summaries;
- previous treatment summaries;
- important laboratory results.
A well-organized translated medical summary can also make it easier for the medical team to understand the sequence of your treatment history.
Preparing CT, MRI and PET-CT Images
Written imaging reports are important, but they may not always provide all the information a specialist needs.
For some medical conditions, doctors may need to review the actual imaging rather than relying only on the written report.
Relevant imaging may include:
- CT;
- MRI;
- PET-CT;
- other imaging related to your diagnosis.
Before travelling or requesting a remote case review, check whether you still have access to the original imaging files.
If possible, keep both:
the imaging report
and
the original image files
available for medical review.
What Is a DICOM File?
Patients preparing CT or MRI records may come across the term DICOM.
DICOM is commonly used for storing and viewing medical imaging.
Instead of being a single ordinary image such as a JPG or PNG, a medical scan may contain a complete series of images that allows doctors to examine different slices and views.
For international patients, this distinction matters because sending only screenshots of a CT or MRI may not provide the same information as the complete imaging study.
When preparing imaging records, check whether the hospital or imaging center can provide the original medical imaging files.
Keep these files together with the corresponding imaging report.
Preparing Pathology Reports and Pathology Slides
Pathology can be particularly important for patients whose diagnosis depends on tissue examination.
Your pathology materials may include:
- pathology reports;
- biopsy reports;
- surgical pathology reports;
- pathology slides;
- other pathology-related records.
If you are seeking a second opinion or further treatment, another medical team may want to review the previous pathology information.
The exact materials required depend on the condition and the type of review being requested.
Therefore, patients should keep both the written pathology report and, where available and relevant, information about how the original pathology materials can be accessed.
Organize Your Laboratory Test Results
Laboratory results can help doctors understand your current condition and how it has changed over time.
Rather than sending isolated test results without context, try to keep reports in chronological order.
Relevant tests may include those related to:
- diagnosis;
- treatment response;
- general health;
- ongoing monitoring.
Recent results may be particularly important, but earlier results can also help show how a condition has developed.
If several tests were performed during different stages of treatment, keeping them in date order makes the medical history easier to follow.
Prepare a Complete Medication List
Patients should prepare a list of medications they currently use.
For each medication, try to record clearly:
- medication name;
- current use;
- relevant treatment context.
You should also include medications used as part of previous treatment when they are relevant to your current medical condition.
This information helps the receiving medical team understand what treatments you have already received and what medication you are currently using.
Do not rely only on memory during the consultation.
Having a written medication list can reduce the risk of forgetting important information.
Prepare Your Previous Treatment History
Previous treatment history is one of the most important parts of a medical case.
If you have already received treatment before considering medical care in China, organize the sequence of that treatment.
This may include:
- previous consultations;
- surgery;
- medication;
- procedures;
- hospitalization;
- rehabilitation;
- other treatments related to the condition.
Where possible, include the dates of major treatments and the corresponding medical records.
This is especially important for patients seeking:
- further treatment;
- treatment after recurrence;
- another treatment option;
- a medical second opinion;
- reassessment after previous treatment.
Doctors need to understand not only your current diagnosis, but also what has already been tried.
Include Allergies and Relevant Medical History
A medical record should not focus only on the current disease.
Other health information may also affect medical decisions.
Patients should prepare relevant information about:
- previous illnesses;
- previous surgeries;
- chronic conditions;
- medication allergies;
- other relevant allergies;
- significant medical history.
This information can be particularly important when treatment involves surgery, medication or other procedures.
Including it early also means you do not have to reconstruct your full medical history during a consultation in an unfamiliar healthcare system.
Prepare for a Remote Case Review Before Traveling
International patients do not always need to travel to China before their medical information can be reviewed.
In some situations, an initial case review can begin remotely.
A medical team may first review available information such as:
- diagnosis;
- medical history;
- imaging;
- pathology;
- laboratory results;
- previous treatment;
- current medications.
This can help clarify which medical specialty may be relevant and what information may still be missing.
A remote case review may also help determine whether further evaluation in China should be considered.
However, a remote review does not necessarily replace an in-person medical consultation.
Additional examinations, physical assessment or new diagnostic tests may still be required after arrival.
Organize Your Medical Files Clearly
Even when patients have complete medical records, poor organization can make the case difficult to review.
A simple folder structure can make the information much easier to understand.
For example:
- CT
- MRI
- PET-CT
04 Pathology
05 Laboratory Results
06 Previous Treatment
07 Surgery Records
08 Medication
09 Discharge SummariesYou can also use descriptive file names rather than generic names such as:
IMG001.pdf
A clearer file name might identify the date and type of record.
The objective is to allow someone who has never seen your case before to understand the medical timeline without having to search through dozens of unrelated files.
Create a Simple Medical Timeline
For patients with long or complex treatment histories, preparing a short timeline can be particularly useful.
For example:
| Date | Medical Event |
|---|---|
| March | Initial symptoms |
| April | First consultation |
| April | CT examination |
| May | Diagnosis confirmed |
| June | Treatment started |
| August | Follow-up imaging |
| September | Seeking further evaluation |
The timeline does not replace original medical records.
Instead, it helps doctors quickly understand the sequence of events before reviewing the detailed documents.
For patients with several years of treatment history, this can make the case considerably easier to follow.
Prepare Questions for Your Doctor
Medical travel can involve significant decisions, so it helps to prepare questions before your consultation.
Questions may include:
About your diagnosis
- Is the current diagnosis clear?
- Are additional tests needed?
- Is the existing medical information sufficient?
About treatment
- What treatment options may be considered?
- Why is a particular treatment being recommended?
- Are there alternative approaches?
About further evaluation
- What examinations may need to be repeated?
- Will additional imaging or pathology review be required?
About the treatment journey
- Will hospitalization be required?
- What follow-up may be necessary?
- How long might further evaluation or treatment take?
Writing down your questions before the appointment can help ensure that important issues are not forgotten during the consultation.
What Should You Send Before Requesting a Case Review?
If you are requesting an initial review before travelling to China, start with the records most relevant to your medical question.
A practical case package may include:
1.Basic case summary
Your current diagnosis and reason for seeking further medical care.
2. Recent medical records
Relevant consultation notes, diagnosis reports and discharge documents.
3. Diagnostic imaging
CT, MRI, PET-CT or other relevant studies.
4. Pathology
Relevant pathology reports and available pathology information.
5. Laboratory tests
Relevant recent test results.
6. Previous treatment history
A summary of treatment already received.
7. Current medication
Medication currently being taken.
8. Your main questions
Explain what you would like the medical team to help you evaluate.
This makes the objective of the case review much clearer.
What Should You Bring With You to China?
Even if medical documents have already been submitted electronically, patients should keep access to their important medical information while travelling.
Before departure, make sure you can access:
- key medical reports;
- diagnostic imaging;
- pathology information;
- laboratory results;
- previous treatment records;
- medication information;
- allergy information;
- relevant hospital correspondence.
Keeping digital copies can also help if additional records are requested during your medical journey.
The documents you bring should reflect your individual condition rather than a generic list.
Pre-Travel Medical Checklist
Before leaving for China, review the following checklist.
Medical records
- Diagnosis reports prepared
- Relevant medical history organized
- Previous treatment records collected
- Discharge summaries available
Imaging
- CT / MRI / PET-CT reports available
- Original imaging files available where relevant
- DICOM files organized
Pathology
- Pathology reports collected
- Pathology materials identified where relevant
Tests
- Recent laboratory results prepared
- Older relevant test results retained
Medication
- Current medication list prepared
- Previous relevant treatment recorded
Health information
- Allergy information included
- Relevant medical history documented
Case preparation
- Key documents translated if necessary
- Medical timeline prepared if the case is complex
- Questions for the doctor written down
- Documents prepared for remote review if applicable
Completing these steps can make the next stage of your medical journey more organized.
What Happens After Your Medical Records Are Ready?
Once your records are organized, the next step is usually determining what kind of medical care you need.
This may involve identifying:
- the appropriate medical department;
- suitable hospitals;
- relevant specialists;
- whether a second opinion is appropriate;
- whether further examination is required before treatment planning.
If you are still deciding which hospital or doctor may be suitable, continue to:
Explore China’s Healthcare System→
Finding the Right Medical Care in China→
If your hospital and medical plan are already becoming clearer, the next stage is:
Frequently Asked Questions About Preparing for Medical Treatment in China
What medical records should I prepare before treatment in China?
Prepare records relevant to your current condition, including diagnosis reports, imaging, laboratory results, pathology information, previous treatment history, medication information and relevant medical history.
Should I bring my CT or MRI images to China?
If the imaging is relevant to your condition, keeping access to both the imaging report and the original image files may help the receiving medical team review your case.
What are DICOM files?
DICOM files are commonly used to store medical imaging such as CT and MRI studies. They may contain the complete imaging series rather than only selected screenshots.
Do my medical records need to be translated?
Translation needs may vary depending on the hospital, physician and type of review. It can be useful to confirm which records should be translated before preparing the entire medical file.
Do I need pathology slides for treatment in China?
This depends on your condition and the type of medical review. Some cases may require additional pathology review, so patients should retain information about previous pathology reports and available pathology materials.
Can a Chinese doctor review my records before I travel?
Some medical cases may be reviewed remotely before travel using existing medical records, imaging and other clinical information. Further examination may still be required in person.
Should I prepare a list of questions before my appointment?
Yes. Preparing questions about diagnosis, treatment options, additional tests and follow-up can make the consultation more focused.
Prepare Your Case Before Planning the Next Step
A successful medical journey often begins before the patient boards a plane.
Organizing your medical records, imaging, pathology, treatment history and questions can help make hospital communication and medical review more efficient.
Request a Case Review
If you would like your medical information reviewed before deciding on your next step in China, prepare your available medical records and submit your case for review.
Explore a Medical Second Opinion
If you already have a diagnosis or treatment plan and would like an additional medical perspective, you can explore a second opinion.