American Relocating to Portugal? 

MD For Patients Delivers Healthcare Excellence Wherever You Are.

Becoming a resident of a new country provides exciting opportunities, but also presents unique challenges. One of those is transferring your medical care. As an American, your medical records are likely scattered across different institutions in different locations. Trying to gather and organize them and then get them integrated into the Portuguese healthcare system feels like one more overwhelming task on your to-do list.

MD For Patients is here to help you check that box with as little stress as possible - and support you throughout your journey.

MD For Patients is a multi-specialty global practice based in the US, staffed by US-trained and US board-certified primary care and specialist physicians covering all specialties for patients of all ages.  

MD For Patients provides seamless healthcare support at every stage of your relocation, including scouting trips to explore Portugal, establishing residency, planning your move, during the relocation transition, and settling in after your temporary or permanent relocation.

To maintain your health, it’s important that you and your family have quick and direct access to physicians - including specialists - to ensure there is no lapse in medical expertise available to you while you’re transitioning to a new healthcare system. We’re available to you throughout your journey to prepare and transition your care. 

Is your Portuguese rusty? MD For Patients’ consultants  are native English speakers who understand the nuances of American healthcare and can help smooth your transition over as long a period of time as you’d like - even years after you’ve moved. And, when your travels take you back to the US or elsewhere in the world, we’re there for you, to support every adventure as seamlessly as possible.

You’ll probably discover that with MD For Patients, access to specialists is far easier than it ever was when you were based in the US. Say goodbye to 6 month waiting times for the next available appointment. Say hello to us within days, instead. We’ll treat you the way we would want to be treated if we were relocating. It’s just the right thing to do. And you don’t need one more thing to worry about.

Portugal’s healthcare system is excellent, but transferring care can still be stressful.  Let MD For Patients assist you.

Whether you’re taking short scouting trips around Portugal to get acquainted or considering a permanent move, and no matter where you’re coming from or where in Portugal you’re heading, you’ll face several common challenges:

• Delays in registration affect care for those with pressing needs.

• Lengthy wait times for specialist appointments can delay acute or chronic care.

• Timely subspecialty or advanced diagnostic services may not be locally available.

• When healthcare is at stake, language barriers and lack of familiarity with Portuguese healthcare protocols can intimidate even those with moderate fluency.

How MD For Patients Serves Your Unique Needs

At MD For Patients, we understand the need to organize complex medical records prior to relocating, and for quick access to personalized, reliable medical advice at any time.

• MD For Patients assists in gathering and organizing medical records prior to relocation, to facilitate comprehensive new patient onboarding.

• We coordinate resources before, during and after a relocation.

• We provide remote, rapid access to trusted US board-certified primary care and specialist physician consultants from anywhere, minimizing disruptions to health management by eliminating wait times typically required to see clinicians - including specialists. 

• MD For Patients helps families navigate healthcare options for all age patients, and facilitate smooth continuity of care and transfer of care for those with chronic or complex conditions.

• Our English-speaking team facilitates medical discussions to reduce stress in unfamiliar settings.

Real-Life Examples

Susan and John are excited to start thinking about becoming Portuguese residents. They’re anticipating the benefits of learning about a new language and culture with their young family. They’ve begun to plan trips to Portugal to learn more about it. However they’re concerned about maintaining access to healthcare for Julie, their daughter who has a complex chronic condition with several related healthcare and medication needs. They worry that, in the midst of all the other logistics they’re juggling, something might slip through the cracks.

Susan engages MD For Patients to assist by gathering all of Julie’s medical records and organizing them for easier conveyance to local care providers if needed. MD For Patients specialists conduct virtual visits with Susan, John and Julie in the US before their first trip to Portugal and also meet remotely with their local US-based pediatrician, so that if Julie requires care while in Portugal, Susan or John can get the support they need right away, virtually, from anywhere.

Their first trip is going well until a question about one of Julie’s medical issues arises. John calls MD For Patients’ specialists, who assess the situation, see Julie remotely, and provide helpful advice. Julie does fine, the family trip continues uninterrupted, and Susan and John are grateful for the peace of mind they have, knowing that medical specialist support is never out of reach. This gives them great confidence in making decisions about whether moving to Portugal is right for them - without undue worry about healthcare.

Brad and Sonya are retiring soon and are excited about their applications to become Portuguese residents. They can’t wait to spend more relaxed time by the beach, welcoming friends and family to their new apartment and showing them around their new city in Portugal. However, Brad and Sonya each have several medical conditions requiring specialist-level input, and they’d really like to settle in a small town that does not have local access to a full range of medical specialists. They don’t want to have to travel to get every question related to their healthcare needs addressed, but they also don’t want to let small changes or questions become big problems if ignored.  

Sonya calls MD For Patients, and our specialists from each relevant discipline meet virtually with Brad and Sonya and their local physicians to ensure that a cohesive plan and tight lines of communication are in place. One evening a month later, Brad develops a new symptom while traveling to a remote region in Portugal, and calls his MD For Patients specialist team for advice. Our specialists assess the situation, provide guidance, and update Brad’s primary care physician, and Brad is able to continue his trip uninterrupted.  Brad loves knowing that if he has a follow-up question the next day he can get it answered right away - from anywhere. The next morning, a relieved Brad and Sonya finish their coffee on the patio and head out to embrace a new day as their next adventure unfolds.

MD For Patients’ Continuing Availability Means Peace of Mind

Even after care in Portugal is initiated, MD For Patients remains available and easy to reach, providing ongoing specialty support, personalized consultations and counsel, and assistance navigating unexpected new issues, specialty challenges and advanced diagnostic testing.

Our services allow you and your family to benefit from the Portuguese healthcare infrastructure while enjoying rapid access to specialist expertise  - whenever and wherever you need it - now and in the future, whether traveling for vacation, for business, or simply settling into your new home.

Healthcare Beyond Tomorrow:

MD For Patients is a global practice. We can support your upcoming move, and also continue to provide rapid access to medical expertise whenever you need it, anywhere you are in the world. Reach out any time - we are here to help you.