CASE STUDY: MEDICAL SUPPORT

INCIDENT:  An executive traveling to a company retreat experienced a medical emergency during his flight.

LOCATION: Cancun, Mexico

SERVICE:

• Duty of Care
• Event Support
• Medical Assistance

SITUATION: 

While traveling to an off-site corporate retreat in Mexico, an executive experienced a medical emergency approximately one hour before his flight landed. A colleague on the same flight was able to get in touch with the on-the-ground event organizers to alert them of the situation and ask for assistance.

While the executive’s flight made its way to the airport in Cancun, the event organizers contacted Global Guardian, who had a significant on-site team and operation at the event location for the purpose of providing medical support to guests participating in the retreat. Upon receiving the details of the situation, the on-site medical coordinator immediately made his way to the airport to meet the executive.

RESPONSE:

As part of the process to stand up the medical operation for this event, Global Guardian’s medical coordinator had established relationships with local hospital coordinators and physicians in the case of an incident exactly like this one. While in route to the airport, he contacted the coordinator at the hospital to alert them of an incoming patient, ensuring that he would be fast-tracked through the admittance process. The medical coordinator also communicated with airport staff to obtain access to the loading area and arrange a wheelchair to the terminal where the flight was landing. 

Global Guardian’s medical coordinator was waiting with the wheelchair when the executive disembarked the plane. While in route to the hospital, he gathered details of the current issue and the executive’s medical history, which he relayed to the hospital coordinator, providing constant updates on their arrival time. Once at the hospital, the executive was immediately taken to a bed in the emergency room where physicians were waiting to provide care. Global Guardian’s medical coordinator stayed with the executive to provide translation services and ensure he understood all information from the physicians.

In just over an hour from landing at the airport, the executive received a diagnosis from the emergency room physicians. After receiving the proper care at the hospital, he was discharged with bed-rest orders. Global Guardian’s medical coordinator transported the executive to the hotel location of the corporate retreat, where he spent his time resting and further recovering. Multiple times each day, the medical coordinator checked in on the executive to evaluate his condition and ensure he did not suffer any complications or a further medical emergency.

Thanks to Global Guardian’s unmatched response time and established on-the-ground relationships, the executive recovered from the medical issue and traveled home to receive further care. While this incident is a reminder that a medical emergency can occur at any time and place, it’s also a reminder for organizations hosting large off-site events to ensure they have effective plans in place with a trusted provider to care for the well-being of employees.

How the Outcome Differs