On May 2022, Europ Assistance Belgium started their very first repatriations of critically ill patients under mechanical ventilation on commercial aircrafts with their medical staff. Completing these repatriations with their own team ensures keeping a high standard of medical quality, especially when doing them through outsourcing companies. This is a new approach for EA Belgium and it offers various advantages to the patient. Firstly, commercial aircrafts offer direct flights, compared to air ambulances that, on the other hand, have to make several stops, especially over long distances. Secondly, commercial aircrafts offer a more spacious environment optimized for the medical crew and the patient. Thirdly, this new approach of medical practice requires very specific expertise, experience of the medical escort and specific equipment, for which EA Belgium excels. Lastly, it offers the opportunity to complete complicated medical evacuations by being eco-responsible.
The first patient was a 50-year-old man found lying down unconscious in the streets of Thailand. The patient was hospitalized in Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital and diagnosed with severe head trauma. He underwent craniotomy (removal of a part of the bone from the skull), and tracheostomy to facilitate prolonged mechanical ventilation. Dr Sommart, from Europ Assistance Thailand, was locally in charge of the patient, and he was in close contact with Dr Moens of EA Belgium.
As the patient stabilized, a team of three medical professionals from EA Belgium – Dr Didier Moens and two nurses, one of whom was part of the training program – headed to Bangkok to repatriate the patient. The medical staffarrived in Bangkok on a Monday afternoon, went to see the patient right away, assessed the situation and explained to the Hospital staff what the needs were to start the repatriation to Belgium.
“EA Belgium is advancing its services in repatriating critically ill patients on commercial aircrafts. Undergoing continuous training of our medical staff ensures the quality of every repatriation.”
As the patient stabilized, a team of three medical professionals from EA Belgium – Dr Didier Moens and two nurses, one of whom was part of the training program – headed to Bangkok to repatriate the patient. The medical staffarrived in Bangkok on a Monday afternoon, went to see the patient right away, assessed the situation and explained to the Hospital staff what the needs were to start the repatriation to Belgium.
The second critically ill patient ever evacuated on a commercial aircraft was 52-yearold men who fell from a rooftop in Athens and diagnosed with brain and thoracic trauma. When Dr Moens accompanied by a doctor – part of the training program – and nurse reached the hospital in Athens, the patient was conscious and had undergone a tracheostomy.
Given the stable condition of the patient, the medical team of Europ Assistance Belgium had considered it pertinent to complete the repatriation via a commercial aircraft. All the benefits of the repatriation were explained to the family as part of our value to building trustworthy relationships with our clients.
Once confirmation received from the medical staff of the hospital in Athens, repatriation started. Dr Moens monitored the patient continuously throughout the whole flight. After landing in Paris-Charles de Gaulle, the patient was transported to Belgium in a stable condition.
