Overview
International SOS provides emergency and primary healthcare services to a leading energy company in Qatar. An employee at our client’s remote site clinic in Qatar began to present with acute chest pain. Our medical team on-site stabilised the patient and performed all the necessary checkup tests before moving him to a specialist facility for further treatment. Within a timeframe of less than 1.5 hours, the patient was safely transported to a hospital located 30 km away from the site. Our team’s swift response ensured the patient’s successful recovery.
Problem
Our client, a leading energy company, operates a remote industrial zone in northern Qatar, with limited access to nearby healthcare facilities. Common health issues like upper respiratory tract infections are prevalent in remote environments. The top priority within a clinical context is to be prepared to manage and stabilise emergency situations such as heart attacks. Therefore, it is essential to have an appropriate staffing model in place with proper medical emergency equipment to handle emergencies on-site. Additionally, having access to medical transport resources such as ground ambulances is crucial for transporting patients to the next level of clinical care. The patient had underlying co-morbidities, and the International SOS medical team suspected an underlying heart attack, making it a medical emergency. Hence, it was especially important to stabilise the patient.
Solution
Our medical team quickly prioritized a thorough cardiac assessment. The patient’s vital signs were evaluated rapidly. Although the initial electrocardiogram (ECG) provided inconclusive results, a repeated one revealed a change that prompted swift action in line with a suspected heart attack.
Considering the urgency and potential severity of the situation, the medical team decided to transfer the patient to a tertiary facility with specialist care. Our team followed the established site's evacuation response plan and quickly identified an accessible hospital capable of handling this emergency. The patient was stabilised and prepared for ground medical evacuation, with our medical team providing continuous monitoring and support during the escort.
Upon reaching the hospital, the patient was handed over to the hospital staff, who had been previously briefed about the situation. Subsequently, the patient was airlifted to a specialized heart hospital in the capital, where he underwent successful angiography and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). Our medical team maintained regular contact with the patient, his family, and his employer, ensuring a smooth recovery until discharge and eventual return to work after a one-month healing break.
Impact
The timely response of our on-site medical team was crucial in diagnosing and managing the patient's condition. This ensured the patient received the necessary care throughout his recovery and successful return to work following a fitness assessment.
After any challenging case, our medical team routinely holds debriefing sessions with the client’s team on-site to provide feedback, this helps them stay prepared for similar emergencies in future. The client’s on-site staff also underwent fitness assessments and multiple first aid training refreshers, which now include education on recognising and responding to heart attack symptoms. Reflecting on such an incident underlines the importance of taking immediate action, having a robust referral plan in place, and maintaining a comprehensive medical inventory and on-site equipment.
This incident illustrates the indispensable role of a well-trained and responsive medical team in ensuring on-site safety.