Assistance & Repatriation Review | October 2023

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Assistance on the Antarctic ice

Antarctica’s hostile environment makes medical assistance extremely challenging. Preparation and training are key, discovers Lauren Haigh

Factors driving cost increases in medical assistance

The pandemic ramped up the cost of assistance – but there are a range of other factors that have caused prices to continue to rise. Cathy Hudson looks into what…

Using ground-based medical transportation

Oliver Cuenca speaks to industry experts about the viability and key considerations of transporting patients by ground ambulance

Read the October 2023 Review

Interview: Edmund Santiago, Chairman and CEO of Redbridge Holdings

We spoke to Edmund Santiago, Chairman and CEO of Redbridge Holdings, about new technology, challenges for the industry, and plans for the future

Interview: Lorraine Audrey Paul, Co-Founder and CEO of Across Asia Assist

Assistance across Asia and throughout the world: Oliver Cuenca spoke to Lorraine Audrey Paul about how her company has grown, and how it distinguishes itself from its rivals

Interview: Marek Cichewicz – Funeral repatriation from Poland and across Europe

Oliver Cuenca spoke to Marek Cichewicz, President of FIAT-IFTA, the World Organization of Funeral Operatives, and CEO of Bongo International Funeral Services, about his company and work

Interview: Francois-Xavier Duchateau – Commitment to customers

We speak with Francois-Xavier Duchateau, Group Chief Medical Officer, Allianz Partners, about industry challenges, mental health policies, and harnessing new technology

Case Study: From Lagos to Cairo

Medjet Medical Assistance recently completed a difficult repatriation from Lagos, Nigeria, to Cairo, Egypt. Our alarm centre received a medevac request from a client regarding an 81-year-old female patient who…

Case Study: Repatriating a body from Micronesia to the UK

When a young British citizen died on a trip to a remote Micronesian island, Servizi Funebri Pozzoli was called upon to bring them home.

Case Study: Handling a pelvic fracture in the US

Northcott Global Solutions (NGS) explains how it managed hospital costs for a patient who suffered a serious injury after a fall.

Case Study: A safari gone wrong

In late June, the control room of AMREF Flying Doctors (AFD) received a distress call from a US-based assistance company asking for help in a medical assistance case at Mara…

Case Study: From a foot fracture to a flight home

In a remote corner of Italy, far from the bustling tourist hubs, a client suffered a painful foot injury that needed immediate attention. That was when she decided to reach…

Case Study: Where there's a will, there is a way

Fiona Greenwood recounts a recent mission to transfer mortal remains from an island in the Indian Ocean to the US – stopping for an autopsy along the way.

ITIJ Assistance and Repatriation Review Cover April 2023

Transporting the dead

Repatriating mortal remains in times of pandemic and war is difficult. Alysia Cameron-Davies investigates

Rebuilding networks after a crisis

Crises can disrupt provider networks, necessitating reconstruction. Lauren Haigh gains insights into the rebuilding process

Concierge services for travel and medical assistance: the VIP experience

Concierge services are becoming popular with consumers. Lauren Haigh explores this trend

Read the April 2023 Review

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Interview: Dr Juliane Kause of Everbridge

Dr Juliane Kause, Chief Medical Officer at Everbridge talks about duty of care, business travel assistance and patchy public health information

Interview: Dr Simon Worrell of Crisis24

Dr Simon Worrell, Crisis24's Global Medical Director talks about new technology, managing crises and assisting corporate clients

Establishing a provider network to support assistance services in a new region

Natalya Butakova, CEO at AP Companies, on what it takes to establish a new provider network in an unfamiliar country

Building a business in the West Balkans

Dr Ervin Kostakis, Chief Medical Officer for Albanian Intercare Services Group (Albintercare), explains how his firm provides assistance in the West Balkans

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Travel risk management evolution of technology and skillsets

With a new awareness of travel risks facing globally mobile workers, travel risk management companies are offering new tools to mitigate the perils faced around the world. Mandy Langfield reports

Medical evacuation plans for cruise passengers

Transporting patients from cruise ships to appropriate hospitals often involves a lot of planning and efficient communication between assistance companies and cruise lines. Clara Bullock spoke to both parties to…

Assistance in Ukraine – case studies from security providers

Security and medical assistance firms stepped up to evacuate clients from Ukraine as the crisis escalated and Russia's bombing campaign began

Read the October 2022 Review

Assistance & Repatriation Review | April 2022

Assistance & Repatriation April 2022 Cover

Assistance for high-net-worth clients

The lifestyle of the rich and famous – or high-net-worth (HNW) individuals – often includes a lot of travel. In addition to the risks that all travellers face, however, from…

Kidnap and Ransom risk - Security on the front line

Kidnap and ransom risk (K&R) has changed a lot, with express kidnapping and ransomware demands now more typical industry risks. Clara Bullock spoke to assistance providers and insurers to find…

Adapting customer service to the post-Covid world

The pandemic has changed the way assistance providers work in a myriad of ways – from travel restrictions to Covid-safe transports. But has it affected the way they deal with…

Read the April 2022 Review

Assistance & Repatriation Review | October 2021

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The key to successful remote evacuations

Lauren Haigh spoke to a selection of experts involved in remote evacuations about the valuable lessons learned and advancements acquired over the years that have helped make future rescues safer…

International repatriation of mortal remains

What will the ‘new normal’ look like for the international funeral repatriation sector, and how are the specialists in the industry preparing for it? Robin Gauldie reports

Technological innovation in travel assistance

What impact has the pandemic had on assistance industry innovation and how are assistance providers overcoming barriers to innovation? Sarah Watson finds out

Read the October 2021 Review

Assistance & Repatriation Review | April 2021

The changing face of the global assistance industry

While Covid still presents many challenges to assistance services, providers have adapted and diversified to meet new customer demands and expectations. Sarah Watson looks at how Covid is continuing to…

Interview: AP Companies on the challenges of Covid and hopes for the future of travel

ITIJ spoke to Natalya Butakova, Business Development Director at AP Companies, about how the medical assistance company adapted to the challenges of the past year, and how its operations are…

Covid-19: logistical challenges for funeral directors

Emerson De Luca, International Secretary at FIAT-IFTA, a global organisation representing funeral directors from around the world, as well as unions/associations of funeral directors, tells ITIJ about the myriad challenges…

Read the April 2021 Review

Assistance & Repatriation Review | August 2020

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Travel Risk Management: an evolving landscape

As global lockdown eases and business travel channels open up once more, companies around the world are seeking expert advice on how best to look after their mobile workforces in…

Digital lifelines for business travellers and expatriates

From telehealth platforms to traveller safety apps, Robyn Bainbridge takes a look at the wealth of digital solutions available to expats and business travellers, and asked, what can insurers do…

Funeral repatriations in the time of Covid-19

Covid-19 has affected all of us in one way or another, but the impact on the international funeral repatriation sector has been unique in terms of new challenges that have…

Read the August 2020 Review

Assistance & Repatriation Review | February 2020

End-of-life repatriations

Tatum Anderson explores the complexities involved in organising these most sensitive of operations

How can assistance providers benefit from air ambulance base visits?

Patrick Schomaker, Director of Sales and Marketing at European Air Ambulance, explores the multiple benefits of a trip to an air ambulance provider's HQ

Investigating the past and future of employee assistance programmes

David Kernek looks back at the origins of employee assistance programmes and charts their evolving offerings

Read the February 2020 edition

Assistance & Repatriation Review | October 2019

Preparing for patient repatriation ahead of international sporting events

Gna kh Chung, CEO of Global Assistance Partners (GAP), explains the thorough preparations made ahead of a recent international sporting events in South Korea to ensure a smooth patient journey…

A day in the life … of an assistance doctor

Tatum Anderson talks to assistance doctors around the world to find out what an average day might look like for them

Getting set for the 2020 Olympic Games

What measures are being put in place ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games to cope with an influx of visitors?

Read the October 2019 Review

Assistance & Repatriation Review | April 2019

Assistance and Repatriation April 2019 Cover

Should patients be treated in-situ or repatriated to their home country?

There are multiple choices to be made during the repatriation process, but the decision of when to repatriate a patient is the pivotal consideration. How is this decision made and…

Ground ambulance options

Mandy Langfield explores the issues around transporting patients via road ambulance

The ins and outs of funeral repats

Understanding the processes, challenges and protocols inherent in the funeral repatriation industry is key for those who partner with such companies in the global travel and medical assistance arena. Fiona…

Read the April 2019 Review