ITIC APAC 2026 | Air Ambulance Forum

The ITIJ team have been reporting from ITIC APAC in Singapore this week (15–17 June 2026), sharing the discussions that took place at the conference. Read all reports.

Can bringing aviation, dispatch, clinical care, and operational control together under one organisation improve patient outcomes and operational performance? That was the question posed by Ben St Germain, Regional Director, Strategy and Partner Relations, at AirMed International, and Dr Toby Fogg, National Medical Director at CareFlight, during a session examining the benefits and challenges of the integrated air ambulance model.

Opening the discussion, St Germain said international patient transport was far more complex than simply flying a patient from one country to another. Every mission, he explained, relies on multiple interconnected elements, including flight operations, dispatch, clinical teams, logistics, permits, ground handling, and family support, all of which must work together to deliver a successful outcome.

To illustrate the discussion, he compared two different operating models: one in which aircraft, medical teams, and operational support are sourced through multiple providers, and another where every aspect of the mission sits under a single organisation. Rather than arguing there was only one correct approach, St Germain said delegates should understand the strengths and limitations of both models and consider which is best suited to different mission profiles.

He outlined several potential advantages of an integrated structure, explaining that shared operational control could streamline communication, speed up decision-making, and improve continuity throughout a mission. With aviation, dispatch, and clinical teams working together, he said organisations could often respond more quickly when operational or medical circumstances change.

However, St Germain was equally clear that integration comes with trade-offs. He highlighted higher operating costs, regulatory complexity across jurisdictions, the significant investment required to build integrated capability, and the reality that communication challenges can still exist within large organisations. He stressed that these limitations should be recognised from the outset rather than overlooked.

Using a detailed international repatriation scenario, St Germain also demonstrated how aircraft selection could influence the overall patient journey. Comparing different aircraft types operating the same mission, he encouraged delegates to think beyond hourly operating costs and instead consider factors such as mission duration, technical stops, crew requirements, patient comfort, and the overall travel experience for accompanying family members.

Dr Fogg then explored the discussion from a clinical perspective, arguing that governance and organisational culture were just as important as aircraft capability. Drawing on CareFlight’s operational experience, he explained that aeromedical retrieval was inherently unpredictable, with incomplete clinical information, deteriorating patients, changing weather, and technical issues all requiring teams to adapt quickly.

He said these dynamic environments placed significant importance on shared safety systems and common operational frameworks. When aviation and clinical teams work within the same governance structure, he explained, organisations can foster openness, reduce blame, improve reporting, and develop a stronger safety culture across every stage of a mission.

Through a series of operational case studies, Dr Fogg demonstrated how seemingly small details can have significant consequences during patient transport. He discussed the importance of equipment compatibility, aircraft configuration, coordinated planning, and shared training, suggesting that common systems and procedures can reduce risk when unexpected challenges arise.

Dr Fogg also highlighted the operational benefits of a shared understanding between departments, explaining that efficiency extends well beyond the flight itself. Elements such as quotations, permits, visas, flight planning, and operational coordination all contribute to the overall success of a mission and are strengthened when teams are working towards the same objectives.

Concluding the session, both speakers returned to the central theme that successful aeromedical transport depends on much more than aircraft performance alone. While acknowledging that integrated models are not appropriate in every circumstance, they argued that closer alignment between operational, aviation, and clinical teams can offer important advantages, particularly as international missions become increasingly complex. The session encouraged delegates to evaluate how different organisational models influence safety, efficiency, and patient care, and where greater integration may help shape the future of international medical transport.