On Call in Action: Medical Issues in the Middle of Nowhere

On Call International helps organizations and their travelers take a proactive and holistic approach to not only managing emergencies when they arise—but also planning for and even preventing them before they happen. Tune in each month to see how On Call International helps with travel problems, big and small, every day:

Medical Issues in the Middle of Nowhere
Christine*, an expat living on a remote island in the Seychelles, woke up one morning with severe lower back pain and numbness. She went to a local doctor who suggested she get an MRI to rule out anything serious, but advised there were no MRI capabilities on the island. Unsure of what to do next, Christine reached out to her employer’s travel risk management provider, On Call International, for assistance.

On Call to the Rescue
On Call set up a consultation between Christine’s treating doctor and our medical director. After discussing Christine’s symptoms, we agreed she should receive an MRI and made arrangements for Christine to fly to Nairobi, the closest location with MRI capabilities. We scheduled an appointment for Christine in Nairobi prior to her arrival so that she was able to head straight to the hospital. We also arranged her hotel accommodations and transportation to the hospital.

After reviewing her MRI results, our medical director and Christine’s treating doctor determined her pain was most likely due to a previous injury. They recommended she rest, ice the affected area, and perform some physical therapy exercises.

A Safe Return 
We made arrangements for Christine to return to Seychelles and confirmed she arrived safely. We were glad to hear the numbness was gone, and she was beginning to feel better. Christine was relieved to have On Call by her side to help her through such an unexpected situation.

*Names have been changed to protect traveler privacy.

Want to learn more about On Call’s proactive and holistic travel risk management solutions? Contact us today.