Helping Travelers Every Day:
Back Pain in Afghanistan

From medical emergencies to security concerns—or any other travel issue big or small—here at On Call, the health and safety of the travelers we serve is our top priority. Read our latest case study for an inside look at how On Call’s Global Assistance Teams work around the clock to fulfill our mission of helping travelers in their time of need, every day:

Background:
A young man was working on an expatriate assignment in Afghanistan when he began to feel a dull ache in his lower back. Days later, this dull ache turned in to shooting pain, causing the young man to nearly pass out. His treating doctor on base determined he needed further care, and reached out to On Call International, the company’s travel risk management provider, for help.

On Call Steps In:
On Call’s Medical Director spoke with the young man’s treating doctor on base. Suspecting a herniated disc, he recommended that the man be transferred to a larger facility in Dubai for a full medical workup, including an MRI. On Call coordinated the man’s air ambulance transfer to Dubai and called to check in once he arrived.

After his test results returned, On Call scheduled a consultation between our Medical Director and the young man’s treating doctor. The treating doctor said he could treat the herniated disc with medication, but On Call’s Medical Director recommended he return home to the U.S. so he could be treated by his primary care doctor and undergo physical therapy.

Outcome:
Since the man did not have full mobility in his lower extremities, On Call arranged for one of our Rescue Nurses to meet the young man at the hospital in Dubai and accompany him to his home in the United States. In addition to helping him move around as needed, his Rescue Nurse administered his medication during the flight. The young expatriate arrived home safe and sound, and had an appointment to follow up with his primary care doctor the following day for further care and monitoring.

Want to learn even more about On Call’s security assistance services and travel risk management solutions? Contact us today.

For over 25 years, On Call International has provided fully-customized travel risk management and global assistance services protecting millions of travelers, their families, and their organizations. Contact us today and watch our video to learn more. You can also stay in touch with On Call’s subject matter experts by signing up for our quarterly Travel Risk Management (TRM) newsletter.