Story ID: 338
MD Onboard Introduces Airborne Telemedicine Capability
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: System allows real time in-flight patient consultations
Word Count: 483
Aeromedical services provider MD Onboard is highlighting its new real-time, two-way video telehealth capabilities this week at EBACE 2025. “At the core of our DNA is health and technology,” said company CEO Grant Jeffery, who formerly served in the same role for more than a decade with Medaire. “Our objective was to look at best practice in healthcare and bring that into aviation.”
MD Onboard’s video solution allows the medical team on the ground to view the condition of patients and consult with them in flight, improving the speed and accuracy of diagnosis. “In addition to that, it improves the situational assessments, which means are the crew calm, is the situation risky?” said Jeffery.
While telemedicine is becoming common in daily life, the company looks to bring this level of familiarity to aviation. Via the two-way transmissions, the medical team can easily communicate with the patient and flight crew, as well as send images and instructions on what medicines to use and how to administer them.
MD Onboard also recently announced a partnership with Crisis24, an AI-powered travel risk and critical event management platform. According to the companies, the agreement will establish a fully integrated medical and security support program for both commercial and business aviation operators.
With a focus on leading companies, organizations, and prominent individuals, Crisis24 offers a comprehensive private sector intelligence analysis team with global operations centers to give localized insights in addition to worldwide perspectives in medical, security, crisis response, and consultancy. The integrated platform will offer access to medical and security assistance in real-time.
“This collaboration is a significant step forward to support the aviation industry with best-in-class solutions,” said Jeffery. “By combining our medical and technological expertise with Crisis24’s unmatched security intelligence and global response capabilities, we are delivering a turnkey solution that enables airlines and business aviation operators to proactively manage both medical and security incidents with greater speed, precision, and confidence.”
In other news, MD Onboard has become the 22nd member of the International Business Aviation Council’s (IBAC) Industry Partner Program. IBAC director general Kurt Edwards welcomed the company to the group, which includes leading industry stakeholders such as Bombardier, Universal Weather & Aviation, Jet Aviation, MedAire, Luxaviation, CAE, and 4Air.
“Their industry insight and medical expertise are a valuable addition, and we look forward to their engagement in promoting and supporting business aviation growth, safety, and sustainability at a global level,” Edwards said.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Northwell Health, MD Onboard launched in 2023 and became operational last August. It specializes in providing remote medical advisory services for business and commercial aviation, both in the air and on the ground, first aid training, and regulatory compliance, with aviation-specific guidance and comprehensive instruction for crewmembers to enable them to respond to in-flight emergencies.