Story ID: 399MedAire
MedAire Celebrates 30th Anniversary
By: Harry Weisberger
Caption: Free cholesterol testing is available at the MedAire booth at the NBAA show.
Word Count: 299
At the MedAire booth, convention visitors can see a demonstration of MedAire Trip Ready, the first app of its kind focused on the aviation industry, and meet MedLink doctors and security specialists. MedLink operates from Banner–University Medical Center Phoenix (formerly Good Samaritan Hospital), where doctors are available to respond to calls from anywhere in the world, around the clock.

MedLink is one of MedAire’s earliest and most widely used programs for providing advice and assistance to cope with inflight medical emergencies. MedLink physicians and technicians broadcast first-responder measures via radio to cabin crew. Meanwhile, others work with pilots and ATC to initiate and obtain clearance for diversion to the closest airport where emergency treatment on the ground and transportation to a suitable hospital are available.

Total MedLink cases from November 1987 to December 2014 numbered 267,320. Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2014, MedLink handled 81,380 cases (approximately 223 per day), 36,407 of them aboard airliners. MedAire employs 264 people worldwide who serve 2,000 business aviation clients and 136 airlines. MedAire offers 24/7 remote medical assistance from Global Response Centers in Beijing, Dubai, Farnborough (UK), Mallorca and Phoenix. Buyers of new aircraft from Boeing Business Jet, Bombardier, Gulfstream and Textron Aviation receive MedAire services as the standard airborne medical solution.

During 2014, MedAire conducted 1,502 training classes including CPR and tracheal obstruction clearance to 7,536 students at various locations. In addition, more than 85,000 airline personnel have registered for MedAire’s e-learning courses. During that year, MedAire’s MedSupply operation manufactured 382,565 new medical kits and refurbished another 173,657.

Convention-goers will have an opportunity to meet MedAire founder Joan Sullivan Garrett and the company’s new chief operating officer, Peter Tuggey. At the booth they can learn how new MedAire products and services can support and enhance the effectiveness of an operator’s safety management system.