Overview
Since 2018 International SOS - Al Rushaid JV has been providing integrated medical services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for Saudi Mega Projects, Onshore and Offshore Energy and other industries. Through the JV we look after health and wellbeing of over 20,000 employees of our KSA clients' employees, providing their workforces with healthcare that is compliant with local statute requirements, meets international industry standards, and helps our clients to reduce costs, enhance HSE performance and retain staff.
Problem
Offshore Energy projects often take employees to remote and isolated environments. On one such remote offshore rig in KSA, an employee sustained a deep laceration to his finger while on duty. Had the medical professional used a one-point suture and prescribed antibiotics – as might occur in many private clinics and governmental hospitals, the incident would have been "recordable" (Medical treatment or Lost Day Case).
Solution
Our on-board healthcare professional examined the patient and established that the wound was located away from a joint/articulation and was uncomplicated. A Steristrip and Tetanus toxoid injection was considered as suitable medical treatment, and so as part of the Clinical Governance procedures, the relevant Response Centre was activated by the healthcare professional to assess this as the most appropriate clinical procedure. The Response Centre, in turn escalated the case to the International SOS Occupational Health and Medical Team, to validate the approach as compliant with the relevant industry Occupational Health requirements.
Impact
The patient received timely and appropriate emergency and follow up/post incident medical care on-board, thus avoiding "recordables" and costly disembarkation. A prompt and correct response to the medical emergency by International SOS’s Occupational Health and Medical professionals on-board and in the remote Response Centre resulted in significant savings and full compliance with local Occupational Health requirements and OSHA/IADC guidelines. This would not have been possible had there only been a medic on-board without integrated support and the assistance of Occupational Health Specialists possessing significant industry experience.