MEDEX Credentials Asian Health Facilities

Vietnam
French Vietnamese Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City (Regional Gateway) - This impressive, brand new, 277-bed hospital is located south of Ho Chi Minh City. Hospital shuttles run from downtown every hour. Patients can be picked up from cities in the South of Vietnam, as well. All specialties are available except invasive cardiology and neurosurgery. Ground ambulances are equipped as mini-ICUs and are staffed with both an RN and MD.

Hong Kong
Adventist Hospital, Hong Kong (International Gateway) - MEDEX continues to use this top-notch facility for air ambulance and other emergency evacuations in the region. Many of the hospital’s doctors are recognized as the Best in America.

Malaysia
Subang Jaya Medical Centre, Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur (Regional Gateway) - This is a first-rate, well-equipped, 375-bed tertiary care hospital with a pleasant staff. Located in the northern outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, it is a center of excellence for cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgery. All diagnostic tests can be performed within the facility.

Indonesia
Global Assistance & Healthcare, Jakarta (Air Ambulance Provider) - This local air ambulance company was created by a group of Canadian MDs. The company is well-versed in the region with intimate knowledge of all Indonesian hospitals.

Philippines
Makati Medical Center, Metro Manila (Regional Gateway) - This 620-bed, multi-specialty facility is located in a busy commercial area. It is one 40 hospitals worldwide to have the ISO 9001 certification. Dr. Paul Fores, the President and Medical Director, is a fellow from Johns Hopkins University Hospital and the former personal doctor of Mother Theresa.

Taiwan
Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei (Regional Gateway) - This is a modern, fully equipped, 1,100-bed, tertiary care facility, located in downtown Taipei. It is exceptionally clean and well managed (rigorous infection control protocols are in place). One floor of the hospital is dedicated to a medical staff library that houses all the latest medical journals and manuals.

When business travelers experience a medical emergency, finding immediate appropriate care can be difficult. This was the case for an American executive traveling to Japan on business.

The executive, who worked for an international software company, began to experience dizziness, nausea, and pain in his ear while flying to Tokyo. By the time the plane landed, he was feeling extremely ill, and getting weaker by the minute. He immediately took a taxi to the local clinic in Narita. Meanwhile, a colleague, who had been traveling on the same flight, contacted MEDEX for assistance.

MEDEX coordinators called the treating physician right away for information on the patient; however, the physician had not performed an EKG, blood test, or chest x-ray — so any diagnosis would have been a guess. The patient’s employer wanted him back in the United States as soon as possible, and was willing to cover all costs of the return trip.

The patient’s wife, a nurse, arrived in Japan the next day. She noted a slight right side paralysis, a drooping right side of the face, and weakness in the right hand, and felt certain the patient had suffered a stroke. She was unhappy with the facility, and wanted to get her husband back home to Oregon for assessment.

The MEDEX Medical Director got involved with the case. As there still was no concrete diagnosis, he thought it ill-advised to send the patient home on a commercial flight. He suggested an air ambulance evacuation with a doctor and a nurse on board. MEDEX coordinators immediately began to arrange the complex evacuation, which required air clearance in both Russia and Japan and two flight crews to avoid the mandated rest delays for pilots. All the while, the coordinators provided constant updates to the employer, the family, and the patient. MEDEX also arranged for a ground ambulance to and from the airport and admission into an Oregon medical facility.

The evacuation from Japan back to Oregon was lengthy, but the patient was stable for the entire flight. He arrived safely and was treated by his family doctor. It was determined that during the long flight to Japan, the patient had developed a blood clot that affected his brain stem and another area in his brain. Thanks to the excellent care provided by the air ambulance crew, the patient was doing well upon arrival, with some speech difficulty and weakness on his ride side.

The family and the employer thanked the MEDEX team for their assistance with this difficult evacuation.

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HOW TO BREATHE EASIER THIS SPRING

With the coming of spring, warm weather, new grass, and leaves on the trees come the pollens that cause severe discomfort for many people. These can be sources of allergies and asthma attacks.

A Three-Pronged Approach to Allergies
Allergies are usually characterized by a runny nose, irritated eyes and throat, sneezing, and sometimes a slight cough. The most common treatment for these conditions consists of a three-pronged approach using oral medication, eye and nose drops, and lung inhalers. This combination of drugs is usually very effective, costs relatively little, and provides a world of relief.

How Spring Allergens Trigger Asthma
Asthma is a condition of spasm of the breathing tubes. When irritated, these tubes shrink and it becomes difficult to pass air in and out. Some people experience wheezing, particularly when expiring air, and feel as if they can’t get enough on the next breath. Serious cases of asthma can be triggered by pollens, grasses, and other spring allergens.

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Tips for Relief
Here are some common-sense ways to alleviate symptoms during the allergy season:

• Take whichever medication gives you the most relief with the fewest side effects.
• Try to avoid exposures that you know will trigger a problem, such as mowing the grass, picking flowers, or sitting under a tree with falling pollen.
• If you are inside, air conditioning is beneficial as the filters block many pollens and allergens that come in from outside.

But who wants to spend spring indoors? Go to your doctor. Get assessed for the least expensive medication with the fewest side effects for you. And enjoy the spring!

Also, be sure to ask your doctor if you need to take precautions while traveling. When taking some allergy medications, it is not safe to drive, and flying may not be advised. Carry your medications in the original containers when traveling to foreign countries. It is also smart to know the active ingredient and not just the brand name (Ibuprophen vs. Advil) because the product may be produced and marketed under a different name overseas.

MEDEX Travel Kits