April 2017 - Going Home Medical

A Day in the Life

by Going Home Medical | Apr 24, 2017 | Travel Risk Management

I am often amazed at the ability of our staff to navigate complex challenges on a daily basis. Without their tireless work and dedication, we would not be able to do the job we are asked to do. Performing global medical transports is often a challenging and dynamic process. Every day the team is presented with logistical challenges, and unique problems to solve. This may involve navigating a foreign visa application, missed flights, ground transport issues, or language challenges. We are often asked what the process looks like, and I have decided to highlight some of the challenges of a recent trip in this month’s blog. The Mission The team was asked to conduct a medical transport to Luanda, Angola, for a young man that had fallen ill while studying in the US. Current security ratings rank Angola as a high-risk country, and a significant amount of planning was required to make the journey as safe as possible for our staff. Travel to Angola also involves some interesting nuances that can pose a logistical challenge. Visa The first challenge of the trip was the visa process. Despite this being a medical transport, all the usual criteria to obtain an entry visa was required. Our medical staff was required to obtain passport photos, complete a large application, and acquire a criminal record check translated into Portuguese. The translation was then required to be notarized and submitted with a lengthy application for consideration. They were also required to provide their passport to the consulate during the process. The Storm Our CRC staff regularly watches weather patterns to predict...