UAE travel: Now, get fast, remote healthcare aboard planes as Emirates unveils telemedicine station

Travellers can now avail speedy medical care in the air, as Emirates introduces a 'telemedicine station', which will be rolled out to 300 aircraft over the next few years.

The system includes video conferencing, remote passenger assessment, secure data transmission and 12-Leads Telecardia ECG device, enabling cabin crew to save lives in emergency situations.

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Emirates has joined forces with Parsys Telemedicine, and invested more than $2.4 million in co-designing the new equipment set.

What does the kit include?

• Pulse oximeter

• Thermometer

• Blood pressure monitor

• Glucometer

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Once the crew gathers vital signs through these machines, they will be transmitted to Medcapture device via Bluetooth, eliminating any need for cabin crew to take notes and relay information manually.

This will then be received by medical professionals in Dubai, who are available 24/7.

The Medcapture device enables cabin crew to connect with ground-based doctors for real-time assessment of passenger medical cases. In some instances, it allows doctors to visually evaluate injuries or medical concerns remotely if required.

Linked to the Medcapture device is the Parsys Cloud, a cloud-based platform for Ground Medical Support to receive inflight data and to communicate with cabin crew. It ensures that customer data is handled in compliance with data protection regulations. 

The Emirates and Parsys kits are already installed on multiple aircraft and have been instrumental in several successful medical cases so far.

During a flight to Lyon, France, an elderly passenger experienced a medical emergency affecting her cardiovascular system, leading to a significant drop in her oxygen levels and another vital sign. Emirates’ cabin crew quickly provided oxygen and used the Parsys MedCapture device to share her vital signs with Ground Medical Support team on the ground, who responded immediately.

 With real-time communication and expert guidance, the crew effectively managed the situation, ensuring the passenger received the best possible care.

Emirates cabin crew receive extensive medical training to handle inflight emergencies, from fainting and choking to breathing difficulties, allergic reactions, and sudden illnesses. They are also trained in managing injuries, infection control, and onboard hygiene. Life-saving skills such as CPR, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use, and even childbirth assistance are taught using advanced simulation technology. This comprehensive training, led by certified aviation first aid instructors, takes place at the Emirates Cabin Crew Training Centre in Dubai.

New joiners undergo eight weeks of intense ‘ab-initio’ training, which includes a myriad of courses from security to service, safety and emergency to hospitality, and the critically important medical response training.

Using a combination of practical, in-situ, classroom and online learning, new recruits are taught invaluable lessons to save lives. The new Parsys kit is introduced to cabin crew through a blended approach of e-learning and practical learning.

Cabin crew knowledge and skills are put to the test each year at a recurrent training, and crew are required to complete a 1.5-hour online course, 2-hour practical session for CPR, AED, severe bleeding, and severe allergy management, with assessments for each.

The crew also participate in a flight simulation exercise annually to ensure they are fully equipped to handle any medical incidents and their knowledge is regularly refreshed.

Cabin crew also receive training on gaining consent to assist customers, showing empathy to the sick and their families, staying calm, keeping the casualty informed at all stages and being present with the casualty until the situation improves. They also learn how to break difficult news when required.

After any incident, the cabin crew are also provided with support for their own mental health, through Emirates’ Employee Assistance Programme, the Peer Support service, and Sehaty – Emirates’ employee wellbeing programme.