Maritime Services

Delivering remote medical services to the maritime industry for over 30 years.

GW Maritime Medical Access

In operation since 1989, Maritime Medical Access (MMA) provides a vital service to render appropriate telemedical care to shipping vessels, aircraft, yachts, and teams in remote locations worldwide. We provide on-call physician support, clinical case management, repatriation, training, and recommendations for medical equipment and medicine chests, all through one central 24/7 command center.

When an accident or serious illness occurs at sea, expert medical help may be thousands of miles away. However, having satellite or mobile links to our emergency medicine physicians ensures high quality, continuous care no matter where you are in the world. For 30 years, Maritime Medical Access has been committed to the provision of integrated medical solutions to maximize the quality of medical care and contain the cost of care for the maritime community.

To learn more about Maritime Medical Access’ services, benefits, and our medical team, please click the link below to have a team member contact you.

Request More Information

For questions regarding new Maritime Medical Access service, please call 202-741-2936

Please note: this number should not be used for medical emergencies and is only monitored during business hours.

 

To learn more about Maritime Medical Access’ Services, benefits, and our medical team, please click the link below to have a staff member contact you.

Request More Information


How Our Service Works

When you have an injured or ill crew member on a ship, aircraft, or in another remote location, help could be hours, days, or even weeks away. The cost and logistics of diversion can be significant. The GW Maritime Medical Access team is here to assist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and our help is only minutes away.

When you call, email, or initiate a video conference, you will be connected to our Worldwide Emergency Communications Center (WECC), where you’ll be greeted by a medically trained operator who will collect basic information about your medical emergency. You will then be connected to one of our board-certified emergency medicine physicians.

All of our emergency physicians have special interests in maritime, aviation, or remote medicine and many have personal maritime experience. They understand that prior training, equipment availability, and transit time to more definitive care are highly variable, and they will work with you to develop a care plan that is compatible with your specific resources and needs. Complex cases in need of follow-up will go on our daily case-management list, and you will have ongoing access to physicians who will re-assess the situation and provide updated recommendations.

If your case requires specialty care, our emergency physicians can add specialists from over 50 medical specialties to the team. If your emergency requires diversion or evacuation, we will assist with the medical logistics to direct you toward a port where there is care available for your specific need. We can also provide medically chaperoned repatriations if your crew member needs to return to the United States for further care.

Learn more about medical repatriations here

What Makes Maritime Medical Access Different?

  • Experience: We have been in operation for over 30 years. All cases are managed by our board-certified emergency medicine physicians, all of whom have a specific interest in maritime, aviation, or remote medicine. Our emergency physicians handle thousands of maritime encounters every year.
  • Access: Our physicians are available 24/7/365, and are always one phone call, email, or video conference away.
  • Personal Interaction: The injured or ill party and the physician communicate directly and can see each other face to face from anywhere in the world on videoconference equipped vessels. This affords the patient and the medical provider the opportunity to establish a personal connection.
  • University Based Specialty Care: We are the only service of this kind at a large US-based academic medical center. Our clients have access to the broad resources of The GW Medical Faculty Associates, including over 700 physicians in more than 50 medical specialties.
  • Technology Agnostic: We make all efforts to connect with the technology you already have in place so there is no need to invest in new and expensive equipment. If you need to purchase new technology, we can guide you to cost-effective, long-term solutions.
  • Research: Our academic focus drives us to constantly review cases and research ways to improve care in remote locations. Our experience will help you to be better stocked, better trained, and better prepared to manage a medical emergency should one arise.

Our Providers

Our Staff

Layla Serna

Layla Serna
Program Supervisor

Alex Cullen

Alex Cullen
Program Director

 

About the Worldwide Emergency Communications Center

Maritime Medical Access delivers seamless communications and operations support through our Worldwide Emergency Communications Center (WECC).

The WECC is staffed by medical providers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and provides a central hub from which to access our services. Communications with the WECC may be initiated by telephone, email, or videoconference.

About MMA Video Telemedicine

Maritime Medical Access has partnered with DigiGone to integrate their video conferencing platform at our Worldwide Emergency Communications Center and is available for clients who choose to use it. DigiGone’s platform gives our operators and physicians the ability to communicate with clients using a simple, low-bandwidth compatible, no hassle digital telemedicine solution. Communications are encrypted and HIPAA compliant and support 2-way or multi-party video, audio, text message, or file transfer, including patient vital signs and EKG.

Video conferencing can be initiated worldwide, anywhere an internet connection can be established, from an appropriately equipped vessel. This access is unparalleled in the industry and provides our clients with assurance that their sick or injured mariner is receiving the best possible care using a platform that keeps air-time costs low. 

Request More Information

For questions regarding new Maritime Medical Access service, please call 202-741-2936

Please note: this number should not be used for medical emergencies and is only monitored during business hours.