The RMSI air ambulance is based in Dubai and serves RMSI clients in the region, including global insurance patients, oil and gas, governments, corporations and private clients, as well as patients in hostile situations and remote locations.
Dubai was the natural selection from which to launch the service: “Choosing Dubai as our regional hub and global HQ was a relatively easy task, given the Emirate’s status as an aviation hub and a trusted medical centre of excellence,“ says Robert Lamb, president and CEO of RMSI.
Typical air ambulance services are rapid regional response for patients requiring urgent evacuation from areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The patient could be a member of the international community, for example an NGO, defence or security personnel, or construction worker, who is evacuated to a point of stabilisation and/or treatment in Dubai.
These are critical, life threatening situations and cases involving trauma, as well as serious medical cases which are rendered even more threatening by the remoteness of the patient’s location.
“We don’t do the easy jobs,” adds Lamb. “Our work is urgent and critical, whilst operating in challenging situations and remote areas and there is no room for compromise when it comes to medical or aviation proficiency and standards.”
RMSI – Dubai’s first licensed air ambulance operator
RMSI, a Dubai-based international medical solutions company, specialises in providing routine and rapid response medical treatment, and medical evacuations from high-risk environments.
RMSI provides a truly integrated medical solution; including remote on-site medical staffing and clinical facilities, topside medical support through the Dubai based 24-hour mission response center, and both ground and air ambulance services.
Being awarded the first Air Ambulance license in Dubai by the ‘Dubai corporation for ambulance services’ is a testament to RMSI’s work and was a proud moment for the RMSI team, the CEO said.
The decision to set up operations in Dubai was a logical one for RMSI founder Lamb: “Geographically, Dubai is the center of the world, and from both a logistical and commercial aspect the only place I would consider anchoring RMSI’s operations.
Being based in Dubai allows for quick, efficient and smooth deployment of RMSI’s air ambulances to our clients across the region, with world-class medical care in Dubai enabling us to bring patients here for emergency treatment. The healthy business environment in the city, coupled with innovative vision of its leaders makes it an attractive place to call home.”
RMSI’s high-speed Intensive Care jets are deployed within minutes of receiving flight clearance, providing 24 hour assistance to RMSI clients requiring international medical evacuation services.
RMSI’s real-time operations systems provide up to the minute status reports. Every stage of the journey is monitored with high-tech satellite tracking, and communication is maintained between the air ambulance and the RMSI Mission Response Center based in Dubai.
Each aircraft is fully equipped with the latest technology and medical equipment. On receiving the emergency alert, a medical team is underway with the right training and equipment geared for any situation. Highly trained and skilled, RMSI pilots hold a wealth of experience in flying into any area.
RMSI clients such as the UN, NATO and numerous oil and gas majors benefit from a range of services including a 24/7 mission response center, medical consultancy and training, remote field clinics, primary emergency retrieval, field hospitals and air ambulances.
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RMSI – Mission accomplished
On a recent mission, at around 13:00 (DXB time) a subcontractor for one of RMSI’s major clients in Iraq sustained a serious partial amputation injury to his wrist whilst operating in an oilfield.
The RMSI Site Paramedic was on-hand to give urgent medical attention and stabilize the patient, whilst escalating the case to the RMSI Mission Response Centre (MRC) for clinical topside and operational support, and to activate International SOS in order to prepare an emergency medical evacuation.
The patient was transferred by ground ambulance at approximately 14:00 to the RMSI Field Hospital in Basra for further stabilisation and to be assessed for medical fitness to fly, ahead of movement to Basra International airport for medical evacuation by an RMSI air ambulance to Dubai.
The RMSI Medical Flight Team received the patient on-board the Dubai-based Hawker 800XP air ambulance, and departed Basra only eight hours following the initial injury. Upon arrival in Dubai, the patient was promptly transferred to the surgical team at the City Hospital at 23:18, less than 11 hours after presenting to the RMSI clinic on the oilfield.
The patient was treated by the surgical team at the City Hospital who successfully reattached the amputated limb; the patient was expected to make a full recovery after rehabilitation.
