A high-acuity cross-border transfer
SAM was asked to repatriate a 78-year-old Singaporean patient from Ipoh to Singapore General Hospital after a heart attack complicated by hospital-acquired pneumonia. The patient was ventilated, required high oxygen support and received several continuous intravenous medicines.
A four-person team was deployed: an emergency medicine specialist, a flight paramedic and two experienced ambulance drivers.
Clinical and operational planning
The team calculated oxygen requirements with additional reserve and carried a backup 15 LPM oxygen concentrator. Coordination covered the sending and receiving clinical teams, direct ICU admission, border clearance and the permits required for the journey.
The ambulance reached the patient's bedside in Ipoh within six hours of mobilisation. Critical-care treatment continued during the journey, followed by a direct handover at Singapore General Hospital.