1218 Exchange of medical information between Telemedical assistance services (TMAS)

Guidance on exchange of medical information between Telemedical assistance services (TMAS) involved in International sar operations

		dd-mm-yyyy = Entry into force
Document	MSC.1/Circ.1218	15-12-2006

Ingangsdatum: 15-12-2006

Guidance on exchange of medical information between Telemedical assistance services (TMAS) involved in International sar operations

		dd-mm-yyyy = Entry into force
Document	MSC.1/Circ.1218	15-12-2006

01 Introduction

Ingangsdatum: 15-12-2006

1 - Introduction

1.1 The purpose of this circular is to provide guidance on exchange of medical information between two telemedical assistance services (TMAS) involved in SAR operations for medical assistance at sea when an international co-operation is required.

1.2 The MSC/Circ.960 on medical assistance at sea:

• states that an optimal arrangement for medical assistance at sea is based on the following five elements:
  
  

• one or more RCCs;
  
  
• a telemedical assistance service (TMAS);
  
  
• means of intervention at sea;
  
  
• shore-based arrangements;
  
  
• common operational procedures,
  
  

• informs or reminds States of the elements of a global system of medical assistance at sea and encourages those which had not yet done so to set up such a system (which to a large extent uses existing elements), including an officially designated maritime telemedical assistance service;
  
  
• defines the objectives, capacities and planning of a TMAS; and
  
  
• lists the means of radiocommunication essential for medical assistance at sea.

02 Need for exchange of medical information between TMASs

Ingangsdatum: 15-12-2006

2 - Need for exchange of medical information between TMASs

2.1 Given the international dimension of maritime navigation, a medical problem may occur on board a ship far from its country of origin. In such a case the master, who is responsible for the care of those on board, normally calls his designated national TMAS, which can perform a telemedical consultation in his language. Should there be need, following telemedical consultation, for an evacuation to the nearest shore, the master contacts the MRCC responsible for SAR operations in the maritime zone concerned.

2.2 In order to facilitate and enhance planning of the medical aspects of a SAR operation involving medical assistance at sea, all available medical information collected by the TMAS carrying out the telemedical consultation should be transferred to the TMAS attached to the responsible MRCC. This is to avoid an additional teleconsultation by the second TMAS.

03 A common “Medical Information Exchange Form”

Ingangsdatum: 15-12-2006

3 - A common “Medical Information Exchange Form”
A common form for the exchange of medical information would facilitate the transfer of
all available and relevant medical information between the two TMASs (see appendix).

04 Guidance on exchange of medical information

Ingangsdatum: 15-12-2006

4 - Guidance on exchange of medical information

On the basis of international partnership agreements, the “medical information exchange form” should be used for SAR operations involving medical assistance at sea, as follows:

• when, following a telemedical consultation, a TMAS requires a medical evacuation, the physician should complete the medical information exchange form;
  
  
• once the MRCC responsible for the SAR operation has been identified, the TMAS will transmit the form to the corresponding TMAS partner of the MRCC concerned;
  
  
• the MRCC should thus be informed by its designated national TMAS of the medical constraints affecting the SAR operation; and
  
  
• after the completion of the SAR operation, the operational TMAS will send any available information on medical follow-up to the TMAS that had performed the remote consultation.

Appendix Identification of the requiring TMAS

Ingangsdatum: 15-12-2006

Appendix - Identification of the requiring TMAS

 

• Informatietype: Internationaal
• Documentsoort: Circulaire niet in wetten.nl
• Toegangsrechten: Extern
• Identificatie: PUC_1653_14
• Versie: 1
• Datum beschikbaarheid: 27-05-2013
• Geldigheid van: 15-12-2006
• Wijzigingsdatum: 24-11-2016
• Titel: 1218 Exchange of medical information between Telemedical assistance services (TMAS)
• Organisatie: International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• Taal: Nederlands
• Thema: 1200 until 1299