Central Healthcare Services makes crew medical a transparent and nearly hands-off part of the shipping industry. Our immediate goal is to diagnose and treat every crew member in an expedient manner and get the crew member back to the vessel Fit for Duty.
Here is a look at the specific protocols that help us do that for your company:
HOW WE ASSIST THE SHIPPING AGENT
At CHS, we understand the challenges associated with being a shipping agent. That means we are quick and organized – whether treating the crew member or delivering the invoice. We get every crew member seen promptly and get them back to the vessel as soon as possible so they can be productive. We keep accurate records, categorized by vessel, and we send complete invoices to you within 21 days.
Keeping the agent informed every step of the way is a major priority. For instance, if a procedure is recommended by the treating physician that cost more than $500, we notify the agent and keep them informed of the results of that procedure.
After the crew member has been treated, we scan and email the medical report to the agent. He /she can forward that report to the Master and or Owners so everyone is aware of the disposition of that crew member before he returns to the vessel. The crew member also is given 2 copies of the medical report – one for the Master and one for himself.
HOW WE ASSIST VESSEL OWNERS
CHS offers vessel owners a proactive way to contain medical costs. When a crew member is not diagnosed properly, he will eventually see another doctor in another port, causing more expenses for the vessel owner and lost work time. Our contracted physicians understand the nature of the crew members job and performs the necessary test in order to make a more accurate diagnosis.
By contracting with world class hospitals and individual specialist, we can diagnose, more accurately, what is wrong with your crew member and treat him / her in the best interest of both of you. Sometimes that means making a crew member “unfit for duty” so he / she can return to his / her homeland for further testing and treatment. Accurate diagnosis means less money spent on medical care in the next port.
HOW WE ASSIST P&I CLUBS
When a crew member is sick or injured to a point that he needs to be hospitalized, we not only keep the agent advised daily of the prognosis but we also keep the P&I Representative up-dated. Once the patient is able to be discharged, we prepare the necessary paperwork for Customs & Boarder Protection (CBP), prepare a “fit to travel” letter, get a complete copy of the patients medical chart including all diagnostics and any discharge medication needed. We then receive all medical invoices pertaining to the crew members hospital stay and put together one complete invoice which is then sent to the P&I Representative for audit and payment. We also offer a discount based on prompt payment.