Each day, thousands of crew members keep U.S. Ports vital to the world economy. Our medical management team keeps them healthy. Through CHS, crew members have immediate access to world class hospitals and specialist that keep them productive.
Central Healthcare Services was founded in New Orleans in 1990. We opened an office in Mobile, Alabama in 1995, Houston, Texas in 2005 and Beaumont / Port Arthur in 2009. We manage and coordinate the medical care for crew members that arrive in the Ports of New Orleans, Houston, Galveston and Beaumont / Port Arthur. Our staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist in getting the needed treatment for these crewmembers. If a patient is treated and released “fit for duty” we supply him with his discharge medications. This saves the vessel owners added expenses for transportation and standby to get prescriptions filled. If the clinic physician deems that the patient needs to see a specialist, we have a network of specialist that we can utilize, in most cases the same day. After notifying the port agent of the specialist visit, we keep them advised of the outcome of the visit. In a small percentage of cases where a crew member has to be hospitalized, we prepare the necessary paperwork for Customs & Boarder Protection (CBP) and we keep the port agent advised on a daily basis of the condition of the crew member. We meet daily with the treating physicians and case managers to get updated reports and always keep the physicians aware that when the crew member is “fit to travel” we need to discharge the patient to their home country where they can get the remainder of their treatment. If the P&I Club appoints a local representative, we keep them updated daily as well. We also arrange for a complete copy of their medical records and copies of any radiology film that was done for them to take to their physician back home. On the completion of treatment, the medical charges are presented and a discount is offered for a prompt settlement.
Services arranged and managed by Central Healthcare Services offices include:
- Physician office visits with no appointment
- Network of specialist available, in most cases the same day with no appointment
- Physicals and Vaccinations
- Drug & Alcohol Testing onboard or in our offices
- Medical Locker Inspections / Certification
- Management and daily reporting on hospitalized cases
- Shipboard by physicians when available
- Prepare all necessary paperwork for Customs & Border Protection when a crew member is hospitalized
- Ambulance service for emergencies
- Dental visits with no appointments (after hours by appointment & availability
- Discounts offered for prompt payment
- Translation services