Category: <span>Insights</span>
Cruise ships must be able to generate their oxygen supply
Cruise ships enjoy fresh ocean breezes from all sides, but medical-grade oxygen is harder to come by on the open seas. As maritime medical professionals, we know oxygen is essential to all levels of patient care, from illness to trauma to surgery, and how critical it is to have an ample supply of this basic…
Overcoming this year’s big threats to maritime business
Each January, Allianz issues their Risk Report, which identifies and ranks the most important global business threats in the year ahead. This year’s list was compiled by a group of 2,710 risk management experts from 94 countries and territories – more than any other previous edition. VIKAND believes it’s important to highlight two risks we…
VIKANDER Profile: Lauren Talbot
Lauren Talbot, VIKAND’s Manager of Case Management, leads a global team of qualified registered nurses with the goal to provide each guest and crew member a medical disembarkation experience that is as good as it could possibly be. “We understand that a medical emergency can be a stressful time for patients and their loved ones.…
4 Benefits of Having a Total Healthcare Solution Onboard
An onboard total healthcare solution for your maritime business isn’t just another expense. It’s an investment with both strong short and long-term benefits for the vessel operator, crew, and guests. Short-term benefits to crew include fewer accidents and injuries, less absenteeism, and fewer workers out sick. Over time, the benefits multiply to include lower mortality…
From Kazakhstan to Antarctica, Dr. Aizhan Kuntuova Saves Lives
In honour of National Women Physicians Day, we’re shining a light on Dr. Aizhan Kuntuova, a VIKAND doctor aboard Hurtigruten’s MS Fridtjof Nansen. Dr. Kuntuova cares for passengers and crew while sailing in some of the world’s most remote destinations, including Antarctica. Her interest in medicine began as a young child growing up in Kazakhstan.…
VIKAND Partner Profile: ShipMoney
We once again turn the spotlight on one of the many important collaborators helping to make VIKAND a success. The united efforts we make with our partners benefit seafarers through proactive healthcare, innovative technologies, and a community of providers who foster a culture of care. This month, we are in conversation with Stuart Ostrow, CEO…
Seafarers Wellbeing—Mental Health Aboard
Mental wellbeing is a foundational principle of VIKAND’s total healthcare solutions, the services we provide, and continually evolves. Our goals are to meet the requirements of seafarers, to respond to collaborative needs of industry stakeholders and our clients, and to meet advancing technology. It all starts with sensible and consistent strategies for mental health and…
VIKANDER Profile: Agnes Mathiesen
Meet Agnes Mathiesen, VIKAND’s Director of Client Engagement. From her home base in Oslo, Norway, Agnes is responsible for developing and nurturing long-term relationships with European clients across the cruise industry. Agnes finds this role as fulfilling as it is challenging. She enjoys building her network of key decision-makers and constantly identifying potential improvements to…
The Power of Telemedicine at Sea
Without telemedicine at sea as part of a maritime company’s healthcare options, medical care on board is limited. Onboard teams are often minimally equipped to handle much beyond routine care, such as treating symptoms and dressing injuries. In life-threatening situations, the vessel must find the closest port and transfer the patient to a hospital, or…
The Numbers Game: Do Cruise Ship Inspections Improve Quality?
By David Best, Director of Public Health Harold F. Dodge, one of the principal architects in the field of statistical quality control, stated years ago that “You cannot inspect quality into a product.” At the core of his argument is the fundamental premise that at the time of inspection, the good or bad is already…