The Trauma Surgeon Balancing Work at the General Hospital with Leading a Pioneering International Air Medical Transport Company

A Colombian young man, about 20 years old, fell into a coma after suffering a cerebral infarction due to hemorrhage while studying aerospace engineering in the Czech Republic a few months ago. The student insurance he had contracted stopped covering his hospital expenses, and his chances of survival were very low.

In this context, Dr. Mònica Fortea, a trauma surgeon from Sant Cugat and founder of a leading air medical transport company in Spain, stepped in. The embassies of both countries contacted Fortea to coordinate the young man’s repatriation. Thanks to a complex journey involving both ambulance and air transport, he was able to return to Colombia.

This is just one example of the missions carried out by Aeromedical and Marine Training and Rescue International, a company born from the passion of a Sant Cugat doctor that completes around 200 missions worldwide each year.

A Project Born from Experience

Fortea is an orthopedic trauma surgeon who currently works at the Hospital General de Catalunya, heading the international department. Her experience beyond the hospital began two decades ago when she treated sailors from around the world in Spain and then arranged their return to their home countries.

“I started asking myself questions and realized that airborne medicine needed to exist with a different set of characteristics,” she explains. Motivated by this concern, she pursued further training—first as a HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) instructor, then in the aeromedical transport of patients via commercial and air ambulance flights.

Having worked for both national and international companies, assisting private patients and insurance providers, Fortea eventually decided to establish Aeromedical and Marine Training and Rescue International four years ago.

“It’s a 24/7 job, every day, every night. It requires deep commitment and a strong medical mindset because we always have to be there,” she emphasizes.

A Service That Spans the Globe

So, what exactly does the company do? From its headquarters in Sant Cugat, the team coordinates emergency air transfers, medical transports on commercial flights, and private medical escort services.

“We handle everything: finding flights, arranging the right type of escort, booking taxis and hotels… We oversee the entire process, from the moment the medical escort (a nurse, doctor, or both) departs to reach the patient, assess their condition, determine if they are fit to fly, and accompany them until they arrive safely at their destination.”

Major insurance providers from Europe and North America rely on their services to ensure that patients in complex medical situations can return home safely. Recently, the company expanded its operations by establishing bases in Miami and Dubai, enabling faster response times to global emergencies.

Fortea highlights that the key to the company’s success lies in meticulous preparation and adaptability. “Without dedication, this would be impossible,” she states, emphasizing the commitment of her colleagues.

The company has a core team of about 15 people who regularly fly and manage operations. “Additionally, we have up to 50 professionals in our reserve pool—highly skilled aeromedical experts who work on a case-by-case basis,” she explains.

Flexibility is crucial: “We are professionals with a degree of flexibility. Without it, balancing this job with the rest of our professional and personal lives would be impossible.”

A Passion-Driven Career

Many of these professionals combine this work with their stable jobs. “I work onsite at the hospital until noon, then continue remotely from the office,” says Fortea. Passion is essential: “It’s in our blood.”

Despite her demanding hospital duties and running a business, she still actively participates in missions, admitting that flying remains her greatest passion.

Aiming for Long-Term Success

“This is a lifelong project. I want it to last forever and become Spain’s leading air medical transport company, setting an international benchmark,” Fortea asserts.

She also underscores the strong presence of women in the company. “This is a company with a lot of women, both Catalan and Spanish. It’s not always easy to gain international recognition, but we’re making it happen.”

The transfer was requested by one of our clients. It involved a man who had suffered an accident during his holiday, resulting in a vertebral fracture and a fractured finger.

He was hospitalized in a private hospital in Aswan.

The challenge was that the patient had limited mobility due to the vertebral fracture, requiring him to remain lying down as much as possible, although he was able to move and walk for hygienic purposes.
Another difficulty was his home city, Granada, which has no direct flights to Egypt. A combined air and ground transfer route was proposed: Aswan-Cairo-Madrid by commercial flight, followed by Madrid-Granada by ground ambulance.

I contacted the patient in the early morning hours; he was accompanied by his wife. After consulting with the hospital’s medical team and conducting my own assessment, the FIT-to-Fly was approved. The patient was able to travel in Business Class with his seat adjusted to its most horizontal position.

The repatriation began with a transfer to Aswan Airport by ambulance, and we completed the boarding process using the airport’s liftcarbox. I ensured the patient was comfortably seated, maximizing the seat’s recline and using the footrest to allow him to lie as flat as possible. We then embarked on the first flight, Aswan to Cairo.

At Cairo Airport, with the assistance of the passenger support service, we transferred to the next plane and began the flight to Madrid.

Throughout the flights, the patient was closely monitored. I ensured his vital signs were stable, watched for any signs of neurospinal issues, and maintained his prescribed medication regimen.

Once in Madrid, and with the help of the passenger support team, the patient was transferred to the stretcher in the ambulance for the final leg of the journey to his home in Granada by road. During this segment, he remained lying down on a vacuum mattress secured to the ambulance stretcher.

Finally, we arrived at the patient’s home without any incidents. He expressed his gratitude for being brought back home so quickly.

From the time the mission was planned to the moment the patient arrived home, less than 72 hours had passed.

🌍✈️ Today, we are thrilled to share a story that exemplifies our unwavering commitment and dedication to our patients. We have successfully completed the medical repatriation of a patient from São Paulo to London, ensuring their safety and well-being at every step of the journey.

This achievement was made possible by the incredible joint effort of our exceptional medical and logistical team. 🩺✨ Thanks to their professionalism, expertise, and compassion, we overcame the challenges of this complex operation, providing peace of mind to both the patient and their family.

Each medical repatriation highlights the importance of teamwork and the use of advanced technology in healthcare. This operation stands as a testament to the value of collaboration and meticulous preparation in successfully navigating critical situations.

We are deeply honored to have been part of such a significant chapter in the patient’s life and that of their family. Moments like these inspire us to continue delivering high-quality medical care on a global scale. 🌟

🔹 A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved who made this success possible!
🔹 Together, we reaffirm the importance of humanized care and our commitment to global health.

💪💙
#MedicalRepatriation #Teamwork #GlobalMedicalCare #CommitmentToHealth #HumanizedCare

👉 If you’d like more information about our medical repatriation services, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to care for you!

Aeromedical and Marine proudly participated in the prestigious ITIC Annual Congress, held this November in Vienna, a global hub for innovation and collaboration in the travel and insurance assistance sectors. Our presence at this renowned event underscored our commitment to staying at the forefront of the industry, fostering partnerships, and driving excellence in aeromedical and marine services.

Throughout the congress, we engaged actively in networking sessions, strengthening relationships with existing providers and clients while identifying promising opportunities for collaboration with new industry partners. These interactions are instrumental in ensuring we consistently enhance the quality of our services, adhering to the highest standards of safety and compliance with international regulations.

In addition to relationship-building, our team participated in key discussions and panels addressing the latest trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the future of medical assistance and transport. This valuable exchange of ideas further equips us to adapt and thrive in an increasingly competitive and dynamic global market.

The ITIC Annual Congress served not only as a platform for showcasing our dedication to operational excellence, but also as a catalyst for advancing our strategic objectives. By integrating cutting-edge insights and fostering alliances, Aeromedical and Marine continues to lead with innovation, delivering unparalleled solutions in the aeromedical field.

Aeromedical and Marine TRI, headquartered in Barcelona, is your trusted partner in air and marine medical repatriation. We are excited to announce the expansion of our global reach with two new hubs. After Miami, now we are also present in Riyadh. With these strategic locations, we can now offer faster and more efficient medical repatriations across every continent.

Our highly skilled teams of doctors and nurses are equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, ensuring the highest standard of care for every mission, no matter where you are in the world.