Dr. Christopher J. Rosko, a mem-ber of ACEP’s Finance Committee, is also the medical director for MedjetAssist, the nation’s leading private emergency medical evacuation membership program.

In this interview, he discusses MedjetAssist’s services.

How did you come to work with MedjetAssist?

Dr. Rosko: I became aware of MedjetAssist while I was the medical director of critical care transport services at UAB University Hospital. Our transport teams were one of the providers used by Med-jetAssist for transporting members back to their home hospitals.

After I left UAB in 2000, I was asked to assist MedjetAssist with their evaluation of transport services and member medical care during transport.

As medical director for an inter-national emergency medical evac-uation services company, how involved are you in day-to-day operations?

Dr. Rosko: In day-to-day operations, I maintain an indirect oversight, as our daily medical direction is provided by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

I do, however, provide oversight on difficult transport cases, as well as quality assurance and direction of our transport department staff.

What sets MedjetAssist apart from its competitors?

Dr. Rosko: It’s simple, really. MedjetAssist has been providing medical evacuation and repatriation services since 1992. No one else has our depth of knowledge with regard to international medical evacuations or our global reach.

What are the biggest challengesof coordinating with attending physicians long distance?

Dr. Rosko: Probably our biggest challenge is timely communication with physicians in various time zones throughout the world.

Once we initiate contact with our member’s physician when they are traveling, we then need to coordinate with the receiving physician at their home hospital to complete the transport.

Sometimes, this is literally the difference between day and night as our members travel the world.

That’s why we have medical transport staff available 24 hours a day to assist in these essential contacts.

What is the greatest benefit that ACEP members reap from having a MedjetAssist membership?

Dr. Rosko: Clearly, as a MedjetAssist member and medical director, the greatest benefit is the peace of mind of knowing that no matter where I travel—or my family travels—if there is a serious medical problem requiring hospitalization, I will be able to return to our home hospital for needed medical care. No one is immune from these unforeseen medical emergencies.

What are you most proud of in your work with MedjetAssist?