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Brazilian focus

Frits Sutmoller of Medical Access System explains how the company has bolstered the evolving Brazilian offshore healthcare industry through reliability and a strong emphasis on the doctor-patient relationship

In 1980, the founder of Medical Access System (MAS) established the Sutmoller Family Medicine solo practice in Ipanema, attending to the expatriate community and corporate clients. At the same time, the founder conducted multinational research projects – focusing on respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea in small children – and, in the 1990s, helped prepare Brazil for much-anticipated, large, HIV-vaccine trials.

Throughout MAS’ patient contact and research work, the focus is on the strong patient-doctor relationship

During this period, the Brazilian economy opened up to the outside market and the arrival of new companies placed increased demand on the company’s medical practice in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro. Special business relationships were established with many international medical alarm centres and insurance companies, many of which have lasted to the present day.

Over a decade ago (in 2001), the solo practice became known as MAS, when a group of doctors got together to attend to new business demands – especially those coming from the expanding oil and gas operators, and service companies. In November 2001, the first medical staffing contract was signed for medical staffing on the Devon Energy offshore installation in Fortaleza, Ceará.

PEARL of wisdom

MAS’ success has been made possible by the company’s adherence to its fundamental ‘PEARL’ values:

Partnership for health solutions that are based on strong interpersonal relationships
Expertise provided by the
medical staff, who are committed to continuous professional education and the use of international standards
Availability of services to MAS’ patients during medical emergencies, and to those that seek our professional support
Reliability of services
Leadership actions that will help accomplish our mission by involving our staff, clients, public authorities and new technologies

Pioneering for patients
Throughout MAS’ patient contact and research work, the focus is on the strong patient-doctor relationship, which has never been forgotten. It may now seem old fashioned, but patients want it, and it is essential to providing the highest level of service. This, combined with attending to patients’ – often multicultural – needs and corporate clients’ high expectations, led to MAS defining its mission as being “to guarantee timely, efficient and equitable healthcare to the families we serve, and support our corporate clients with the ‘health’ of their HSE statement, by integrating this task with the workplace safety and environmental concerns, providing an incident-free environment”.

MAS is proud of the quality of healthcare it has provided to the evolving Brazilian offshore market through its routine daily practice and leadership in establishing norms. It was a pioneer in the use of medical doctors in remote locations (as there is no paramedic profession in Brazil), has doctors working in other countries, and has changed maritime regulations and client expectations.

Clients know that, when they contract MAS, they can focus on their core business activity and leave the medical service delivery in the hands of a professional technical service organisation that will work in conjunction with their own medical departments

Brazilian assistance

MAS has seven products, each of which has many specific services that can either be requested independently or in an integrated combination:

Medical assistance:

Family medicine consultations at the MAS health units or externally when needed; provision of special medical certifications (such as the Oil & Gas UK, and Norwegian offshore medical fitness-to-work determinations, FAA pilot medical examiner examinations, and United Nations referee functions); travel medicine support; company medical advisor; and the provision of specialists for specific illnesses or medical topics.

MAS alarm centre access:

24 hours a day/seven days a week essential medical support for our patients, other alarm centres, and remote site installations with clear and pre-determined medical emergency procedures and support for fast-track admissions.

Medical emergency response team:

A standby medical team and necessary infrastructure support. The team can provide offshore medical evacuation, intensive-car unit ambulance transportation and repatriation services for foreign nationals being returned to their home countries for further care.
Remote staffing: Doctors who work on rotation and are responsible for emergency preparedness, routine consultations, infirmary maintenance, occupational health activities, and support to safety and environmental issues as they relate to medicine.

Occupational health management system:

Improvement to health-risk assessments; fitness to work assessments; occupational illness and accident protection, and promotional activities; support for general good-health practice; illness and absenteeism monitoring; and support to Quality of (Working) Life programmes.

Substance abuse policy and programme procedure:

Substance abuse can have a significant impact on individuals and businesses, and policy often needs significant adaptation to meet Brazilian legislative requirements.

Training centre for the Emergency Care and Safety Institute:

A variety of medical training courses are offered covering both treatment and injury/illness prevention. They include first aid, defensive driving, good food practice.