Text: Line Njaa Viste
On September 2, 2024, Radio Medico officially became the on-duty doctor service provider for OFFB members, including responsibility for on-duty services within the petroleum industry on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The service—an integrated part of the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine, under Helse Vest RHF—brings extensive experience to the role.
In 2023, they assisted 2,053 patients at sea. About 200 of them were evacuated to land.
"90 percent of the inquiries we receive can be resolved on board with the right measures. When evacuation is necessary, it is always coordinated through the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre," says Jon Magnus Haga, PhD, specialist in public health medicine and head of the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen.
Backing from Haukeland University Hospital
The Radio Medico on-duty team consists of seven qualified doctors working in rotation. Many of them have experience working at sea, and the team is composed to cover a range of medical disciplines. All on-duty doctors have undergone extensive training tailored to their roles.
“We’ve built a team that can deliver consistent quality in medical advice, while also contributing to the development of the field. It’s a great advantage that several have backgrounds from the Navy and maritime work," Haga emphasizes.
- Radio Medico
With roots dating back to 1923 and the early days of the telegraph, the maritime industry is well acquainted with Radio Medico, Norway’s telemedical emergency doctor service for seafarers. The service is available 24/7, all year round, and free of charge for all seafarers, regardless of ship flag, nationality, or where in the world they are located. - Radio Medico is now an integrated part of the services offered by the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine, which is under Helse Vest RHF (the Western Norway Regional Health Authority).
In addition to the on-duty doctor, the entire Haukeland University Hospital is available for consultation when needed.
"We’re fortunate to be able to consult seamlessly. The Radio Medico on-duty doctors handle the shifts, but we have Haukeland specialists backing us," says Haga.
Photo from OFFB and Radio Medicos competence gathering in June.
Radio Medico’s on-duty doctors are available 24/7 to anyone who needs them. Calls come through Coastal Radio North or South.
Coastal Radio North or South assist in identifying the vessel and setting up the communication with the doctor.
Comprehensive Integration Program
Radio Medico has exstensive experience in training maritime and offshore doctors. To further understand the oil and gas industry and how OFFB's second-line emergency response operates, all the on-duty doctors participated in exercises hosted by OFFB last autumn.
There have also been professional development days involving Radio Medico, Coastal Radio North, and Coastal Radio South. A visit to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre was also part of the program for all the on-duty doctors.
Best Possible Onboard Healthcare
Jon Magnus Haga emphasizes the ability to consult with relevant expert environments in a seamless manner and underlines Radio Medico’s commitment to continuing to build a strong professional team.
"Through our work, we can foster specialization within public health medicine," says Haga.
Pictured, back row from left: Kristoffer Enge (on-duty doctor), OFFB Chief of Staff Kim Sviland, and Radio Medico Section Head/Chief Physician Jon Magnus Haga. Front row from left: OFFB Head of Planning and Emergency Response Ann Christin Auestad, OFFB Managing Director Ole Jacob Haug, on-duty doctor Leni Johannesen, Clinic Director Alf Henrik Andreassen, and on-duty doctor Marit Grønning.
– A Meaningful Mission
Ingeborg Ribe has been part of the Radio Medico on-duty team since November last year. She is a general practitioner and splits her time between the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine and one day a week at a general practice clinic in Bergen.
Ribe says stepping into the on-duty role has gone smoothly. She received thorough training. and participated in a full-day exercise organized by OFFB for Harbour Energy in June.
"Radio Medico is a very rewarding part of my job. I find it meaningful and interesting to be in contact with nurses on offshore installations and to be involved in treating patients offshore. I get to combine my expertise in general and emergency medicine, and it’s worked very well to coordinate with helicopters and get patients to land. I’ve had many positive experiences as part of the on-duty team and look forward to continuing my shifts," says Ribe.
Quality as a Top Priority
For many years, OFFB operated a decentralized on-duty doctor system with local presence along the coast.
In recent years, however, telemedicine, new technology, and increased healthcare competence offshore have enabled smarter and more efficient solutions. In practice, it is no longer relevant to dispatch doctors from heliports on short notice.
Instead, offshore workers are cared for directly by offshore nurses, in dialogue with on-duty doctors onshore—and flown directly to hospital by helicopter when needed.
The centralized on-duty doctor system with Radio Medico is thoroughly developed and complies with the guidelines in "Offshore Norge 014 – Recommended guidelines for medical professional preparedness for actitivites on the Norwegian Continental Shelf" (updated in 2021). It is also medically grounded in accordance with the Norwegian Activities Regulation.
A More Robust Service
OFFB’s Managing Director, Ole Jacob Haug, underlines that the goal of the change was to offer a more robust service, where focused work on continuous improvement within a strong professional environment raises the quality for operators on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
"But we also gave something up. Centralization means we no longer have doctors available to show up at heliports in the evenings to escort people to the emergency clinic for less urgent issues. However, personnel sent to shore will still experience good follow-up through our OSEP system," says Haug.
A Future-Oriented Service
"We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Radio Medico and Helse Vest RHF (the Western Norway Regional Health Authority) in delivering this vital service to our members and everyone working offshore. Through this agreement, everyone gains access to a robust, modern, and medically sound on-duty doctor system that safeguards life and health in an excellent way," Haug adds.
