Full-Spectrum Medical Management, From Sea to Shore.

SphereMD’s approach to medical coordination extends through every stage of care. From first call to final discharge, we stay involved to ensure each mariner receives consistent, compassionate, and effective treatment, whether on board or ashore.
Our team manages the entire process: arranging transportation and appointments, communicating with providers, and monitoring care through recovery and repatriation.

• Clinical Assessment: We determine the appropriate level of care for each crew member.
• Logistics Coordination: We arrange transport, appointments, and prescription pick-ups before return to the vessel.
• Ongoing Oversight: We stay in contact with providers during visits and ensure safe, timely returns or medical transfers when needed.
• Follow-Through: Each case remains open until recovery and reporting are complete.

This hands-on approach ensures that care is continuous, communication is clear, and crews return to duty safely and confidently.

When crews are offshore or unable to reach a clinic, SphereMD’s Telehealth & At-Sea Care provides 24/7 access to licensed U.S. medical providers. Through secure communication platforms, we assess, diagnose, and guide care remotely, delivering peace of mind and professional support across any distance.

Our telehealth capabilities include:

• Video consultations and clinical evaluations
• Treatment recommendations using onboard medical supplies
• Prescription support and coordination with vessel pharmacies
• Mental health and crisis consultations
• Ongoing case monitoring for sick or injured crew members

In serious cases, our medical team coordinates with the master and U.S. Coast Guard to arrange medical evacuation or shoreside transfer when necessary.

SphereMD coordinates emergency medical evacuations and care in even the most remote U.S. ports, including Alaska. When a medical emergency arises, our experienced team acts quickly to connect shipowners, agents, and medical authorities with the right level of support.

We guide every step of the process, from contacting the U.S. Coast Guard and arranging safe patient transfer, to managing hospitalization and repatriation. Our goal is simple: ensure that every mariner receives timely, appropriate care while minimizing disruption and cost to your operations.

Every emergency response includes:

• Immediate Coordination: One call activates our team to guide the Master through emergency procedures and U.S. Coast Guard contact.
• Medical Oversight: SphereMD provides interim medical advice until the patient reaches shore and continues case management throughout treatment.
• Cost Containment: We secure fair, pre-negotiated rates for medevac services, hospital admissions, and follow-up care.
• Communication: Continuous updates keep agents, owners, and P&I Clubs fully informed.
• Repatriation & Recovery: When treatment is complete, we arrange all logistics for return to vessel or home country.

SphereMD can help when you need to transport an ill or injured crew member from one country to another for medical care. We can assist with appointing air ambulances, ensuring that the receiving hospital has the proper capabilities to treat the crew, and managing the logistics in between.

In 2025, U.S. authorities changed their approach to medical paroles, routinely denying most requests for medical paroles that aren't considered life-threatening. In response, SphereMD has developed options to provide care for mariners who may be unable to leave the vessel, as well as a process for assisting in the practical support of Medical Paroles when necessary.

SphereMD's approach begins with a telehealth consultation, completed by an experienced U.S. provider. In cases in which the crewmember can be treated aboard the vessel, we will utilize the vessel medical locker for helpful medications or may order medicines from a pharmacy if the ship is docked. In instances where shores-de care is deemed necessary by the provider, we will complete a detailed narrative outlining care needs and potential outcomes if care is denied, for submission to CBP.

Our global repatriation services are committed to providing safe, respectful, and efficient transport for individuals who need to return to their home country. We coordinate every aspect of the repatriation process, from logistics to medical support and safeguarding, ensuring your crewmember receives dignified and professional care throughout the journey. Our goal is to make complex medical movements simple, safe, and cost-effective.

SphereMD ensures that individuals and organizations meet all medical requirements for deployment, occupational duties, and safety compliance, globally and locally.

What We Provide:

• Deployment & Pre-Assignment Exams
  Tailored medical evaluations to meet contractual, company, or government standards. Includes fitness for duty exams, travel and immunization requirements, and physicals specific to the environment (offshore, remote, etc.).
• Occupational Health & Fit-for-Duty Physicals
  New hire screenings, annual check-ups, and examinations required for safety-sensitive roles. We assess ability to work under specified conditions, manage exposure risks, and ensure ongoing compliance with industry regulations.
• Immunizations, Lab Testing & Health Surveillance
  Completing required vaccines, titers, and lab work for immunity verification. Routine and exposure-based health screening (respiratory, hearing, or vision surveillance) as needed for deployment or occupational health maintenance.
• Corporate & Group Services
  Whether for a single employee, crew, or large group, we coordinate all logistics, onsite or remote, for group vaccination clinics, compliance physicals, fit testing, and more.

SphereMD works closely with the Travel & Immunization Clinic of Portland (TICP) to support medical readiness for international travel. The clinic provides travel consultations, vaccinations, and occupational health services to help crews and global travelers prepare safely for deployment.