Seafarers Hospital Society issues new KPIs for medical emergency response at sea

November 3 ------ The Seafarers Hospital Society (SHS) has developed a dedicated set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to help shipping companies assess and improve preparedness, response and recovery during medical emergencies onboard vessels.

Announced on 2 November 2026, the new indicators build on SHS’s wider Best Practice KPI initiative, extending its approach to measuring seafarer health and wellbeing into the specific challenges of responding to serious illness and injury at sea. Their development follows a workshop held in June, convened by SHS alongside medical experts from the International Maritime Health Association (IMHA) and International Maritime Health Foundation (IMHF).

The proposed indicators aim to help maritime operators assess not only whether the necessary medical equipment, procedures and support systems are in place, but also how effectively they function during emergencies.

Measuring medical emergency preparedness and response

According to the SHS Medical Emergency Best Practice KPI Toolkit, the proposed indicators follow four progressive levels, covering essential capabilities, performance monitoring, response effectiveness and continuous improvement.

The framework includes measures relating to:

• Medical preparedness: Inspections of medical equipment, written emergency procedures and access to Telemedical Assistance Services (TMAS).

• Emergency response: Time from an incident to the first medical assessment, timely contact with shore-based medical expertise and compliance with agreed response standards.

• Medical outcomes: Recording medical emergencies, evacuations, emergency-related fatalities and cases managed onboard with telemedical assistance.

• Training and recovery: Emergency medical drills, refresher training, crew resilience, post-incident support and completed incident reviews.

The toolkit also proposes tracking medical emergencies, evacuations and fatalities per 100 seafarers annually, allowing operators to monitor trends and identify areas requiring improvement. "When a medical emergency occurs at sea, preparedness, timely decision-making, and effective communication can make a critical difference to a seafarer’s outcome," said Sue Stannard, President of IMHA.

The framework considers the entire emergency response process, from initial assessment and escalation to treatment, medical evacuation, recovery and subsequent review.

It also recognizes the importance of supporting crew members during and after emergencies, incorporating measures for resilience training, mental health support and post-incident learning.

Dr. Nebojša Nikolić, President of the Management Board at IMHF, explained that the indicators provide a structured approach to measuring preparedness, response and recovery, while supporting continuous learning and evidence-based improvements in medical care.

Building on SHS’s existing KPI initiative

The new medical emergency indicators expand SHS’s broader Best Practice KPI program, which was introduced in 2023 to help shipping companies, shipowners and managers assess their policies and practices relating to seafarer health and wellbeing.

The original toolkit provides confidential, four-stage self-assessment surveys covering organizational performance, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement in health and welfare management.

Its development followed a scientific review by academics from Yale University and consultations with maritime stakeholders, highlighting the importance of strengthening the industry’s culture of care.

The newly developed medical emergency indicators apply this wider approach to a more specific operational challenge, introducing measurable criteria for assessing emergency readiness, response times, medical outcomes and lessons learned.

Designed to complement existing maritime requirements, including the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC), STCW and SOLAS, the emergency-focused toolkit is intended as a practical self-assessment framework rather than an additional regulatory obligation.

Through these indicators, SHS aims to help shipping companies identify gaps in their existing capabilities, improve emergency procedures and strengthen the medical care available to seafarers.

Source: safety4sea.com