Overview

With a mission to provide “patient care anywhere”, not-for-profit Technical Evacuation Advanced Aero Medical (TEAAM) offers pre-hospital care and transport to those beyond the reach of traditional ambulances. Its staff of more than 100 paramedics, physicians, nurses and technical rescue specialists operate from four bases in British Columbia.

Challenge

TEAAM paramedics and pilots operate in remote, mountainous areas where reliable communication is critical — often making the difference between life and death. Previously the organization relied on two-way radios but they lacked range and clarity, creating significant safety risks. Additionally, their previous satellite messaging device was limited to only 160 characters, making it difficult to convey essential patient information clearly.

Key Challenges: 

• Teams experienced frequent two-way radio failures in mountainous terrain, compromising safety
• Crews relied on a satellite messaging tool limited to 160 characters, which restricted crucial medical details
• Staff navigated complex device interfaces that slowed communication during urgent scenarios
• Delayed or unclear communication disrupted care coordination and reduced mission efficiency

In a critical incident, poor communication prevented a helicopter crew from quickly confirming whether a landing zone was safe. This caused mission delays and significantly increased the risk to both the patient and the crew.