Help a Phone Call Away for World Traveling Hoyas
A new layer of safeguards is in place for the thousands of Georgetown faculty, staff and students who pack their bags and head overseas each year on university business.
Everyone in the community traveling and working overseas on university-sanctioned activities now has access to emergency services through International SOS, a company that provides medical, health care and security assistance.
The service may be accessed immediately in case of an emergency. All campuses -- including Qatar -- are covered.
"With the push to move forward to become a truly global institution, one of the things we need to do is to make sure that as we expand, we have the infrastructure in place to meet the needs and safety of all our staff and students who are involved in global initiatives," said Katherine Bellows, executive director of the Office of International Programs.
Security risks no longer are contained to countries with a history of unrest, she added.
"One of the things that has become more prevalent since 9/11 is the unexpected case of a bombing at an airport in Europe or the Underground in London," Bellows said. "We need to make sure we have the mechanism to get all of our students and staff away from problems that might exist."
All travelers should print out and carry a wallet-sized card with relevant numbers and information. Georgetown's International SOS code is available through the risk management Web site (a net ID and password are required).
Most of International SOS' services are free to the user because the university pays the retainer fees. The company has centers based internationally that distribute up-to-the-minute security information, connect travelers with embassies and consulates and provide emergency medical care, such as airlifting. Users will incur a fee for services such as companion travel, cash advances or dispatch of medical supplies.
Georgetown previously relied largely on the U.S. Department of State for its travel information, including warnings about danger zones. Adding International SOS to the mix increases information available, said Joseph Yohe, associate vice president of risk management, and will help if Georgetown officials ever need to make evacuation decisions.
The university has emergency response protocols in place to make such decisions, though some urgent situations may mean key administrators cannot immediately gather.
"The default position is that we provide whatever services SOS feels are necessary," Yohe explained. "If they feel like it's a dire situation in their judgment, they are authorized to act."
Georgetown's affiliation with International SOS is coming at a time when international travel is on the rise. Though no central office keeps data on how many faculty and staff travel abroad, Georgetown has many international relationships, and there are faculty, staff and students in a variety of foreign nations conducting research, studying abroad or on other university business.
Faculty, staff and students are sometimes based in hot zones. Although university policy does not encourage travel, study or work in countries on the state department's warning list, permission may be obtained from Georgetown to do so. After the university's Executive Committee instituted that policy in April, Yohe and Bellow's offices began looking into what service the university could provide to protect the community.
They looked at private companies because their capabilities tend to reach farther than the federal government. International SOS is not beholden to follow protocol about which countries the U.S. has diplomatic relations with.
For instance, in the summer of 2006 many visitors to Lebanon faced emergency evacuations during that country's conflict with Israel. Bellows said Princeton University used International SOS to evacuate its students and staff -- all of whom left the country before the state department even began evacuations.
International SOS' blanketing of the world with its staff also makes it easier to access medical care. Emergency service may be available within minutes, but will take no longer than six hours, Bellows said. Non-emergency care, such as advice on finding a doctor or hospital, also is available.
"One of the things we did do is integrate the student health insurance into this coverage," Yohe noted.
International SOS is not health insurance, he stressed. All students are required to have health insurance while traveling abroad. It is not required of faculty and staff, but strongly recommended. All university-sponsored health insurance plans have international components that may be activated during travel.
Yohe and Bellow recommend that employees and students visit Georgetown's International SOS site to learn specifics about the coverage available. The site includes free information on security, country-specific e-mail alerts, visa and vaccination requirements and even weather information.
Everyone in the community traveling and working overseas on university-sanctioned activities now has access to emergency services through International SOS, a company that provides medical, health care and security assistance.
The service may be accessed immediately in case of an emergency. All campuses -- including Qatar -- are covered.
"With the push to move forward to become a truly global institution, one of the things we need to do is to make sure that as we expand, we have the infrastructure in place to meet the needs and safety of all our staff and students who are involved in global initiatives," said Katherine Bellows, executive director of the Office of International Programs.
Security risks no longer are contained to countries with a history of unrest, she added.
"One of the things that has become more prevalent since 9/11 is the unexpected case of a bombing at an airport in Europe or the Underground in London," Bellows said. "We need to make sure we have the mechanism to get all of our students and staff away from problems that might exist."
All travelers should print out and carry a wallet-sized card with relevant numbers and information. Georgetown's International SOS code is available through the risk management Web site (a net ID and password are required).
Most of International SOS' services are free to the user because the university pays the retainer fees. The company has centers based internationally that distribute up-to-the-minute security information, connect travelers with embassies and consulates and provide emergency medical care, such as airlifting. Users will incur a fee for services such as companion travel, cash advances or dispatch of medical supplies.
Georgetown previously relied largely on the U.S. Department of State for its travel information, including warnings about danger zones. Adding International SOS to the mix increases information available, said Joseph Yohe, associate vice president of risk management, and will help if Georgetown officials ever need to make evacuation decisions.
The university has emergency response protocols in place to make such decisions, though some urgent situations may mean key administrators cannot immediately gather.
"The default position is that we provide whatever services SOS feels are necessary," Yohe explained. "If they feel like it's a dire situation in their judgment, they are authorized to act."
Georgetown's affiliation with International SOS is coming at a time when international travel is on the rise. Though no central office keeps data on how many faculty and staff travel abroad, Georgetown has many international relationships, and there are faculty, staff and students in a variety of foreign nations conducting research, studying abroad or on other university business.
Faculty, staff and students are sometimes based in hot zones. Although university policy does not encourage travel, study or work in countries on the state department's warning list, permission may be obtained from Georgetown to do so. After the university's Executive Committee instituted that policy in April, Yohe and Bellow's offices began looking into what service the university could provide to protect the community.
They looked at private companies because their capabilities tend to reach farther than the federal government. International SOS is not beholden to follow protocol about which countries the U.S. has diplomatic relations with.
For instance, in the summer of 2006 many visitors to Lebanon faced emergency evacuations during that country's conflict with Israel. Bellows said Princeton University used International SOS to evacuate its students and staff -- all of whom left the country before the state department even began evacuations.
International SOS' blanketing of the world with its staff also makes it easier to access medical care. Emergency service may be available within minutes, but will take no longer than six hours, Bellows said. Non-emergency care, such as advice on finding a doctor or hospital, also is available.
"One of the things we did do is integrate the student health insurance into this coverage," Yohe noted.
International SOS is not health insurance, he stressed. All students are required to have health insurance while traveling abroad. It is not required of faculty and staff, but strongly recommended. All university-sponsored health insurance plans have international components that may be activated during travel.
Yohe and Bellow recommend that employees and students visit Georgetown's International SOS site to learn specifics about the coverage available. The site includes free information on security, country-specific e-mail alerts, visa and vaccination requirements and even weather information.
Source: Blue & Gray (December 10, 2007)
December 11, 2007
