Situation – Dr. Ivankovich traveled to Haiti with a 15-member team and 3,000 pounds of medical supplies. Just a few days after arriving, he was introduced to two paralyzed victims and Dr. Ivankovich immediately made it his personal mission to get them both out of Haiti and into a proper medical facility to treat their injuries. On January 20, Dr. Ivankovich contacted the Wilbanks Agency for assistance in finding a way out of Haiti. Wilbanks Agency contacted AirMed, an air ambulance service based in Birmingham, Ala., and the company agreed to do the transportation pro bono. In just two days, Dr. Ivankovich arranged what would ordinarily take weeks to complete and on January 28, Dr. Ivankovich returned with his two patients to Chicago where they would receive immediate care at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

 

Challenge – To share the newsworthy return of Dr. Ivankovich and the two earthquake victims with the public by taking the story to the media. Details of the return proved challenging to communicate because of the United States government policies and procedures. Constantly changing information had to be coordinated between Dr. Ivankovich and his team, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the U. S. Agency for International Development, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and AirMed. The delay of finalized information risked keeping the media’s attention on the remarkable mission.

 

Strategy – Garner coverage from Chicago market print and television news outlets by immediately making contact about the planned evacuation and constantly providing updates of the situation. Wilbanks Agency communicated final details of the return providing photo and interview opportunities including AirMed jet’s landing and a press conference at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

 

Results – The story of Dr. Ivankovich bringing two Haitian earthquake victims to the United States received extensive media coverage. Three Chicago stations – ABC 7, CBS 2 and WGN 9 –  in the Chicago market covered the story multiple times including reporting the story on their midday, 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. newscasts. The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times published multiple stories covering Dr. Ivankovich and the two victims’ journey, and The Birmingham News also covered the story. The story also caught the attention of WTMX 101.9 midday DJ Cara Carriveau and received attention on her blog “Cara’s Connection.”

 

Judy Jones of Wilbanks Agency comments, “Being involved with Haiti and helping two patients that didn't have a chance of surviving, no less walking again, was a lifetime highlight. Our alliance with AirMed was an amazing factor in making the Haiti medical intervention possible. I am looking forward to describing how many lives we will touch withwww.OnePatient.comgoing forward.”