Central Healthcare Services

Central Healthcare Services gives vessel owners, port agents, and P&I clubs a dedicated medical management partner at the busiest ports on the U. S. Gulf Coast. Since its founding in New Orleans in 1990, the company has handled everything from routine physician visits to complex hospitalization cases for maritime crew members arriving at U. S. Ports. Shipping operators get a single point of contact available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no appointment needed for most services. CHS arranges and manages a broad range of medical services on behalf of its maritime clients. Crew members get access to physician office visits without an appointment, plus a specialist network that can typically see patients the same day. The company handles physicals and vaccinations, drug and alcohol testing conducted onboard vessels or at CHS offices, medical locker inspections and certification, and dental visits. When a hospitalization is required, CHS prepares all necessary Customs and Border Protection paperwork, tracks the patient's condition daily, and keeps the vessel owner, port agent, and P&I club representative informed at every stage. Once a crew member is cleared to travel, CHS arranges a complete copy of medical records and any radiology imaging for the patient to carry home. Discharge medications are supplied directly, cutting out an extra pharmacy trip and reducing standby costs for vessel operators. Translation services are available when needed to bridge language gaps between crew members and treating physicians. The company's client base is the global maritime industry. Vessel owners, shipping companies, and their marine insurers rely on CHS to outsource medical case management at the Ports of New Orleans, Houston, Galveston, and Beaumont/Port Arthur. CHS functions as a back-office medical coordination arm for operators who need a local team on the ground rather than managing crew health situations from overseas. What makes CHS operationally practical is its Gulf Coast footprint built up over decades. The New Orleans office opened in 1990, followed by Mobile in 1995, Houston in 2005, and Beaumont/Port Arthur in 2009. That regional presence means experienced staff are already embedded at each major port. Round-the-clock availability matters when medical situations arise at any hour during a vessel's port call. Medical billing and charge settlement are handled directly with healthcare providers, and the company offers discounts for prompt payment, helping operators forecast and manage costs before the final invoice arrives. For vessel owners and maritime operators looking to outsource crew medical management at Gulf Coast ports, Central Healthcare Services offers a practical, experienced option. Contact the nearest CHS office to discuss medical billing support, healthcare outsourcing for maritime operations, or coverage across multiple port locations.