International SOS
About International SOS
Emory contracts with International SOS to provide security and medical evacuation services, and a variety of online health, safety, and security resources for the university community traveling abroad on university business or sponsored activities.
Beginning Fall 2022, Emory faculty, staff, and students on Emory-sponsored international travel (Emory business, study abroad, research, etc.) now have emergency evacuation and medical insurance, as well as access to emotional support services, while traveling overseas. See more on these new benefits below.
Contacting International SOS
In case of emergency while traveling, seek local assistance as applicable and contact International SOS as soon as possible at 1-800-523-6586 or at +1-215-942-8226. See international contact numbers here. Provide Emory's International SOS membership number (11BYSG000003) as needed.
For non-emergency assistance, you can call the numbers referenced above, and you can also consult with International SOS via the app (visit the app store for Apple users or Android users to download) or via email at philadelphia@internationalsos.com.
Creating your International SOS account
International SOS launched a new portal experience for Emory University in Spring 2023. Emory University students, faculty, and staff now log in using a registered email address and password.
If you currently use the International SOS Assistance App, use these login credentials to log into the International SOS web portal.
If you have not created your International SOS account and are not an International SOS Assistance App user, please refer to this guide to set up your account. The Emory membership number is 11BYSG000003.
Emory International SOS account creation guide
Alternatively, download the International SOS Assistance App, and use those login credentials to access the International SOS web portal. We encourage all Emory travelers to use the International SOS app - visit the app store for Apple users or Android users to download.
Please note, the Emergency Record function continue to have separate login credentials.
If you have any questions about setting up your International SOS account, please contact us.
Registering your travel with International SOS
When you purchase your plane ticket through an Emory travel agency (CTM, Sequel Travel, Cadence Travel), your air itinerary is automatically registered with International SOS as a benefit to Emory travelers.
However, if you arranged for your hotel accommodations separately from an Emory travel agency, or if your airfare was booked outside of an Emory travel agency, you have two options for registering your travel with International SOS: adding the detail to your My Trips profile (International SOS login required) or forwarding your itinerary to a designated International SOS email account.
Travelers can also forward their itineraries to register their travel with International SOS by forwarding their travel itinerary confirmation email, without making any changes, to EmoryUniversityTravel@itinerary.internationalsos.com. See more details below.
In addition to the My Trips tool, you can also register travel with International SOS when you book outside an Emory vendor by forwarding your itinerary to a designated email address.
If you wish to register your own travel, travelers will forward their travel itinerary confirmation email, without making any changes, to EmoryUniversityTravel@itinerary.internationalsos.com.
Emory personnel who wish to send itineraries on behalf of travelers (such as administrators and travel organizers) will put the traveler’s email in the “To” line and will put EmoryUniversityTravel-TO@itinerary.internationalsos.com in the “CC” line.
After forwarding the itinerary, users will receive an email from International SOS with the status of the forwarded itinerary.
If there are any changes to your itinerary, simply forward the new itinerary using the same process and your trip information will be automatically updated. Trip cancellation is not available through the forwarding function at this time.
To learn more about this function: Forward Your Itinerary FAQ
International SOS services
International SOS can assist in the trip planning process by providing detailed in-country information such as travel warnings, cultural information, and medical alerts. International SOS also provides travelers with a safe way to store all necessary documentation while traveling overseas. Once abroad, International SOS can help you with translators and interpreters, lost document assistance, ground transportation and accommodations for accompanying family members, and emergency personal cash advances.
International SOS also provides detailed travel health and safety briefings, by phone or email.
Effective Fall 2022, Emory faculty, staff, and students on Emory-sponsored international travel (Emory business, study abroad, research, etc.) now have emergency medical insurance, as well as access to emotional support services, while traveling overseas.
Emergency evacuation and medical insurance
Faculty, staff, and students on Emory-sponsored international travel are provided emergency medical, security, and natural disaster evacuation services as well as emergency medical insurance through International SOS.
This emergency medical insurance is offered by Emory University where services and coordination of benefits are initiated by contacting International SOS. A separate medical card is not needed for proof of coverage, only your International SOS card (available here) and membership number #11BYSG000003.
For all medical incidents, please ensure International SOS is contacted immediately. Learn more about International SOS and find the link to download the International SOS app (Apple users or Android users).
Travelers should maintain their primary health insurance policy while traveling, in addition to being familiar with its global benefits and coverage for care outside the US. Learn more about international coverage for the Emory health plans here.
View the details of this emergency evacuation and medical insurance program here:
International Emergency Medical Insurance Benefits Summary
If you have any questions about this benefit, please contact us.
Emotional Support
Emory's International SOS membership now includes emotional support services for faculty, staff, and students traveling on Emory-sponsored international travel.
International SOS emotional support services assist students, academic researchers, faculty members or employees in dealing with any psychological issues while they are away on a study trip and for which short-term counseling is appropriate.
International SOS has selected WorkPlace Options – the world leading employee wellbeing company - to provide emotional support services as part of a global wellbeing program.
Accessing emotional support services is easy:
- Simply contact International SOS, and they will transfer you to a professional counselor from WorkPlace Options. Contact the Int'l SOS main office at +1 215 942 8226 if there is not an applicable international number. Provide Emory's membership number (#11BYSG000003) as needed.
- All calls begin with an assessment delivered by one of WorkPlace Options’ professional Mental Health counselor, which determines the appropriate level of intervention.
- The assessment covers the presenting issue, support systems, coping strategies, background information, and a risk assessment.
- The outcome is a plan with up to 5 sessions of structured counseling that covers the short-term focus including goals agreed upon with the participant.
The therapy concentrates on helping individuals identify the skills, strengths, and resources that are already present and moves them toward a solution. Counseling methods are tailored to a mobile workforce: phone, video-call or face to face sessions are available.
Travel Briefings
To aid in the planning of a trip, Emory travelers can reach out to International SOS for a medical or security briefing anytime (preferably before travel begins). International SOS provides two types of briefings: medical and security. Travelers are encouraged to request both briefings, which are free of cost, and travelers may call and request follow-up information from International SOS any time.
Emory travelers can call or email International SOS for a medical briefing, security briefing, or both. Additionally, it is acceptable for employees not traveling (e.g., support staff) to request these briefings.
Emailed briefings can be used to share with travelers or for program approval.
To request a briefing by email, send the following details to philadelphia@internationalsos.com, subject line "Emory University travel, request for [medical & security] briefing: [Country/countries]"
- Dates of travel
- Purpose of travel
- Number of travelers
- Traveler Profile (What are the nationality of the travelers? Have the traveled to this location before? What is their travel experience - new, moderate, road warrior? Do the travelers speak the local language?)
- City/cities
- Country/countries
- Local support (Will the travelers be visiting a local office/university? Will they be hosted by a local partner? Will a local partner provide support for transportation and accommodations?)
- Places to visit (provide the name and address of the key places the travelers will visit, such as the hotel, partner office/university, other meeting locations)
- Leisure travel (Provide information about leisure travel, if any, and the corresponding travel/transportation/accommodation arrangements)
- Safe lodging (indicate what your accommodations will be, or ask for safe lodging recommendations)
- Ground transportation (What arrangements have been made for transportation, including airport pick-up/drop-off plans. What transport will you use for daily transport? Do you want a provider referral?)
- Medical risk information assessment and list of local hospitals in the city or cities you are visiting.
- Add other questions as needed
To request a briefing by phone, please call International SOS at +1 215-942-8226 (you can find international numbers here). Indicate that you are calling from Emory University (you can provide the membership number as needed - 11BYSG000003) and state that you would like to request a medical briefing, security briefing, or both, for the travel destination(s). Request the case number associated with your call. This way, if you call back for a follow-up, your discussion can begin where it ended previously. You can also request the security/medical analyst send you an email summary of the discussion.
Travel to Cuba
Emory’s Office of Insurance Services can provide International SOS Travel Assistance coverage documentation required for entry into Cuba. Please see the Cuba Travel Policy page for more information.
Contacts
Global Services
Sarah Harlan Zegeye, Sr. Associate Director of Global Services
sarah.harlan@emory.edu | 404-727-2095
Alma Reynal Quintanilla, Sr. Program Coordinator for Global Safety and Security
alma.reynal.quintanilla@emory.edu | 404-727-7542