Medium Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure
In April 2016 we were operating a scheduled flight. Upon vacating the runway after landing we received a call from the flight attendant advising us that there was a passenger who appeared to be having a seizure. At this point [priority handling was requested] on the ground. We were then given clearance to cross a runway and were advised that everyone would be notified. We entered the ramp; but it appeared that the Ramp Controller was unaware of our emergency status since a new spot clearance and frequency was given. My crewmember advised once again of our emergency situation. Afterwards; we were advised to contact Ground; as we contacted Ground; they were able to bring us back towards the main taxiways and utilize a runway as a means to help us expedite our taxi to the gate. During this emergency my fellow crew members and I worked together to the best of our training and experience to ensure no regulations; limitations or SOPs were ever exceeded or violated at any point during the emergency to attain immediate medical attention to the passenger.In the wake of the events; there are a few items that were debriefed that as a crew we felt needed some addressing to better enhance the outcome of similar; future scenarios.Some aspects that made the event challenging to manage was the swapping of multiple frequencies in order to receive our clearances to get to the gate due to Ramp and Ground controls handling. Had there been awareness throughout the entities; I believe that one controller could have sufficed in expediting our taxi in a complex; frequency congested airport; especially as an emergency aircraft. Also; operationally the gate was essentially on the other side of the terminal. An arrangement could have been made by operations to get us the nearest available gate to give the passenger the medical attention that was needed. To our surprise also; EMS was not waiting for us at the gate. There was a delay between our arrival and their presence on board. Considering our distance to position the aircraft; I feel that responders should have been there. The flight was completed and a debrief was made with the mangers without further event.
Flight crew reported that after landing with an ill passenger and obtaining emergency status; the crew still had difficulty expediting a direct route to the gate to get medical attention.