B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 173; Flight Crew Type 1701
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Workload
Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Flight Crew Diverted; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Company Policy; Human Factors
Enroute to ZZZ in cruise; I happened to be monitoring the PA (incidentally) on my headset. I heard the Flight Attendant make a PA for medical personnel to ring their call button. A few moments later; we got a call from the Flight Attendants. The Captain answered. The Flight Attendant told him that a passenger was unconscious in the back. We began to prepare for a possible medical diversion. I pulled up the QRG Medical Guide and Diversion Planning Guide and we starting reviewing. The Flight Attendant called back a short time later and said that medical personnel on board believed the passenger was having a stroke and recommended landing. We immediately sent a message via ACARS and started discussing diversion option while trying to reach Dispatch and Medical. The Captain began pulling weather; etc. After not getting a response from Dispatch; we sent another message via ACARS and continued discussing options. I'm not sure how much time went by; but it was too long. We sent one more 'call me' via ACARS and I queried ATC to get an ARINC frequency. She was able to provide one. I called ARINC and requested our dispatch and desk number. At this point; the situation in the back with the passenger had not improved. We got Dispatch on the radio and tried to discuss what was happening and requested Medical; but we were having extreme difficulty understanding and communicating with dispatch. Given the medical situation and our inability to adequately communicate with dispatch; the Captain suggested that we go ahead and divert to ZZZ. I fully agreed with his suggestion and he implemented the command decision. We diverted and landed. We had to work around some weather and set up for the approach. Also; [we requested priority handling]. We fully prepared; briefed; ran checklists as well as referred to the diversion guide for guidance. All items were completed and we kept our speed up below 10;000 ft. as we felt the [situation] warranted expediting to the field; we informed ATC of our speed.The major concern in this incident was our inability to effectively communicate with Dispatch. We never received an answer to our 3 'call me' ACARS messages; and when we got them on the radio; we couldn't understand due to poor radio coverage. In the debrief; we discussed it and both expressed that we felt like we were somewhat on our own making the decisions. Given our resources and time constraints; we chose ZZZ as we felt it was a close 'sure bet' for providing care; as well as suitable to land; on the list of serviced airports; etc. It would have been helpful to converse with Dispatch on these decisions; and also; to speak with Medical prior to diverting; but it wasn't feasible given the Comms. Given the challenges; the Captain did an absolute superb job commanding the situation. I would say that our crew effectiveness and CRM was excellent and we worked the problem together successfully.
B737 pilot reported an inflight passenger medical emergency that resulted in an immediate diversion.