EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Human Factors
During our arrival; our FA called up to the cockpit to inform us that we have a passenger on board that has had a medical procedure done the day before (a colonoscopy with polyps removal). She informed us to give the heads up on getting a ground crew to clean the seat of Haz Mat. After having her tell us of this; not more than a minute later she called back to inform that the passenger has passed out. We immediately contacted Dispatch and got connected to [a medical resource]. We decided to continue to [destination] as we were only about 20 mins out and it was going to be quicker. We [advised ATC] and received priority by ATC. In our process to coordinate with medical crews on the ground; we attempted to call operations multiple times prior to landing to get our gate assignment. We were 60 NM out and never got a response. As we got closer; approx. 20 NM out; we finally got a response and was told that they had already heard that we were coming in with a medical [issue]. We requested [a runway] from ATC [that] would be the shortest route to the gate. Upon landing; we were given immediate clearance to the gate. Reaching the gate; we find medical attention standing by but no marshallers. We immediately called operations to ask for them. She starts to respond that they didn't know we were on the ground because we were not showing ON times. She wanted us to give her our O/I times first as if this was our priority. I'm not quite sure where the priorities are here for her as I told her we need marshallers now for a medical issue. It took somewhere between 3-5 mins before we had our marshallers to proceed into the gate.We have grown used to having certain stations just act very laid back with certain responsibilities. We as flight crews have always been trained to make in range calls to give the stations a heads up on any specials we may have and to receive our gate assignment. I totally understand that some radio transmitter/receivers are not very strong and we may not get a hold of the station until we are closer to it. We have some stations that never even respond back these calls and we land without ever being able to request special assistance for our passengers or getting a gate assigned. I believe we need to have better trained personnel to operate in these stations and know where the priorities are especially with a [medical issue].
EMB-145 Captain reported he was concerned with the slow response of ground personnel while parking with a medical issue in the cabin.