If you have a family member who needs non-emergency medical transport, you may be tempted to drive them yourself. However, it may not be the best, most comfortable, or safe choice for you or your loved one. If you have days or weeks to plan ahead, you have many short- and long-distance transport options.
“Non-emergency medical transportation” is an umbrella term. It’s used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to describe transport to approved appointments for patients who receive Medicaid. The term is also used to describe services that provide transportation to people with chronic or severe medical conditions but do not require emergency or lifesaving care.
Common forms of non-emergency medical transport in the United States include:
- By an ambulance or specially equipped van
- On a commercial airline, with the assistance of a medical escort
- By air ambulance, typically a fixed-wing aircraft
The Benefits of Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
There are several reasons why patients and their families choose non-emergency medical transport, which is typically less expensive than emergency transport.
Patients travel with a medical professional. People who require non-emergency medical transport typically have greater medical needs than their friends or family members can manage. Having a medical professional to monitor and care for the patient can help them receive timely and appropriate medical care.
The SentinelMED team includes medical escorts who are registered nurses, physician assistants, paramedics or EMTs who are trained or experienced in emergency and critical care medicine. They are skilled problem solvers who know how to handle unexpected medical needs that may arise during transport.
Our team also includes non-medical escorts who provide assistance and companionship during long-distance travel.
Patients have access to appropriate medical equipment. Our medical and logistics professionals gather information from the patient and the patient’s family and doctors. With this information, they can ensure that the transport vehicle is equipped to meet the patient's medical needs. They can also administer medicine and supplemental oxygen as needed and can provide emergency care if necessary.
It can be safer and more comfortable. Traveling by car can be uncomfortable for people who have chronic pain or difficulty with mobility. However, lying down in the back of a passenger car or van is not safe. The SentinelMED team will ensure that an appropriate safety seat or stretcher is available during transport so that the patient is safe and as comfortable as possible.
It can provide peace of mind. The SentinelMED team is experienced in arranging and managing long-distance transport, including medical evacuations and repatriation. Working with SentinelMED to arrange non-emergency medical transport can bring peace of mind that the patient's care will be handled by medical professionals.
In addition, if a family member can’t accompany the patient, they can be assured that a medical professional will assist the patient from beginning to end. Our team regularly works with hospital case managers and can coordinate non-emergency medical transport from discharge to the patient’s home or a receiving medical facility.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation from SentinelMED
A medical transport service, such as SentinelMED, can help individuals and their family members make important non-emergency medical transportation decisions. SentinelMED provides domestic and international medical transport and medical repatriation services for travelers who need assistance to travel long distances in comfort and safety. SentinelMED often arranges for medical escorts to accompany travelers and help them navigate the stress and uncertainty associated with long-distance travel.
SentinelMED understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
