Although many countries’ borders remained closed during the COVID pandemic, there are exceptions for people traveling for school. Some study abroad programs that shut down during the early days of the pandemic have reopened, and others are planning to offer opportunities in spring 2022. With concerns about the pandemic, medical case management for students studying abroad can bring reassurance that their health care needs will be met wherever they are.
Of course, the need for medical case management for students studying abroad existed well before the COVID pandemic. Traffic accidents, serious illnesses and mental health crises can all require immediate medical care when students are abroad. When you add in language, cultural and time zone differences, the need for coordination among students, family members and medical professionals becomes extremely important.
Here are some of the reasons that colleges, universities, travel insurance companies and individuals use SentinelMED for medical case management for students studying abroad.
24/7 availability. SentinelMED’s team of physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners respond to requests for medical case management within hours. They are available 365 days a year and provide services regardless of where a patient is located.
Professional case review. Medical case management can help ensure that a patient receives timely and appropriate medical care. Our team specializes in providing medical case management and transport for travelers and others who are far from home or overseas. Our medical professionals can review a patient’s medical records and the level of care available at a patient’s location, then determine if the patient should be transported to receive appropriate care. If medical transport is needed, our team can determine when the patient can be safely transported and coordinate all travel logistics.
Multilingual providers. Some of the most popular countries for U.S. students studying aboard are the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Germany. The SentinelMED team includes medical professionals who can communicate fluently in English, Spanish, French, German and other languages. Because they are bilingual and multilingual, they can communicate directly with medical professionals in their preferred language and without relying on the availability of medical translators.
Ongoing communications. Our medical professionals and logistics team are experienced in emergency and travel medicine. They understand the heightened stress and uncertainty patients feel when they need medical care far away from their physician or hospital at home. Our team communicates regularly with the medical professionals who are treating the patient, the patient’s regular medical providers and the patient’s family to coordinate care and keep everyone informed of treatment plans.
Transportation and logistics coordination. If a patient requires medical transport, our logistics team will work with our medical providers to determine the most appropriate form of transport. Our logistics team will then handle all travel arrangements, including obtaining medical clearances, travel documents, prescriptions and equipment needed for travel.
For patients who are in stable condition, and when appropriate, SentinelMED can arrange transport by commercial airline – a cost-effective alternative to an air ambulance. We also can provide medical escorts to accompany patients during travel. Our medical escorts are trained in emergency and aeromedicine and can provide basic care during the flight.
About SentinelMED
As study abroad programs continue or make plans to resume, there will be a heightened focus on the health and safety of students. At SentinelMED, we provide services that can provide peace of mind during uncertain times.
SentinelMED offers medical transport, medical repatriation, and medical escort services to people who need assistance to travel long distances. The SentinelMED team is skilled at arranging transport for patients anywhere in the world.
Our logistics professionals work closely with hospital case managers, patients, their families and travel insurance companies to provide safe and comfortable door-to-door medical transportation. Our team regularly handles end-to-end travel planning, including arranging for a medical escort to accompany the patient when needed.
At SentinelMED, we understand 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.
