Finding an air medical transport service can be a daunting task, especially if you have not worked with one of these companies in the past. Here are four things to look for when choosing which air medical transport service is the right fit for your hospital or individual situation:
Door-to-Door Service
The logistics of an air medical transport are complex. The flight is just one component of the trip. When looking for an air medical transport service, find one that offers door-to-door service. This means that the medical travel assistance company will arrange the ground transportation service to the departing airport, necessary transportation during layovers, and transportation from the destination airport to the receiving facility or patient’s home. In addition, door-to-door service means that the company should provide a comprehensive medical escort team to help the patient every step of the way. They should contact both the current treating and the receiving medical teams to assure that the patient issues are address, that the patient is safe for flight, and that there is appropriate medical care at the receiving end.
Physician Oversight
The medical escort team puts the patient’s care first. Be sure that the medical escort team consists of the qualified individuals needed for the patient’s particular medical situation. Sometimes a nurse is sufficient, but if a patient has a more critical need, look for an air medical transport service that is able to provide a physician oversight as part of the medical escort team.
Cost Priority
Cost is always one of the first things people ask about when looking for an air medical transport service. Companies that look for creative solutions to keep cost low clearly have the patient’s best interest in mind.
Relationships with Vendors
Relationships with vendors are essential to keeping costs low. With these relationships, companies like SentinelMED build trust and loyalty which can pay dividends. Many times commercial air flights have an ‘empty leg’ of the flight, where the plane drops passengers off at a location, but have few passengers on the return flight. Companies with solid vendor relations are able to get inside information on the empty legs of flights. Other benefits of good vendor relations is when companies, like private town car services, give discounts for being the preferred vendor for ground medical transportation to and from airports and hospital facilities. This cost savings is ultimately passed onto the hospital or individual absorbing the cost of the air medical transport service.
Arrange an Affordable Air Medical Transport Service
Each medical situation is different and every individual’s health needs vary significantly. SentinelMED is a medical travel assistance company that knows the ins and outs of air medical transports. Our team of qualified logistics and medical professionals are able to determine the appropriate form of affordable medical transportation service and help manage the process from end-to-end. We understand the complexity of delivering exceptional care to the sick, elderly or injured patient in an unfamiliar environment. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about our services and staff.
