Every day, medical escorts help patients arrive safely at their homes or receiving medical facilities. In most cases, these patients are sick, injured or otherwise unable to travel long distances without medical care or assistance. However, they do not need immediate transportation by air ambulance because their conditions are considered stable.
The stable condition gives at least a day or two for care givers to arrange a medical escort flight. The steps required for that to happen can vary depending on whether a patient is receiving care at a medical facility; if he or she is traveling from one country to another; and the level of care the patient requires during travel.
Here is how the process typically works when you work with our team at SentinelMED:
If a hospital case manager is arranging the flight. We have long-standing relationships with hospitals in the United States and other countries, as well as major commercial airlines. Our team works directly with a hospital case manager to receive a patient at discharge, along with all medical records. We also obtain medical clearances, arrange air and ground travel and hotels, obtain visas and travel documents, and acquire necessary medications and equipment such as travel oxygen. A medical escort assists the patient through all pre-travel screenings and throughout the flight, and accompanies him or her to either a receiving medical facility or the home of a family member who can resume care.
If a loved one is arranging the flight. This process typically begins with internet research. At this point, some people will think about trying to manage a medical transport for a family member on their own. But because of the logistics involved, such as obtaining medical clearance, travel documents, and necessary medical equipment, this may be impossible, especially if a patient is a day or two away from being discharged from a medical facility. In addition, medical transport companies such as SentinelMED know how to work with airlines to assist with boarding and securing stretcher transport, which is only offered by certain airlines. In almost all cases, it is also safer for the patient to arrange transportation through a travel medical assistance company.
Family members should provide as much information to the travel assistance company to receive as accurate an estimate as possible for the cost of transport. At a minimum, that information will include: name and location of the patient; overview and in-depth information about his or her medical condition; patient insurance information; name and location of the receiving medical facility; and if anyone is traveling with the patient.
Before signing a contract with a provider, family members should request a detailed description of all services that will be provided, along with the cost of airfare and ground transportation. From there, the medical transport company should handle all details and arrangements associated with transporting the patient. As when we work with hospital case managers, our team will also obtain medical clearances, arrange air and ground travel and hotels, obtain visas and travel documents, and acquire travel oxygen and necessary medications and equipment.
If the patient is arranging a flight. This typically applies only when people are planning to travel as medical tourists. SentinelMED works with medical tourists to ensure they travel safely, comfortably and affordably to and from their destination. Our team handles all travel and care logistics so the patient can concentrate on finding appropriate medical care, and on his or her recovery.
Why Work with SentinelMED
Since its founding, SentinelMED has provided affordable, timely and highly professional long-distance medical transport, escort and repatriation services to patients in need. We work with hospital case managers or directly with patients and their family members to arrange air medical flights for people who are cognitively impaired, elderly or suffering from chronic medical conditions.
In most cases, the patients we assist are able to travel on commercial airlines with one of our trained medical escorts. This is a safe and lower-cost alternative to using a helicopter or fixed-wing air ambulance service. In the rare case that a patient is not able to fly on a commercial airline, SentinelMED partners with trusted vendors to provide air ambulance travel at a discounted price.
The SentinelMED team understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to the sick, elderly or injured patient who is away from home and in an unfamiliar environment. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
