For many people, traveling overseas is the fulfillment of their life-long dreams. For others, it may be a routine requirement of their work, or an annually scheduled trip to see family or friends.
A trip outside the United States requires significant planning and a good packing list, even for seasoned travelers. Although most people carefully plan for a trip abroad, few think about what they’d do if they suffered a major medical emergency, such as a heart attack or stroke, or were injured in an accident while traveling.
Many developed countries offer excellent medical care, especially in urban areas. In developing countries, however, the quality and level of care may lag several decades behind what is available in the United States. In rural or remote areas, patients may only be able to access minimally equipped clinics staffed by generalists.
Because of the quality of care available, people who are injured or ill may want to return to their home countries to consult with or be treated by a specialist, such as an or orthopedic surgeon or cardiologist, for example. Others may want to be near friends and family as they recover.
Unplanned medical transport can be expensive, especially if the patient isn’t familiar with the many options available beyond air ambulances. For patients who aren’t critically ill, an affordable alternative is to travel with a medical escort on a commercial aircraft.
Medical Transport for Repatriation
Medical repatriation is the term used when a sick or injured person needs to return to their home country or state for recovery or for long-term care. When a patient is being repatriated for medical reasons, it is implied that his or her acute medical condition has been addressed and that he or she is able to travel, with assistance if required.
Because the medical emergency has passed, there is typically time to make travel plans that are safe and appropriate for the patient and his or her medical condition. In most cases, travel for medical repatriation can be scheduled on commercial airline flights. This also is often the most affordable option.
Medical Transport for Evacuation
A medical evacuation may be necessary if a patient is in a country or region where appropriate medical care is simply not available. If a patient’s diagnosis is uncertain and he or she is at a greater medical risk, he or she may be evacuated to the closest appropriate facility. The mode of transportation is often dictated by availability; the goal is to transport the patients as quickly as possible to a location where better care is available.
SentinelMED is a medical transport company that knows how to manage the logistical arrangement involved in assisting patients who need medical care. SentinelMED’s team of qualified logistics and medical professionals are able to determine the appropriate form of affordable medical transportation service and can help manage the process from start to finish, including arranging medical escorts to travel with the patient to sure he or she is well-cared and comfortable throughout the journey. SentinelMED provides door-to-door care, from the hospital or hotel where the person is being treated to the receiving facility or residence.
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 our services and staff.
