Medical evacuation and medical repatriation are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing. When people are comparing travel insurance policies, or searching for medical evacuation or medical repatriation services, it helps to have a clear understanding of what each of these terms means.
A medical evacuation is the urgent transport of people who have been injured in an accident or otherwise need emergency medical care. This can include transporting patients to the closest medical facility that can provide appropriate care, or transferring patients who are considered unstable from one medical facility to another. In medical evacuations, transportation is provided by trained medical personnel, often using fixed-wing aircraft or air ambulance.
The term medical repatriation is used when people need to return to their home country (or state) for medical care. When patients are being medically repatriated, it is implied that any acute medical conditions have been addressed and they are returning home for recuperation, long-term care or specific treatments. Many travel insurance policies also use the term “repatriation of remains,” which refers specifically to transporting the remains of an individual after death.
With medical evacuations, patients need to be assisted by medical professionals during transport. In the case of medical repatriations, patients may or may not need assistance during transport, depending on their medical condition and ability to handle the challenges of long-distance travel.
Why Knowing These Terms Matters
Knowing the difference between the terms medical repatriation and medical evacuation can affect the level and type of care patients receive and the costs they pay for it. Medical evacuations are most often provided after accidents or during a critical emergency situation, leaving patients with no other choice but to agree to transport by air ambulance. This is typically the most expensive form of medical transport.
Since medical repatriation is typically used in non-emergency situations, there is usually time to make plans for transport that is safe, comprehensive and comfortable for the patient.
When patients are stable, it may be possible for them to travel over long distances with the assistance of medical escorts. Escorts can travel with patients on regularly scheduled commercial flights to provide care and assistance at a cost much lower than using an air ambulance service.
Unlike some air medical transportation providers, SentinelMED offers both medical evacuation and medical repatriation services. We use a combination of air ambulance services, medical escort services, and commercial flights as appropriate to assist patients in returning to their home country or state.
SentinelMED’s team of qualified logistics and medical professionals are able to determine the form of transportation that is appropriate for a patient’s medical condition, destination, and language or cultural needs. We help manage the process from end-to-end, including speaking to the treating and receiving facility staff, obtaining medical clearances, arranging air and ground travel and hotels, obtaining visas and proper travel documents, and acquiring travel oxygen and necessary medications and equipment. Our medical escorts are nurses, physicians or physician assistants who travel with the patient throughout the entire travel process. They ensure that the receiving health care facility or family member is informed of the patient’s condition and are able to provide necessary care.
At SentinelMED, we understand 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.
