When patients need a medical evacuation, they don't have to choose between safety, comfort, or cost. In many cases, patients can be transported on domestic or international airlines with a medical escort. Not only is this transport method less expensive than an air ambulance, it can also be just as safe and comfortable. SentinelMED’s medical and logistics professionals know how to balance safety concerns and other factors when planning a medical evacuation. Some of the things they consider include:
Medical Evacuations: Things to Consider
When coordinating a medical evacuation, SentinelMED’s team of medical and logistical professionals communicate with the patient’s medical team and family to discuss transport options. Here are some of the things they consider:
Risks to health. Deciding when to schedule transport requires careful examination of a patient’s health status, cardiac and respiratory stability, and immediate and long-term prognosis. Known risks to both short and long-term health are considered.
Patient comfort. Emergency medical evacuations may require transport by air ambulance, such as a specially equipped helicopter. However, if the patient is stable, transport by commercial aircraft may be more comfortable, especially if the person is able to sit up. Transport by commercial aircraft also allows for loved ones to travel with the patient, which can provide peace of mind for everyone involved.
Timing of transport. It can be challenging to coordinate air ambulance transport in remote corners of the world or from crowded urban areas. If an airport is within a short drive, transport can often be arranged as quickly as scheduling an evacuation by air ambulance. SentinelMED's logistics team can coordinate all necessary travel arrangements, including ground transport. They also can arrange for a trained medical or non-medical escort to accompany the patient from the moment of discharge from a medical facility, through airport check-in and screening, throughout the flight, and to arrival at a receiving hospital or care facility.
Method of transport. As mentioned earlier, medical evacuations can involve more than one mode of transport. A helicopter or airplane, such as a turbo prop or small jet, are more expensive options – about $15,000 for a transport from the Caribbean, for example, and $165,000 or more from Asia or the Middle East. Other possibilities include transport by commercial airlines and accompanied by a medical or non-medical escort; ground transportation by ambulance; or ground transport by a specially equipped medical van. The SentinelMED team can help coordinate and arrange each type of transport and will take into consideration the patient's insurance coverage if any, when making recommendations.
Destination where care will be provided. Medical evacuations don’t always involve transporting a patient directly to their hometown or state. If appropriate medical care is available in a nearby country, the patient or their family may choose to be medically evacuated to that location.
Medical Evacuation Services from SentinelMED
The SentinelMED team has decades of experience in coordinating medical evacuations. Members of our team have handled the logistics and escorted patients after accidents, serious illnesses, national disasters and political unrest. They have worked across the globe and are experienced in emergency medicine and aeromedicine.
As a medical transport assistance company, SentinelMED provides domestic and international medical transport, evacuation and repatriation services. Our staff also can arrange for trained and experienced medical escorts to accompany travelers and provide basic medical care during transport. We match escorts to patients based on the language they speak and any cultural or religious concerns.
The SentinelMED team understands 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.
