Medical repatriation is an unfamiliar term for many people, but it’s one that all travelers should know. In the event of a medical emergency, medical repatriation will be the process used to help a patient return home to receive further medical care or to recover from illness.
Medical Repatriation: An example
One of the easiest ways to explain medical repatriation is through a hypothetical example, based on an actual experience.
Jane Jones traveled with colleagues to northern Vietnam to take part in economic development efforts with their U.S.-based NGO. On her second morning in the country, she struggled to shake off the effects of jet lag. She thought a quick shower might help, but when she stepped out to dry off, she slipped on the slick tile floor. Jane’s head banged against the floor and she felt an immediate, intense pain. She managed to grab a towel to cover herself, but could not regain her balance to stand up.
When Jane didn’t meet her colleague Meredith for breakfast as planned, Meredith became concerned. She went to Jane’s room to check on her. After Jane did not answer her door, Meredith summoned the hotel staff and pleaded with them to let her into Jane’s room. Meredith found Jane lying on the floor, conscious but confused about what had happened.
A taxi was summoned to take Jane to the local provincial hospital. The hospital’s nurses and doctor worked to make Jane comfortable, and she was then transferred to a better equipped hospital where a CT of her head was performed. While there was no traumatic damage in her head, over the next days she remained somewhat confused with headaches and dizziness due to a bad concussion. She was clearly not able to continue on with her trip. Meredith suggested that she cut short her business trip and return home to the United States. Jane reluctantly agreed.
How to Choose A Medical Repatriation Service
As in the hypothetical case discussed above, medical repatriation is used when a person needs to return to his or her home country (or state) for medical care. When a patient is being medically repatriated, it is implied that any acute medical conditions have been addressed and the patient is returning home for recuperation or long-term care.
In most cases, medical repatriation can make use of scheduled commercial airline flights, which is usually more affordable than transport by air ambulance. Since medical repatriation is typically used in non-emergency situations, there is usually time to make plans for transport that are safe, comprehensive and comfortable for the patient.
Medical transportation and repatriation services, such as SentinelMED, use a combination of air ambulance services, medical escort services, and commercial flights 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 doctors or nurses who travel with the patient throughout the process. They ensure that the receiving health care facility or family member is informed of the patient’s condition and 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.
