Crowded airports, winter storms and overbooked flights are almost inevitable for travelers during the holidays. They can also make a medical transport during holiday travel very stressful for patients and their families. Having a skilled and caring medical team to help navigate holiday travel challenges can make for a smoother experience for everyone involved.
SentinelMED’s team of medical and logistics professionals are experienced in coordinating and managing long-distance medical transport across the globe and in extremely difficult situations. They can support patients during the holidays, and all other times of the year, to ensure their safety and comfort.
At each stage of travel, here is how the SentinelMED team can help patients and their families.
Before transport. SentinelMED's medical professionals will consult with the patient's treating physicians to help determine the most appropriate mode of transport, whether by ground ambulance, commercial airline or air ambulance. At that point, SentinelMED’s logistic specialists begin making arrangements with transport providers.
In many cases, patients who are stable can be transported safely by commercial airlines as soon as the same day or the day after discharge from a medical facility. This can be a cost-effective alternative to transport by air ambulances, such as medically equipped helicopters or small aircraft. SentinelMED can arrange for a medical or non-medical escort to travel with the patient, depending on their care needs.
At the airport. This is where the SentinelMED team’s experience can make a big difference for travelers. The patient’s medical escort can help navigate the many challenges that occur during the busy holiday travel season. They can assist during check-in and TSA screening and request private screenings for people in wheelchairs. If a flight is canceled, the escort will work with SentinelMED's logistics team to arrange overnight accommodations if needed.
During the Flight. Medical escorts travel with patients to provide basic but essential medical care, such as administering medicine and supplemental oxygen. They also ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible throughout the flight.
SentinelMED’s medical escorts are ICU- or emergency-medicine professionals. In addition, many of SentinelMED's medical escorts are bilingual. They are typically paired with patients based on their preferred language for a more comfortable experience. Cultural considerations are also discussed with the patient and their family when selecting the medical escort who will provide support.
From the Airport to the Patient’s Home or Receiving Medical Facility. The escort can assist the patient through customs from international flights and at baggage claim. If needed, the SentinelMED team can arrange an ambulance or other ground transportation to meet the patient and the medical escort at the airport for the next leg of travel. The escort will relay any important information from the transport to the patient’s family or a receiving medical facility.
Medical Transportation Services from SentinelMED
SentinelMED provides medical transportation, medical repatriation and medical escort services to individuals who require medical assistance to travel long distances in safety and comfort. They have decades of experience coordinating transport logistics in extreme situations, including after natural disasters and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
