When it comes to medical transport, quality and cost can vary greatly. There are several reasons why, including the level of expertise of the service provider, the type of vehicle or vehicles used, and the distance you need to travel. It helps to ask the right questions when planning and to ask the same questions of each provider to get a more accurate comparison. To help inform your decision, SentinelMED has compiled a list of medical transport questions to ask when looking for a service provider.
Who will be on my care team? Be sure to ask who your care team will include, from the people who are deciding on the type of transport to use to who is reviewing your medical records to determine if it is safe for you to travel. Ask about the experience and medical credentials of each person on your care team.
Some transport services use only non-medical escorts to accompany patients during travel. SentinelMED’s team includes both medical and non-medical escorts. Our medical escorts are physician assistants, registered nurses, paramedics, or EMTs who are trained or experienced in critical care or emergency medicine.
What documentation will be required? You don’t want to arrive at the treating medical facility without the documentation you need. Ideally, your transport service should provide a comprehensive list of travel and medical documents you’ll need.
Documentation may include a passport and possibly a visa for travel outside the United States, copies of your medical records and list of current prescription medicines, and proof of COVID-19 and other vaccinations.
Also, check with your treating hospital for other documentation it may require or recommend that you bring, such as a living will or power of attorney documents. Free versions of these and other advanced planning documents are available on many U.S. hospital websites.
What can I expect during transport? You want to know if you will be transported by fixed-wing aircraft, ground ambulance, commercial airline, or some combination of these. You should also know in advance whether a medical or non-medical escort will be traveling with you and the level of care they will be providing.
What is the process once I arrive at my destination? This is an important question to ask when comparing providers. If you are traveling with a SentinelMED medical escort, he or she will accompany you throughout transport, which means from pick up to arrival. If you are being discharged from a medical facility, our medical escorts will provide information about the procedure and follow-up care instruction to you, your family or the receiving medical center.
What if things go wrong during the transport? A non-medical escort may be able to assist you with travel snafus, but not with an unexpected medical need. Our medical escorts are skilled problem solvers who are experienced in managing medical emergencies.
How much will my transport cost? Transport services should be able to provide a written estimate for the cost of transport based on the information you provide. At SentinelMED, our logistics team works with medical experts to determine the mode of transport that is most appropriate for your medical needs. In many cases, we are able to transport patients on commercial airlines with the assistance of a medical or non-medical escort. Transport on a commercial airline is typically a less expensive alternative than transport by fixed-wing aircraft and even long-distance ground transport.
Medical Transport Options from SentinelMED
SentinelMED can coordinate a range of medical transport options, including domestic and international medical transport, evacuation, and repatriation services, depending on a patient’s unique needs.
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.
