A major medical event can strike a person anywhere and at any time. At SentinelMED, we specialize in planning, executing and overcoming the tough obstacles a patient faces when trying to return home after a major medical event. This is one of those cases.
Traumatic Situation
While on vacation with his wife in the United States, an elderly Indian man suffered an ischemic stroke. The patient had a history of cardiovascular issues, but nothing to this magnitude had occurred to date. Sadly, the stroke left the patient non-verbal and unable to follow commands. In addition, he was now non-ambulatory and wheelchair bound, and unlikely to be able to walk again. He had no local family to provide support and care in the United States. So the objective was to get him to Sri Lanka where he had family members that were ready and willing to provide the care he now needed.
The Role of the Hospital Case Manager
The hospital case manager assigned to the patient’s case had recently heard SentinelMED’s medical leadership speak at a regional conference and reached out to get us involved for a creative and cost-effective solution for this patient.
How SentinelMED Helped: Identify and Organize a Plan
After the initial assessment was completed and all medical history, identification and documentation was obtained, the medical team at SentinelMED determined that the patient was qualified for an international commercial air medical transport. The challenge was to find cost-effective transportation home to Sri Lanka, where the patient could receive long-term care.
To ease the financial burden for the patient and his family, an international airline was identified that had direct routes from the referring location to the destination at a much more affordable cost than competitors. However, this particular airline had an extremely strict and lengthy medical clearance process. SentinelMED handled the clearance process from end to end as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, during the airline clearance process, the patient’s condition worsened, and his family in Sri Lanka was no longer able to care for him in his deteriorated state. The patient needed to go to a hospital setting. SentinelMED arranged for a receiving facility and physician that would care for the man in Sri Lanka, so he could be near his family.
The shift in his condition changed some of the logistical planning, particularly with the ground transportation to and from the airports. The patient was upgraded from a sedan with a two-person assist to an ambulance to and from the airports. In addition, SentinelMED arranged for the ambulance in Sri Lanka to meet the patient and his medical escort on the tarmac.
How SentinelMED Helped: Returning Home
With all the planning and preparation done, it was time to execute the extensive plan. Prior to the trip, the patient’s medical escort, who was a registered nurse, visited him at the referring facility and completed the final assessment of his condition. The medical escort also met and consulted with the medical staff caring for the patient at the referring hospital. The arranged ambulance picked up the patient, his wife and the medical escort at the hospital prior to the departing flight. Updates were sent to the family in Sri Lanka every step of the way,.After a relatively uneventful 27-hour and 7,480 mile trip, the patient arrived in Sri Lanka. As planned, an ambulance greeted the patient, his escort and wife on the tarmac. The patient was transferred from the plane to the ambulance and taken to the receiving hospital. The patient’s extended family was assembled at the receiving hospital and waiting eagerly for the patient’s arrival.
Arrange an International Medical Transport Service
Each medical situation is different and every individual’s health needs vary significantly. SentinelMED is a medical travel assistance company that knows the ins and outs of international medical transports. Our team of qualified logistics and medical professionals is able to determine the most appropriate form of affordable medical transportation service and help manage the process from bed to bed. We understand the complexity of delivering exceptional care to the sick, elderly or injured patient in an unfamiliar environment. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about our services and staff.
