Air medical transport guidelines: a beginner's guide to air ambulances

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Air Medical Transportation Guidelines - the advantages of medical transport by air

The term air medical transport is used at Medical Air Service to refer to the transport of a patient in a specially designed air ambulance with appropriately licensed and certified medical staff. As a result, our aeromedical transports provide full-service intensive care to patients on board, whether they are injured or ill, conscious or unconscious. Air ambulances are an excellent choice in general when a patient must travel long distances to receive medical care, as well as for other medically appropriate reasons discussed in this article. We also clear up any confusion about how to choose a reliable air ambulance company and book a medical flight. Read till the end to find out how to cut the cost of hiring an air ambulance.

The key points to remember about long-distance air medical transportation:

• Air ambulances are available for international medical repatriation and evacuation. The on-board medical equipment, as well as the experienced medical staff, allow for the treatment of various illnesses and injuries in the air.
• There are numerous factors to consider before selecting an air ambulance company. Inquire about their air ambulance fleet, medical equipment, medical team, as well as the average cost of a medical flight.
• Medical Air Service is your trusted partner when it comes to organizing your air medical transport because it meets the various criteria of a reliable air ambulance provider.

Criteria for air medical transport: When are our aeromedical transportation services needed?

Our air ambulances allow us to offer patients two main air medical transport services: medical repatriation and medical evacuation.

Medical evacuation, also known as Medivac or Medevac, is a service that is frequently required when a person suffering from a critical illness or a serious injury needs to travel to another country to receive better medical attention, which is often not available in their home country.

Medical repatriation services, on the other hand, refer to the return of travelers to their home country after they become ill or injured while traveling abroad. It is inextricably linked to the lack of appropriate medical resources in the host country, the exorbitant cost of receiving medical treatment there or to the fact that they simply want to return home. In such cases, patients are typically flown on a fixed-wing air ambulance with a specialized flight medical team.

Below are five of the most common reasons why patients and their loved ones choose to use our air ambulance service:

Injuries and illnesses abroad - Medical repatriation

Every year, thousands of people who crisscross the globe face travel risks. These can be a serious injury following a skiing accident or a climbing accident. We also organize medical repatriation flights for travelers who encounter health issues, like Covid-19, complications during pregnancy or from life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia. It is frequently preferable for these travelers to return to their home country for professional medical care and recuperation. Air ambulance is often the most efficient way to accomplish this, especially if the host country is in more remote or rural areas.

In addition to our patients' medical flights, we make certain that they receive appropriate medical care from the moment they take off until they arrive at their destination.

Traveling to a different country to receive specialized medical care - Medical evacuation

Certain types of medical care may necessitate a patient's travel from their home country to a better-equipped hospital. This could be due to the patient's highly specialized illness or injury, a personal preference, or a combination of the two. In most cases, the situation is quite urgent due to the patient’s condition. Because the patient frequently requires special assistance and/or monitoring while in transit, logistical issues are common in these situations.

For international air medical transport, our air ambulances are an excellent choice. We have extensive experience organizing medical evacuation flights. Just a couple of examples are our flights from Equatorial Guinea to Paris for a Covid-19 patient who required mechanical ventilation, or from London for an Oscar-winning film director who required advanced treatment at Santa Monica Hospital in Los Angeles.

Furthermore, our air ambulances can transport a loved one, in addition to the patient, in most cases.

Medical tourism

Medical tourism, which falls under the general umbrella of medical evacuation, has grown in popularity in recent years, providing access to higher-quality or experimental treatments.

Our air ambulances are best positioned to provide medical needs and safety from bedside to bedside for patients with critical care needs, such as terminally ill patients or patients seeking advanced treatment who wish to be treated in a location other than their home country.

Visit family and loved ones

Older adults today can expect to live significantly longer lives than previous generations. However, just because their mind remains active and vibrant does not always imply that their body will. With families becoming increasingly separated because of job relocations, marriage, and other factors, elders who want to visit family members may be too medically frail to do so safely via regular commercial air or train travel. Seniors, on the other hand, can continue to travel to see loved ones across the country and even internationally with the assistance of an air ambulance. This also applies to end-of-life patients who need to fly safely to a hospice or, why not, to cross “travel around the world” one last time off their bucket list.

Special risk issues

Many patients are put at risk when flying commercially due to certain medical conditions. Some cannot sit comfortably or safely in commercial aircraft seats due to obesity or pressure sores caused by prolonged sitting, while others need others with special medical needs, may require respiratory and other vital functions monitoring. Our air ambulances are equipped to handle these special needs and can ensure that patients are transported safely.

How to choose the right air ambulance company for your air medical transport?

Choosing the best air ambulance company to organize your air medical transport can be difficult, but it is essential. Fortunately, when looking at air medical transport companies, there are certain guidelines that can help you make the right choice.

The types of air ambulances available: Inquire about the aircraft that the air ambulance service providers have available. Several factors influence the selection of an air ambulance, which influences the cost. To give you a better idea, our ambulance fleet consists of jet engines, twin and turboprop planes, as well as helicopters for short distances in some medical cases. We also provide ambulance jets for long-distance travel.

There should be no compromises with accreditations and licenses: Never hire an air medical transport company that offers low-cost services but lacks a license and accreditation.

The safety of our patients is always our top priority. As a result, we meet the most stringent organizational activity requirements. A good quality management system assists us in maintaining the highest level of safety. Furthermore, we are partners with the Flight Safety Foundation and support their global aviation safety campaign.

Top-notch medical equipment: One advantage of using an air ambulance is that it is equipped with life-saving equipment. As a result, if an emergency arises during the flight, the patient can be treated right away. Inquire about the equipment on board with the air ambulance service provider.

Our air ambulances are outfitted with intensive care equipment that, depending on the type of aircraft, can be adjusted prior to the flight to accommodate the patient's specific needs. This enables us to provide excellent intensive care during the flight. Standard medical equipment on our air ambulances includes the following:

• Portable blood gas analyzer
• Compact defibrillator/monitor system
• Satellite telephone for global communication
• Multi-parameter intensive care transport monitor
• Central oxygen tank (6,000 liters) and optional reserve tank
• Intensive care respirator for complex artificial respiration cases
• Life port Intensive Care Unit with vacuum mattress and patient loading system

Are the best medics on-board ? On-board a medical flight, it is critical to have the best medical and paramedical personnel available. Determine whether the medical crew can handle an emergency in the air when selecting an air ambulance provider.

Our paramedics and nurses are committed and skilled professionals who play an important role in patient care. Our physicians are all pre-hospital specialists from various backgrounds, providing the best air medical transport experience. Their specific duties and responsibilities vary by specialty, but they are all capable of stabilizing the patient’s conditions during the flight. We have anaesthesiologists and emergency medicine specialists on staff. Depending on the patient's age or medical condition, other specialists such as pediatricians, neonatologists, gynecologists, and obstetricians are available.

Are the pilot and the crew members well trained? Our pilots are ultimately responsible for transporting patients safely back to their homes or to a preferred hospital. They constantly monitor flying conditions and aircraft performance to ensure everyone on board is safe. Their primary concern remains the safety of the team and any patients.

Don’t miss out on reading the fine prints: Your budget may suffer if you do not check to see if there are any hidden fees. To avoid a situation like this, follow these steps:

• Carefully read the contract to see if there are any hidden fees.
• Inform the service provider of your precise requirements and specifications.

Medical Air Service's medical travel costs are not calculated on fixed rates. Each patient's situation is unique, necessitating a distinctive set of services that are accounted for in the overall costs. Certain factors, such as the patient's health, the type of aircraft required, the flight route and distance, or the required medical personnel, all influence the cost of an air ambulance. You can be confident that there are no hidden costs. You only pay for what you need. We will even provide you with a free non-binding quote.

Which documents do you need for an ambulance flight?

We will generally, but not always, require the patient's medical notes from the healthcare institution where they were treated, as well as their travel documents, such as passports and visas. We can also assist the patient and their relatives in applying for a visa. Prior to aeromedical transport, our multilingual teams will review the patient's notes and, if necessary, translate them.

Again, the medical condition and safety of the patient are our top priorities during the air medical transport. We will begin planning an ambulance flight even if we have not received all the necessary documentation. Medical records, for example, can be submitted later.

How to minimize your air medical transport costs?

When it comes to lowering the cost of your aeromedical transportation, minor details can make a big difference.

The first is to be open to changing the date and time of your medical flight. While it is understandable that you want to get the necessary treatment as soon as possible, waiting for a little while can save you a lot of money. If you book one of our emergency flights on short notice, our logistics team will be pushed to prepare an air ambulance and organize a team wherever they are, which could be quite far from your destination and, in the end, cost you a lot of money. By booking your flight in advance, you allow us to find the best route and use a medical jet closer to you. Similarly, instead of a Boeing, which is larger, chartering a smaller jet or traveling with only one companion can significantly reduce the bill. Consider getting treatment in a nearby country to save money on travel time and fuel consumption.

We provide the ultimate experience when it comes to air medical transfers!

You are always in good hands with Medical Air Service! When you travel with us, you can count on an experienced global air ambulance company. We arrange hundreds of repatriations by plane or helicopter each year, treating patients and their families with professionalism, compassion, honesty, and integrity.

Whether you require medical repatriation, an ambulance flight, or are traveling abroad for medical treatment, our years of experience organizing medical flights enable us to provide the expertise and assistance you require. Our top priority is your safety and well-being.

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Contact us today for your medical transport by air!

Contact the experts at Medical Air Service to learn more about our medical repatriation and evacuation services for patients in need of care.