Non-emergency medical flights: what are your options

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Non Emergency Medical flight : Transporting non critical patients by air

When we hear or read the term "medical flight," we may automatically assume that it is intended for patients suffering from critical illnesses or serious injuries, necessitating constant medical care and supervision in a dedicated air ambulance. While this is correct, at Medical Air Service, we also provide non-emergency non-urgent medical flight services. This solution is designed for patients who are in a stable condition, but may require assistance due to mobility issues, oxygen needs, or for added ease and comfort. They may also be unable to travel in the traditional manner because of their vulnerability, which makes the rigors of commercial flights especially stressful.

Understanding Non Emergency Medical Air Transport

Non-emergency medical flights are for patients who have suffered a serious injury or a terminal disease but do not need to travel immediately and can, for whatever reason, wait a little longer. In such cases, our non-emergency medical flights ensure guaranteed access to medical facilities and expert patient care. They allow patients with non-life-threatening conditions who are unable to travel long distances in a conventional manner to travel safely, quickly, and with complete peace of mind from one location or a medical facility to another.

The key points to remember about long-distance non-emergency medical flights:

  • Non-emergency medical flights enables patients who are unable to travel long distances in a traditional manner due to their medical condition to safely travel from one location or medical facility to another.
  • Such Medical air transportation services are for patients who are stable, but require assistance due to mobility issues or an oxygen requirement, making traditional travel too stressful.
  • Others, such as healthy pregnant women, patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, or patients recovering from surgery, may require non-emergency medical flights to reduce their risk of health complications on a regular flight.

commercial airplane

What are the uses of our non-emergency medical flight services?

Non-emergency medical flights are intended for people who are not mobile and healthy enough to travel on their own. While not in a life-threatening situation, they may nonetheless require more assistance than is normally provided on a scheduled flight because of:

  • Illnesses and chronic diseases;
  • Special needs.

Our non-emergency medical transportation services are frequently used to transport patients who are not in a life-threatening situation over long distances or necessitating one or several flights. They are also well-known for removing transportation barriers for the elderly and people with disabilities or non-urgent medical conditions, allowing them to receive necessary medical care and reducing the impact of chronic diseases. Even better, you can hire our NEMT services to transport your sick child.

Non-urgent situations that warrant our non-emergency medical flights include:

  • Returning home after a trip-related illness or injury
  • Traveling to consult with medical experts or specialists
  • Relocating elderly parents to a different state or country
  • Traveling with a chronic or debilitating medical condition
  • Elderly family members traveling to visit remote family members

air ambulanceNon-urgent medical conditions that require our non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services include:

  • Paralysis
  • Broken bones and fractures
  • Some types of cancer and end-of-life diseases

Are there any non-life-threatening conditions that make commercial flight impossible?

Consider yourself 3500 feet in the air, in a cabin with low humidity and oxygen levels, in excruciating pain, or unable to sit properly. Even if you are not in an immediate life-threatening situation and are not at risk of having health complications, the chances of you enjoying your flight are very slim.

Many patients may have an illness or a condition that makes it difficult for them to fly comfortably. When placed in the unfamiliar environment of a regular aircraft cabin, they can quickly feel ill and wish they had chartered an air ambulance instead.

Being more than 36 weeks pregnant, having a compromised immune system after surgery (antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)), and flying after chemotherapy or organ transplants all increase your risk of developing blood clots. Due to the low humidity level in the cabin, such passengers are more prone to dehydration and blood circulation issues, increasing their risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Some stable patients cannot fly commercially because they require more space, privacy, a lying flat surface, or simply prefer a more comfortable trip. This is true for patients who want to fly soon after a bone fracture, as well as those who are wheelchair-bound or have physical limitations. If this is the case, you will almost certainly be unable to sit comfortably, necessitating the purchase of additional seats or the use of a commercial stretcher, both of which must be arranged by the airline company one or two days in advance.

Travelers with psychological or psychiatric disorders may benefit from our NEMT services as well. Autistic spectrum disorder, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are all possibilities. Indeed, the stress of air travel, crowded terminals, and unfamiliar faces and environments can trigger a psychotic episode in these patients.

commercial plane

Medical air transportation services: Is a medical escort apt for a non-emergency medical flight?

Our medical escorts are highly skilled healthcare providers. They are called upon specifically to accompany and assist passengers with non-emergency medical conditions on commercial flights. They can provide you with medications, such as pain relievers, to make you as comfortable as possible. They are also capable of handling minor details such as check-in, tickets, luggage handling and checking, and wheelchair security. However, their range of action is limited.

Unfortunately, they cannot keep prying eyes away from you if you have a disability and need to be airlifted into the aircraft. They will be unable to halt the flow of passengers through airports. They cannot require a stretcher or additional seats to allow you to lie down and relieve pain during a flight if you have not requested such accommodations in advance.

The effects of low atmospheric pressure on some patients, the need to divert the aircraft for a quick landing in the event of an emergency and the limited working space, all of which may compromise the provision of ongoing care, are, roughly speaking, the challenges in most air medical escort operations.

The benefits of chartering Medical Air Service for non-emergency medical flight transports 

Because it is usually preferable to transport patients to preventive care rather than waiting for a serious complication to develop, our non-emergency medical flight services focus on quickly transporting them to medical facilities where they can receive proper medical care. We have successfully transported patients all over the world by providing safe flights and efficient, high-quality patient care.

In addition, as a reputable provider, we also provide the following medical transportation services:

Furthermore, there are numerous benefits to chartering an air ambulance from a Fixed Based Operator (FBO) terminal. Aside from being more comfortable in a private setting, chartering a private flight eliminates the need to wait in security or bag check lines or be surrounded by hundreds or even thousands of strangers.

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Contact us today for a non-emergency medical flight!

Contact the experts at Medical Air Service to learn more about our non-emergency medical flights including how much your non-emergency medical flight may cost. 

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