Medical flights are nothing to look forward to but preparing for them does take the stress off somewhat. Let’s look at different aspects of medical air transport and see how you can be prepared for them.
Here are a few details that the flight coordinator will ask you. Keep them handy when you go on a call with one.
- The name of the patient
- Date of birth of the patient
- Weight as well as height of the patient
- The mobility status of the patient: can he walk, sit, stand, etc.
- Contact information of the patient and/or the caregivers
- Specify the need for special equipments such as oxygen, intravenous lines, etc.
- Health insurance details
If the patient is being transferred from one treating facility to another, you must have the following records handy:
- Copy of the health insurance documents
- Copy of the discharge summary as well as the most recent copy of history and physical exam
Before Boarding Medical Flights
There are specifications that medical flights lay down when it comes to luggage that the person accompanying the patient can carry. Know about that well in advance. Also, there are usually limitations on the number of people who can accompany the patient. Usually, it’s just one person. The person accompanying must bring along an identification document.
If You Make Receiving Arrangements
There are instances where people make bookings well in advance so that the patient is admitted to the hospital that his or her family desires. If that’s the case with you too, inform the care coordinator in advance so that a land ambulance can be arranged to take the patient to the treating facility. If the receiving facility has a helipad, then the coordinator will keep the hospital informed of your arrival so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
