Category: General Health

Who Needs an Air Ambulance?

We all hope that we never experience a trauma or medical emergency that requires treatment. No one ever thinks they will be force to deal with a severe or critical medical condition that requires extensive medical treatment and care. Although we never want to be in such a circumstance, it is important to be informed about such issues. When patients require medical attention during transport, the typical method of travel involves an ambulance, but in specific cases, standard medical transportation is not enough. An air ambulance may be just what the doctor ordered.

What medical conditions and critical situations call for the use of an air ambulance? Each case is different based on the specific medical needs of the patient. There is no exact rule of thumb, but some basic guidelines do exist to determine which patients require the use of an air ambulance.

If the patient’s doctor feels that the patient should not travel by air with conventional airlines due to their specific medical needs, the doctor will order travel by an air ambulance. Numerous companies and organizations exist to safely transport patients in this way. Each company has their own specific requirements for staff on board the flight. Special medical circumstances may call for specific medical teams to fly aboard the air ambulance with the patient.

Here are some examples of medical conditions that may indicate a need to travel by air ambulance:

*Patients suffering from respiratory conditions that require ventilators

*trauma patients

*patients with neurological conditions that require intra cranial monitoring

*IABP patients that require balloon pumps

*patients with multiple IV drips

*transplant patients

*obstetric patients requiring intensive care

*NICU patients

The patients that require continuous medical monitoring and the use of specialized medical equipment are excellent candidates for travel by air ambulance. There is no plausible way for a patient with severe medical conditions to travel by conventional methods while achieving comfort and appropriate medical care.

When time is of the essence, standard flights would not be speedy enough to safely transport a patient to their destination. Also, it is impossible to spontaneously board a conventional flight with an entire medical staff and equipment. For this reason, doctors and patients choose to travel by air ambulance.

Air ambulance services are most commonly thought of as the helicopters that fly accident victims from the scene of a car crash to the nearest hospital that is capable of providing proper treatment for the severe injuries sustained in the crash. On the contrary, air ambulance services include so much more than just this sector of service.

An air ambulance may be a chopper, but it also can include planes such as turboprops and jets.

The type of aircraft used should be determined by the patients needs, as well as, by the distance traveled. For example, a patient should typically be transported by a jet when they require air ambulance transportation for distances greater than 500 miles. This is due to the time traveled, necessary stops to refuel small planes, the patient’s comfort and stress level.

Traveling by air ambulance may not be an experience that you want to add to your to-do list, but it may be medically necessary in the future. Patients who require constant medical attention, the use of specific medical equipment, or have numerous IV drips may require the use of such services. Should the doctor feel that this specialized service is beneficial, you will be glad that the air ambulance services are available.

What to Expect When Flying in a Jet Air Ambulance

What to Expect When Flying in a Jet Air Ambulance

Medical patients requiring transportation over a range of 500 miles or more wouldn’t dream of traveling by ambulance. Air travel in such scenarios often makes much more sense, but traveling via conventional aircraft and commercial airlines may not always be the most comfortable and safe option for patients. For this reason, patients requiring air ambulance services for long-distance travel will typically fly in a specifically equipped jet.

If you or someone you know ever need to travel by air ambulance in a jet, know that the patient will be receiving the highest quality service possible. The staff on the air ambulance jet is highly trained. The flight crew are not only experienced pilots and very familiar with flight safety, but they are also informed and educated about the specific needs and circumstances related to flying medical missions. The goal of the flight crew on an air ambulance is to provide the highest safety standards possible while ensuring the patient’s comfort from the point of origin to the destination in the speediest time possible.

One jet that is commonly used for air ambulance transport is the LEAR 35A. This specific type of aircraft uniquely outperforms many other jets when it comes to transportation by air ambulance. The reason the LEAR 35A is great for such travel is the fact that the aircraft is one of the most efficient models for travel for long transport. The LEAR 35A has a high safety record. This type of aircraft is less noisy than others in the industry making it very useful.

Most air ambulances have executive-style interior allowing for maximum comfort during the flight. A comfortable interior on the air ambulance allows the patient to rest in a medical environment during the transport. The door to the LEAR 35A jet is larger than most other cabin doors. This is yet another feature that makes the patient more comfortable. Loading and unloading on this type of aircraft
Is easier on the patient.

Such air ambulance jets are frequently able to land at smaller airports. Access to more airports allows the patient to land closer to the hospital for convenience, comfort, and most importantly safety. When time is of the essence, every second counts.

The air ambulance jet contains standard equipment for use during the flight from the point of origin to the destination. Each piece of equipment is thoroughly checked to ensure reliability before every single flight. Laptops and printers are available on air ambulance flights for use during the trip. The medical staff can keep accurate data information and print it out for use by other medical personnel upon the patient’s arrival to the destination.

Other standard safety equipment on an air ambulance flight includes equipment to perform cardiac and respiratory lab tests, defibulators, ventilators, and equipment to monitor the patient’s vitals and stats during the trip.

Travel by jet can provide a safe, practical, and speedy method of transportation for patients requiring critical care over a long distance. An air ambulance is equipped with high-quality medical equipment
And trained staff in order to provide the highest safety standards and the best comfort possible to patients.

What is the Cost of Air Ambulance Transport?

If you or someone you love will be needing air ambulance transportation in the foreseeable future, then it is time to start doing a little homework. It is important to start compiling a list of air ambulance services that will be able to meet the needs. After comprising a list of potential air ambulance transport companies, it is time to compare costs. Just like any other business or service, prices will vary.

There are many variables that can affect the cost of air ambulance transport. You can receive quotes from contacting the air ambulance service company yourself or by contacting a broker. Do be aware that the broker will find the lowest cost possible, then add an additional fee for his or her services to the cost. Whenever possible, it is wise to deal directly with the air ambulance service company.

The type of aircraft needed for the transport will directly affect the cost of the air ambulance service. It is important to know the distance of the flight before deciding on a specific type of aircraft. Cost alone should not determine the aircraft used for transport of the patient.

Another factor that influences the cost of the air ambulance service is the number and type of medical staff needed for the flight. If the patient requires two trained people on board, the cost may be dramatically less than a patient requiring an entire specialized medical team.

Frequently, the cost of the air ambulance transport will include the fee for ground transportation to and from the aircraft. This is commonly referred to as bedside to bedside service. Also, the cost often includes the cost of any additional passengers where applicable.

Many private insurance companies will cover the cost of air ambulance transportation if it is deemed to be medically necessary. It is wise to check with your insurance provider before calling to make arrangements for the air ambulance transportation, if possible. If it is unable to prove coverage for the service before the time of the flight, secured payment is usually required. For most companies, acceptable forms of payment include major credit cards, wire transfers, certified checks, or money orders for the amount of the flight.

The actual cost of the air ambulance transport can range widely. Typically, the fees run between $10,000 and $100,000.

Due to the extreme expense of the air ambulance transport, it is advisable to compare costs whenever possible. If the patient has insurance coverage, learn the facts about what air ambulance transportation costs are covered and under what conditions. Dealing directly with the air ambulance service company can be a method for saving money by doing a little research on your own.

A broker can locate air ambulance service, but will charge additional fees. Be specific about details such as needed medical staff and type of aircraft when asking for quotes. Also, learn what specifics are included in the cost when making the decision to select one air ambulance service company over another. With a little research, patients and their family can get the best service at a great value.

What is an Air Ambulance?

An air ambulance is an aircraft specifically used for the treatment of a patient who has been seriously injured or is critically ill. An air ambulance is primarily used in emergency situations where transport of the patient by standard land ambulance would not be timely or safe. Another instance where an air ambulance may be used is when a patient must be transported from one location to another and standard, conventional air travel is not feasible.

An air ambulance is looked at as an operating room in the air, or a flying critical care unit. Each air ambulance is specially staffed with an experienced flight crew that is highly trained to fly medical missions. On board the air ambulance aircraft you will find trained pilots and flight crew, as well as, medical staff that can safely care for critically ill or injured patients. The medical staff may be a nurse trained and experienced in CCU care, a qualified doctor capable of treating severe trauma injuries, or a specialized team of doctors and nurses that meet the specific needs of the patient.

Each air ambulance carries with it specialized medical tools and equipment that can handle nearly any emergency that may arise. Some examples of standard equipment found on an air ambulance includes ventilators, ECG equipment, CPR equipment, stretcher, medication, and other important tools that enable the crew to care for the patient.

The medical equipment is properly cleaned and tested before each and every flight. The standards patients expect from their doctor, ER or ICU are carried out inside and onboard the air ambulance.

The plane may vary dramatically depending on its designated mission. Some air ambulances are helicopters. Such aircraft are typically used to transport patients from the scene of an accident to a local hospital in the nearest big city that is equipped to handle the injuries. Choppers are air ambulances that can be used to retrieve patients from remote areas where conventional ambulances are unable to reach.

In other instances, small prop planes or jets are the preferred aircraft for longer trips. Jets are the best aircraft for trips over distances of 500 miles, because such planes allow for less fuel stops and speedier travel times. Like an ambulance on the ground, the goal of an air ambulance is to get the patient to the destination as safely and speedily as possible. Jets are capable of flying at higher altitudes which allow for the greatest comfort and speed.

Patients who may need the use of an air ambulance require constant medical monitoring. Some patients may include cardiac patients, respiratory patients, NICU situations, patients with multiple IV drips, or critical trauma patients.

Any patient with any illness or injury that the doctor deems unsafe to fly by conventional means will be able to get a doctor’s permission to fly in an air ambulance to the desired destination unless very specific medical reasons exist to avoid such methods of transportation. Frequently, travel by air ambulance is deemed safe and can truly save lives.