Category: General Health

Air Ambulance of the Year Award Goes to AirMed

AirMed is an air ambulance service that stands out above the rest. This company is based out of Birmingham, Alabama. The AirMed air ambulance company was the only finalist from the United States to be considered for this honor.

The prestigious award was presented to AirMed by Voyageur Group’s International Travel Insurance Journal. This company is based out of London. The air ambulance of the year award was presented at the annual conference in Venice in 2007.

This honor represents the finest in the air-medical field. International Traveler Insurance Journal honors assistance companies, insurance underwriters, and cost-containment providers. AirMed air ambulance service has had excellent competition for the award. Several other air-medical companies from Canada and Europe were finalists for the award.

The annual awards speak volumes about the quality of service from the recipients. An impartial panel of judges are used to determine the appropriate winner. The judges are a panel of experts in the global travel insurance and medical transport industries.

AirMed’s devotion to quality air ambulance service shows in their high standards and patient-oriented business. This honor of Air Ambulance of the Year indicates AirMed’s dedication to service and standards in the industry.

According to company announcements, early next year, AirMed plans to open and operate an international base in Hong Kong. Based on this information, AirMed will be the first U.S. based air ambulance company to operate a base in China. With the addition of the new base in China, AirMed will be even more qualified and better equipped to serve the needs of the world.

Specialty patient care and seamless travel is a goal of AirMed air ambulance service. By the end of 2008, AirMed should have 11 dedicated aircraft in the fleet. This fact makes AirMed better prepared than most to serve the air ambulance travel needs with safety and convenience in mind.

AirMed is the preferred carrier for the United States Department of Defense and is the air medical transport for the Mayo Clinic. The AirMed air ambulance service has bases in Hawaii, Minnesota, and its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. Annually, over 2,500 medical missions are flown with this excellent organization.

The patient care and customer service is unparalleled. AirMed offers bedside to bedside medical care worldwide. For anyone in need of air ambulance service, AirMed’s staff and fleet will undoubtedly provide the special care and customer service to meet the need.

The Air Ambulance of the Year Award is an honor that deserves recognition. The dedication and quality service received by AirMed’s clients have allowed the company to stand out above the competition. A well-maintained, high-quality fleet helps to make AirMed the top air ambulance of the year. The experienced and professional staff cares about the patients and providing excellent medical standards.

Top-notch customer service speeds AirMed to the top of the chart. Air ambulance competition is tough, but AirMed has come up on top. The honor of Air Ambulance of the Year will undoubtedly encourage AirMed to continue their strive for excellence in the years to come.

Will Insurance Cover Air Ambulance Transport?

Air ambulance transportation can be extremely expensive. The cost of one trip in an air ambulance can take a chunk out of the wallet and savings. In some instances, an air ambulance transport can cost over $100,000. With such extreme fees, it seems that people can’t afford to be critically ill or injured. Will insurance cover such high rates for air ambulance transport?

In many cases, insurance companies will cover air ambulance transport when it is deemed medically necessary. The insurance company may not cover every aspect of the transport, but the patient will not be left fully responsible for the charges. It is important to learn exactly what your insurance will cover and under what circumstances.

The key term here is “medically necessary”. If the doctor feels the patient must be transported by air to another health care facility to receive proper treatment, then the insurance company will typically go along with the charges and pay for the air ambulance transport of the patient. On the other hand, if someone is hurt or ill while out of the country and simply wants to fly home for treatment, the insurance company may not look upon this situation very favorably.

In such a case, the patient may be left vulnerable to all incurred charges for the air ambulance service. To protect yourself from this situation, it is possible to purchase air ambulance coverage while traveling. Such insurance is often reasonably priced in annual or monthly installments on an individual, family, or group basis. This type of coverage will protect you, your family, and your wallet.

Typically, the air ambulance service coverage is not only reasonably priced, but available to nearly everyone. Consumers are often concerned about exemptions and denials for pre-existing conditions, but frequently there are no such exclusions in this type of coverage.

When a patient requires air ambulance services, it is standard procedure for the air ambulance company to secure payment prior to the flight whenever possible. If it is not possible to prove that insurance coverage for air ambulance service can be secured, the patient or a family member must pay the charge up front in the form of a credit card, wire transfer, money order, or other verifiable payment. For many families, coming up with this large sum of money would not only be difficult, but nearly impossible.

Keeping this in mind, it is important for you to learn what coverage you have for air ambulance services. If you are unsatisfied with the current coverage the insurance plan offers, it may be time to consider other options to protect your finances in the event of an emergency. During a medical emergency, stress is high for the entire family.

Although no one wants to use air ambulance transport, it is important to concern yourself now with this issue. Contact the insurance company today to verify the ins and outs of coverage for air ambulance transport before you really need this service. Your health and your wallet may depend on this information in the future.

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.