If you underwent emergency medical treatment abroad, returning home can be a challenge. You may need special medical transportation, and people often think of an air ambulance or a long-distance ambulance with medical assistance. However, sometimes it is possible to return home on a regular flight accompanied by a doctor. This is called repatriation with a medical escort.
In this sense, what are the differences between these two patient transport options?
What is medical escort?
A medical escort is a medically trained professional who travels with the patient as they move from point A to B. This could mean that he or she is travelling by air, but it can also mean ground transportation.
What are the differences between the two forms of patient transport?
If you are new to the world of medical transportation, you will find that many ambulance providers offer two options. Specialized Air ambulances as well as medical escorts. To find out which of these two options is best for you or your loved ones, we will guide you through the main differences between these two service options.
Aircraft:
One of the biggest differences between the two service options is the aircraft used. A dedicated ambulance is an aeroplane, known as Learjet, and is used to transport the patient immediately. The aircraft is piloted by two ATP certified pilots and equipped by two medical team members.
With the medical escort option, the patient is transported on a commercial Air ambulance and is accompanied by a medical specialist. Patients are usually transported to/from world-class facilities for greater comfort.
Medical team
By special ambulance aircraft, patients are accompanied by a medical team trained in intensive care and certified with ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support). The flight crew may consist of: doctors, nurses, paramedics, and respiratory therapists. The appropriate medical team is selected based on the patient’s specific needs.
With a medical escort, patients are accompanied by experienced doctors who ensure patient comfort and care during the transportation process, including land transportation.
With both medical transportation offered by ICATT, our medical crew offers comprehensive medical care to our patients to ensure maximum comfort and safety. In addition, we care about the empathy and compassion that will change the lives of our patients.
Patient’s condition
Specialized air ambulance aircraft are very flexible and can transport most patients with various medical conditions. With medical escort services, patients must meet the following criteria in a non-critical condition:
- Cleared medically by his doctor to fly with accompanying medical personnel
- Supplemental oxygen therapy should not exceed 5 litres per minute
- Not a contagious disease
- No trapped gas conditions like pneumothorax, intestinal obstruction, gas embolism, etc.
- Can sit safely and upright in the aircraft during taxis, takeoffs and landings (unless carried on a stretcher)
- Not combative
If a dedicated ambulance is used, the aircraft will be equipped with the latest medical equipment comparable to any hospital. This allows more patients and illnesses to be treated and transported by air ambulance.
With a medical escort, medics are provided with a set of FAA-approved medical devices and smaller supplemental oxygen. Your preferred provider will discuss the patient’s condition with you in more detail to ensure that the FAA-approved medical device is sufficient to meet the needs of a potential patient while on a flight.
Travel coordination and insurance
In both modes of transportation, ambulance providers coordinate every aspect of travel to ensure that patients successfully reach their destinations. This includes coordinating coverage with your insurance company to arrange ground transportation to and from the airport. Whichever option you choose, the supplier you choose should coordinate every detail to ensure a smooth and seamless process.
The cost
Cost can certainly make a big difference between these two medical transportation options. As you can imagine, the cost of a special plane with additional flights and medical personnel is higher than the cost of a medical escort.
Conclusion:
We hope that the above comparisons will help you better understand the different uses of the ambulance and medical escort in the world of aviation medical transport. For any patient who can travel on but requires some level of medical care, a medical escort can be a very cheap means of transportation. However, for patients who need more specialized medical care, a dedicated ambulance is usually the best option.
If you have any further questions about the difference between an air ambulance and a medical escort, please do not hesitate to contact ICATT at +91-9701111156, and we will be happy to answer all your questions.