by Flying Angels Editorial Team | Dec 18, 2017 | News & Resources
Non-Emergency Medical Transport (NEMT) has become a critical issue for many in the United States. Those who live on low incomes often cannot afford a car of their own, much less the cost of air travel.
Sadly, that’s led to an estimated 3.6 million Americans who either delay or completely skip needed medical treatment because they simply cannot travel to receive it.
Non-Emergency Medical Transport Benefits
NEMT has made it possible for people to get that needed treatment. Provided by private companies, the cost of NEMT is far less than that of using an air ambulance to travel to distant places.
Emergency vs. Medical Transport
There are, however, issues to keep in mind when choosing a NEMT service. Consider some of the following factors when making a choice.
Experienced Flight Nurse
It’s important that the person traveling with the patient has extensive education and experience. Flying Angels, for example, only employs registered nurses to travel with patients. Check to ensure that the team working with you has all the experience necessary to handle medical situations that could arise, including education in flight physiology.
The bottom line is it’s important to have a trained medical professional on-hand, even though it’s a non-emergency situation.
What is Aviation Physiology?
Door-to-Door Service
Some NEMT companies offer ground services or air services. Some only provide transport locally, while others provide services across the country and even for international trips. It’s important to choose the Non-Emergency Medical Transport service that meets your transportation requirements.
Some companies, such as Flying Angels, coordinate every aspect of the trip. That includes ground service, air service and booking the travel arrangements. This means working with airlines, family members and medical professionals to coordinate travel plans. That’s the type of service needed if your travel involves complex arrangements.
How Do You Book Medical Travel?
Service Team Credentials
NEMT companies have become more numerous in recent years. Some media stories have even provided quick start-up guides for those who wish to simply get a license and drive people to medical appointments. That’s all well and good because such services truly are needed in every community.
However, choosing to use a Non-Emergency Medical Transport service is a big decision for most families. For those whose trips include flying, it’s best to search for companies with years of experience. Also, research the team at a company to ensure they have both medical credentials and years of training in the field.
Air Ambulance vs NEMT
Costs
One of the primary advantages of using a NEMT is the cost-savings in comparison to using transportation such as an air ambulance. Look for services that provide upfront estimates on what transportation costs could be to various location, such as Philadelphia-based Flying Angels does.
What Does Flying Angels Do?
NEMT companies provide an important, valuable service. Keep these issues in mind when choosing one for medical transportation. It will provide the peace of mind need during what can be stressful and challenging time.
by Flying Angels Editorial Team | Dec 8, 2017 | News & Resources
Life eventually throws everyone a curveball. Medical conditions and accidents, by their very nature, often happen when you least expect them. That’s why Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) has become so important over the years. Where once people felt trapped without any way of handling transportation needs, they now have support from businesses such as Flying Angels.
How Can NEMT Help Me?
There are many ways that NEMT can help a person. The following represent some of those ways.
Moving Parents
This has become one of the biggest areas of concern as the population in the United States ages. As parents get older, issues surrounding their care can change. If they have challenges with dementia, it’s often important for family members to move them closer. That requires complex travel arrangements that are often best handled by professionals. A professional NEMT company also can provide a Flight Nurse to travel with the parent, ensuring they are safe during the flight and have any medications they need.
Health Services
A big fear for many is that they will develop a medical condition that requires treatment far from where they live. This could include issues such as treatment at the best cancer facilities. Traveling to and from those destinations is simply not possible for many without a NEMT service provider. They can serve all their needs in both arranging flights and traveling with the patient.
Top 10 Hospitals in the U.S.
Children
Children with chronic medical conditions or injuries often need to be transported long distances for treatment or rehabilitation services. Transportation can be arranged literally from the home where the child lives to the medical facility and back again.
Again, a Flight Nurse can handle any medical emergency that may arise. They also work with airline personnel to ensure the child gets a comfortable seat (typically first class or business class) and carry any medication the child might need. They also manage any special needs of the child, such as moving them if they are otherwise immobile.
Flight Nurse Duties On A Commercial Airline
Injuries Away From Home
Sometimes, people have medical incidents while away on a trip. Once they are treated, the issue then becomes getting them safely back home or to a medical facility back in the United States. A service such as Flying Angels has years of experience in doing just this kind of thing. While in all cases providing medical care is the priority, a Flight Nurse also proves invaluable with flight arrangements. Problems often arise with flight schedules, particularly with international travel. A professional used to dealing with these issues is a huge benefit.
What Does Flying Angels Do?
These represent some of the ways that NEMT can support those who face tough situations caused by medical conditions or injuries. If such a situation arises for you, don’t hesitate to look into your options using a service such as Flying Angels.
Medical Transportation Options Explained
