What to Expect from Non-Emergency Medical Transport by Air

What to Expect from Non-Emergency Medical Transport by Air

NEMT services

An injury suffered while on vacation. Chronic conditions that inhibit range of motion. Traveling after suffering a stroke or heart attack. These are just some of the situations where travelers can benefit by using non-emergency medical transport by air. 

What can people expect using NEMT transport? They immediately have a partner who can work with them on booking all the arrangements for their journey. They also reap the benefits of having a trained flight nurse travel with them throughout their trip, providing medical assistance when needed. They also enjoy the peace of mind that comes from flying with someone trained to provide emergency medical care, if needed.

Non-emergency medical transport by air has gained in popularity in recent years as people increasingly see the value of working with healthcare professionals for their next long-distance trip, whether the location is domestic or international.

What Is NEMT?

Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) refers to a service that involves transport of patients who do not require emergency medical attention, but still need assistance. In the case of an NEMT company such as Flying Angels, the service involves traveling with a flight nurse who provides assistance and medical services to clients who are traveling by commercial airline. 

People use NEMT services for a variety of reasons. Families partner with an NEMT company to help them with a senior relocation. Others may suffer injuries while traveling and seek NEMT services so a nurse can fly back home with them. Others suffer from chronic conditions or injuries that keep them from flying safely on their own, including broken bones, head trauma, or dementia. Some want a nurse to fly with them if they recently had surgery.

Whatever the case, the goal of NEMT services is to ensure the safe, reliable transport of patients who have difficulty traveling on their own. 

Services and Benefits of Non-Emergency Medical Transport by Air

Working with a high-quality NEMT service provides a wealth of benefits in a variety of areas. They include senior relocations, medical reparations, long distance vacations to both domestic and international locations, and as an air ambulance alternative.

Booking Travel in Advance

Quality NEMT companies make all the arrangements for each client’s travels. It’s a service that directly enhances the experience. For example, an RN Flight Coordinator is an experienced nurse who knows how to arrange a trip in a way that benefits the client. This includes booking direct flights whenever possible, working with airport officials to ensure clients have a safe and comfortable trip through the airport, and securing any needed early boarding privileges from commercial airlines.

Traveling with a Flight Nurse

Flight nurses travel with clients during the entirety of their trip on a commercial airline. They have years of nursing experience and the training required to provide medical care at high altitudes. They also work with airport and airline officials to get any assistance required as well as manage the patient’s medication and medical equipment. 

During the journey, a flight nurse monitors the client’s health and provides any medical assistant needed. They make sure patients take their medication at the proper time and also use any medical equipment properly. This can prove especially helpful to seniors with medical conditions who feel uncomfortable traveling long distances alone.

Coordination with Airports and Airlines

Both the RN Flight Coordinator and the flight nurse work with airport and airline officials to help smooth the way for the journey. That includes issues such as having a wheelchair waiting when they arrive at the airport and getting medical equipment through security. They also work with the airline to get early boarding and find favorable seating (near a bathroom, for example). Thanks to years of experience working in the transportation industry, nurses affiliated with NEMT companies know who to talk to in order to get the services people need.

Benefits of Using Non-Emergency Medical Transport By Air

The services provided through NEMT companies benefit clients in many different ways. Most importantly, NEMT flight nurses keep patients comfortable during their trip and also ensure that they arrive safely at their destination.

NEMT services also reduce stress. Those who work with non-emergency transport professionals don’t have to worry about making flight arrangements, finding the right person to talk to at the airport or airline to get special services, or having medical complications arise while flying alone. Healthcare professionals manage all of those issues.

People also can save money using NEMT services rather than an ambulance, which is far more costly. Using NEMT can reduce out-of-pocket expenses for travelers who don’t need all the services offered in emergency transportation.

These are some of the services and benefits to expect when using non-emergency medical transport by air. It’s a service that can vastly improve the travel experience for many types of people who might otherwise have difficulties or feel much more stressed if required to travel alone.

Continuity of Care During Air Travel for Patients with Chronic Conditions

Continuity of Care During Air Travel for Patients with Chronic Conditions

air travel care

People with chronic conditions can, in many cases, still use air travel to reach their destinations. Doing so requires planning and consultation with clinicians. It’s also helpful to travel with medical professionals who can provide continuity of care during air travel.

Flight nurses who work for non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) companies can provide this service, traveling with patients from their home to their final destination. The best NEMT companies also employ RN flight coordinators to book all the tickets for the flight as well as work with airlines and airports in advance to help smooth the way for clients with chronic conditions. 

As noted by Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Chronic conditions should not keep people from enjoying travel.” They advise that as with other medical conditions, people with chronic diseases should always “see their healthcare provider as early as possible before traveling.”

Johns Hopkins also notes that those with chronic conditions should “travel with a companion familiar with their condition.”

What Is Continuity of Care During Air Travel?

The term continuity of care refers to the healthcare strategy of coordination and delivering services to a patient over a period of time and at different locations. The idea is to provide patients with consistent, uninterrupted care that allows them to seamlessly move between healthcare providers and settings.

Continuity of care is especially important for patients with chronic conditions or complex medical needs. In those cases, patients often require care from a variety of providers.

In the context of air travel, continuity of care refers to delivery of healthcare services during a journey using commercial airlines. Flight nurses accompany patients throughout the trip, overseeing medications and providing any needed medical treatment. They also assist those with chronic conditions as they navigate the airport, as well as boarding and deplaning.

Examples of Common Chronic Conditions

What are some of the chronic conditions that people travel with the most? They include hypertension, arthritis, allergies, traumatic brain injury, stroke (depending on the type and severity), mild asthma, and chronic digestive issues such as acid reflux. Those with injuries that limit mobility can also often fly, including those with a broken leg.

Some of those with certain conditions may be advised against air travel, according to Johns Hopkins. They include people with cardiac failure, a recent myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke, angina (chest pain) at rest, heart rate or rhythm disorders, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, severe anemia, sickle-cell anemia, acute mental disorders, epilepsy, and any serious or contagious diseases. Even in these cases, the decision to fly or not depends on an individual’s medical condition.

What NEMT Flight Nurses Do

NEMT flight nurses work with RN flight coordinators, going through the details of a client’s flight and reviewing the care they will require. They also review airport procedures and contact airline and airport officials about any special requirements a client might need, such as a special security line or boarding a plane early.

Nurses also review a client’s condition and ensure all the necessary medical equipment and medications are packed for the trip. They also have a medical kit of their own to prepare for any needs the client might experience during air travel or at the airport.

Flight nurses are trained in flight physiology, as well as psychological distress patients may experience during a flight. They also track the times for giving clients their medication and make routine health checks. In this way, they ensure continuity of care during air travel for their clients, including those with chronic conditions.

Flight nurses provide important care for those with chronic conditions who do not want to fly alone. An NEMT flight nurse provides the peace of mind in knowing clients by providing continuity of care during air travel.

Travel Companion 

Travel Companion 

Flying Angels provides medical travel companion services for individuals who may need assitance while flying on a commercial airline.

Services

Services

Flying Angels provides medical transport services worldwide. Learn how commercial airline flight nurses can support you & your family.