Medical travel companions fly with travelers who need assistance to complete their journey. They make the trip from departure to destination easier for those with injuries, disabilities, and older travelers with cognitive impairments who need medical assistance when flying to national or international destinations. These professionals ensure that patients receive the care they need, making air travel a viable option for them.
Adult children also often hire medical travel companions to fly with their senior parents who might have some physical limitations or who may simply struggle with the fast-paced nature of modern airports. Navigating security checkpoints, boarding procedures and large crowds can overwhelm seniors, making the presence of a trained travel companion invaluable.
While many types of medical travel companion services are available, making the journey with a flight nurse provides the highest level of specialized care. Unlike general travel companions, flight nurses are licensed medical professionals trained to assist passengers with complex medical conditions. They are highly skilled in providing medical care on commercial flights and for those who need a long-distance ambulance.
Flying Angels is a premier provider of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), offering expert flight nurse services for individuals who require medical assistance while traveling. Their flight nurses travel with patients on commercial airlines, ensuring not only medical safety but also comfort and logistical support throughout the trip.
The Benefits of Medical Travel Companions
People with medical conditions cannot always make flights on their own. Whether due to mobility challenges, cognitive impairments or the need for continuous medical monitoring, having a trained professional during air travel is essential for safety and peace of mind. Having a flight nurse or medical travel companion gives those who need support during air travel a number of benefits.
In the case of flight nurses, each one is experienced with working in high-pressure medical situations, making them able to handle whatever scenario might arise. They have also earned certification for providing medical services at high altitudes, where changes in cabin pressure and oxygen levels can impact certain medical conditions.
Many flight nurse companies make trip arrangements. This includes ground transport to and from the airport, assistance through the terminal (including security), and ensuring all needed medical equipment and medications travel with you. For patients traveling internationally, flight nurses can assist with customs procedures and ensure compliance with airline medical regulations.
Overall, the biggest benefit of a medical travel companion is the peace of mind of knowing you have professional, compassionate, and highly trained assistance for your journey.
Who Needs a Medical Travel Companion?
Medical travel companies provide vital support in a number of situations. From routine travel to urgent relocations, flight nurses help ensure that passengers with medical concerns can travel safely and comfortably.
Senior Travel
As people age, running the gauntlet of lines, security checks, ticket kiosks, and long walks between terminals can become overwhelming. A flight nurse can make the process much less complicated, providing a steady companion who assists with baggage, mobility needs, and medication management throughout the journey. They also take away any concerns about the handling of medical equipment and prescription medications (including remembering to take them when required).
Traveling With Injuries
Traveling with a broken arm or leg, especially if a wheelchair is required, makes air travel difficult even for the youngest and healthiest of travelers. A medical travel companion ensures smooth boarding and deplaning, assists with luggage handling, and provides necessary medical care throughout the flight.
Traveling With Disabilities
Those with disabilities typically become experts at getting through whatever life throws at them, but travel can provide a particularly strong challenge. Airports and airlines have varying accessibility policies, which can make the journey more complex. A flight nurse can provide assistance when needed and also contact airport officials ahead of time to arrange special accommodations, such as priority boarding, mobility assistance, and secure storage for essential medical devices.
Getting Home
For those who become ill or get injured while on vacation, a flight nurse can make the journey home much easier, eliminating the stress of coordinating medical transport alone. This includes handling communication with medical personnel, even those in other countries. Clients can engage the services of a medical travel companion for domestic and international flights.
Medical travel companions ensure a smooth transition from hospital discharge to safe arrival at home, reducing the risk of complications during transit.
Flying Angels Provides Expertise in Medical Travel Assistance
Flying Angels specializes in providing professional flight nurse services to travelers who require medical supervision and logistical support. Their critical-care trained Registered Nurse’s accompany clients on commercial airlines, ensuring medical oversight without the high costs of an air ambulance.
Their services include:
- Bedside-to-bedside service. Coordinating every aspect of the journey, from ground transportation to the flight itself, ensuring a seamless travel experience.
- Assistance with medical equipment and medications. Managing necessary medical devices, oxygen, and medication schedules to ensure uninterrupted care.
- Coordination with healthcare providers. Communicating with hospitals and doctors to facilitate safe, well-planned travel for patients with medical needs.
- Global reach. Providing both domestic and international medical transport, ensuring patients travel safely to their desired destinations.
- Customized travel plans. Every trip is tailored to the patient’s unique needs, including considerations for mobility limitations, chronic conditions, and post-surgical care.
- Airline and airport coordination. Handling pre-flight arrangements with airlines to ensure smooth boarding, proper seat accommodations, and any necessary in-flight assistance.
- Post-arrival assistance. Helping patients transition to their destination, whether it’s to home care, a hospital, , or rehabilitation facility.
For more details on Flying Angels’ services, view their company brochure. With a commitment to safety, comfort and expert medical care, Flying Angels ensures that every journey is as stress-free and secure as possible. Whether you or a loved one requires compassionate, professional support during air travel, Flying Angels is dedicated to providing the highest standard of care and travel assistance.
