Patients use medical transportation in both emergency and non-emergency situations. Medical transportation options include non-emergency services such as wheelchairs, medical couriers, ambulatory services, travel arrangements and flight nurses. Emergency services include basic life support ambulances, advanced life support ambulances and air ambulances.
The following provides an overview of some of the common medical transportation options used by patients.
Benefits of Medical
Transportation
Every medical transportation option has benefits because they all effectively and efficiently get patients to their destination. En route, experienced medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, provide medical services as needed.
In non-emergency medical
transportation (NEMT), the ability to schedule everything ahead of time and
travel with a flight nurse provides enormous benefits to patients. Rather than
take on the challenges of travel alone, they have the peace of mind of having
trained medical experts with them.
Types of Medical
Transportation
The following offers a list of medical transportation options for patients. All choices fit into two major categories: emergency transportation and NEMT.
Non-Emergency
Medical Transportation
NEMT is the best medical transportation option for those with a medical condition or injury that does not pose an immediate threat. Typically, older patients, those with disabilities or those who have difficulty with mobility from an injury use NEMT. Professional NEMT service companies such as Flying Angels can make all travel arrangements and assign a flight nurse to travel with patients. The company offers the service for domestic and international flights.
The specific types of
transportation used in NEMT include the following.
Wheelchair
A very common form of transportation in non-emergency situations. Patients use wheelchairs if they have difficulty walking for long distances through the airport and from ground transportation into the airport. Special, narrow wheelchairs are used on planes. Flight nurses ensure that plane personnel safety store personal wheelchairs during flight.
This is typically a car
or van that takes patients to and from the airport. It’s one of the commonly
used forms of NEMT transport. It’s designed for those who can walk with little
to no assistance.
Flight Nurses
Flight nurses are a key
element in NEMT. They travel with patients to their destination. They have
years of experience and a high level of expertise in providing any medical
services needed during a flight. They oversee a patient’s medications and
monitor their health. Upon arrival, they arrange any ground transportation
needed to get a patient to their destination.
Medical couriers safely transport blood, organs and other human biological specimens between hospitals or research facilities. All medical couriers must meet government regulations, including provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Stretcher
Used only in
circumstances where a patient has an injury that prevents them from standing or
walking but is not an emergency situation. This option is limited to
international flights on a few selected airlines.
Emergency Medical
Transportation Options
Just as the name implies, emergency medical transportation options are used when patients are in a medical crisis and need transportation to a hospital as quickly as possible. The emphasis in all these areas is finding a balance between safety and speed.
Ambulances are typically in one of two
categories: basic life support and advanced life support.
Basic Life Support
Ambulances
A basic life support ambulance offers medical
service from emergency medical technicians during transportation to a hospital,
rehabilitation clinic or testing facility. Medical supplies and equipment on a
basic life support ambulance include defibrillators, aspirin, EpiPens,
pulse oximetry, intranasal naloxone administration, splints, bandages, oxygen
tanks and masks, and spinal immobilization equipment.
Advanced Life
Support Ambulances
Advanced life support ambulances have equipment
that monitors vital signs, as well as advanced drug therapy, cardiac
monitoring, oxygen and IV therapy. All services are administered by a highly
skilled paramedic or nurse.
Air Ambulances
Air ambulances include helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Typically, a helicopter transports those in immediate need of clinical treatment, including victims of car accidents, violent crime or natural disasters when time is the absolute imperative. Fixed wing air ambulance is utilized over greater distances with acutely ill patients who patient who cannot tolerate sitting. The situation dictates the type of transportation used. Decisions on emergency transportation are made by medical personnel, while patients decide on non-emergency transport. For NEMT, a service like Flying Angels offers all the advantages and benefits you need and choices for how you want your transportation planned.
Hospital case manager conferences happen throughout the year. Some of the biggest include the American Case Management Association National Conference, the many ACMA chapter conferences around the country, and the Case Management Society of America Annual Conference and Expo
Representatives of Flying Angels will attend all conferences listed below. In many cases, this will be the fourth year in a row representatives from Flying Angels have attended these conferences. They look forward to seeing old friends again!
Each conference offers important insights for hospital case managers and healthcare professionals, including information on new tools and techniques, a chance to hear from leaders in the industry and an opportunity to network with peers.
The following are some of the biggest hospital case manager conferences for 2020.
American Case
Management Association National Conference
April 6-9, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place ,
Chicago, Illinois
The American Case Management Association National Conference brings together 1,500 case managers, transition of care and other healthcare workers from across the country for the chance to learn from peers. According to the ACMA National Conference, recent trends in case management discussed at the conference will include:
Collaboration and interdisciplinary teams
Utilization management
Social determinants of health
Value-based care
Research and innovation
Patient-centric care and engagement
In addition to case managers and transition of care workers, many other healthcare workers can benefit from attending these conferences. They include nurses, social workers, physician advisors, physicians, nurse practitioners and students.
ACMA New York Chapter, September 25, Long Island Marriott, Uniondale, New York
ACMA Western Pennsylvania Chapter, October 3, Double Tree Pittsburgh Green Tree, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
ACMA Greater Houston Chapter, October 10, The Westin Houston, Houston, Texas
ACMA Illinois Chapter, October 13, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Illinois
ACMA Connecticut Chapter, October 24, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut
Case Management
Society of America Annual Conference and Expo
June 28 – July 2, Boston Convention &
Exhibition Center, Boston, Massachusetts
More than 1,500 are expected to attend this
large annual conference that showcases professional seminars, speakers, events,
product and services expositions and the chance to network – all aimed at case
management professionals.
Topics include integrated case management, shared decision making, improvement of care with effective care coordination, and improving outcomes with data and technology. There is also a CMSA Chicago Chapter Conference on March 10 at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook Terrace, Illinois.
Travel is a wonderful experience. But it also comes with its own set of challenges. To get ready for a flight, it’s important to have some in-flight entertainmentat your disposal, including games, movies, music, books and good, old-fashioned conversation.
All can help smooth out a trip and provide things to do on a plane. To sort out the various options, here’s a look at in-flight entertainmentoptions based on the emotions that people experience on a flight.
Stress is what happens
when your body reacts to what is perceived as a threat. For some, flying
represents a threat, at least at a basic instinct level that you can’t always
reason yourself out of quickly.
Stress can manifest in many
ways, both physical and emotional. For example, you might experience a
headache, sweating palms, a rumbling gastrointestinal tract, irritability,
difficulty swallowing, lack of concentration, back or neck pain and a feeling
of being overwhelmed. On flights, much of this comes from the loss of control
in your environment.
One of the best ways to combat this is to know the statistics. Those facts show that the most dangerous parts of your trip are the drives to and from the airport. In an airplane, the odds of getting into an accident are about one in 11 million or, as Elite Daily puts it, “so slim it’s almost pointless to quantify.”
But stress doesn’t always respond to logic. To distract yourself, make sure you take in-flight entertainment that brings you comfort. This can include a pillow, blanket and a tablet loaded with your favorite TV shows (now is the time to watch all those old “Friends” episodes). An engaging book is a smart choice, as are headphones and music. Also, in addition to a book, make sure you bring fun things to do on a plane that don’t require Wi-Fi, such as crossword puzzles and Sudoku.
In-Flight Entertainment When You’re Anxious
Anxiety is a bit different than stress. While stress is a physical reaction to a threat (real or perceived), anxiety are the thoughts and feelings you get that feed off that stress. They, in turn, can lead to even more stress, according to Psycom.
So, in addition to what
is listed above to deal with stress, here are some other tips for anxiety. One
is to cut down on outside input that causes you stress and anxiety, such as
turbulence. Try to sit near the center of the plane, where there is usually a
bit less turbulence. Don’t sit near a window if seeing outside causes you
anxiety. Take an aisle seat, instead.
As with all emotions, it’s better to acknowledge anxiety rather than suppress it. But don’t do what your anxious thoughts are telling you to do, because anxiety can trick common sense, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Also, while it might be tempting, now is not the time to have a few too many drinks of alcohol, as it will make things much more difficult when you land!
When You’re Tired
The change in air pressure can cause many people to feel tired and fall asleep easily. That’s just annoying to those who are sitting there, tired but wide awake. Luckily, there are DIY travel hacks that can help you get comfortable enough to really relax and catch some sleep on a flight. Some of the better ideas include bringing your own travel pillow and having headphones so you can play soothing music or sounds (make sure you have portable charger to keep your smartphone running, too). Also, a comfortable blanket can help you sleep easier.
This typically happens with less experienced travelers. There’s nothing wrong with that! Still, you’re going to have to turn that energy to something. One of the best ways to pass the time is to have a great conversation, but you might not be traveling with someone who likes to talk a lot. So, make sure to bring your own book, music or maybe catch an in-flight movie. All can give you something to focus on until you reach your destination and you can let all that excitement loose.
When You’re Injured
If you get hurt on vacation, it’s important to have planned ahead. Travel insurance can help in this case, as it operates as additional health insurance for your trip (not to be confused with trip insurance, which covers the loss of luggage). You’ll also want to consider contacting a non-emergency medical travel company to arrange your trip back home, so you can return to your own doctors and specialists as quickly as possible. These are some of the emotions you can expect during a flight, and some of the in-flight entertainment that can help you deal with them. Plane travel is safe, it’s up to you to also make it fun and enjoyable.
Aviation physiology focuses on how flying impacts the physical and mental health of the pilots, flight crew and passengers. It’s an area of health science in which flight nurses develop expertise because their “work environment” is thousands of feet in the air.
Aviation physiology provides a framework for dealing with how air travel impacts human beings, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA Facts provided in a guidebook acknowledges that “every human is physiologically different and can react differently in any given situation.”
However, medical professionals have developed strategies for dealing with anxiety, stress and other health issues that people may experience, including those involved with commercial flight medical transportation and assisted flight travel.
The Basics of
Aviation Physiology
Humans can adapt to a
remarkable number of different environments. For exploring the ocean depths to
traveling into space, humans can adjust to changes in external temperature,
barometric pressure variations, motion in space and changes in relation to
gravity.
However, these changes can have an impact. When
it comes to flight, the FAA points out three major areas where environmental
changes have the biggest impact:
Marked changes in barometric pressure
Considerable variation in temperature
Movement at high speed in three dimensions
Of course, human beings cannot handle all these
changes on their own. But through “foresight, ingenuity and effort,” as the FAA
describes it, humans have developed tools to help them deal with these changes,
such as pressurized flight cabins and temperature control.
Flight nurses that
travel with patients are experts in the following areas, which the FAA lists as
being some of the major areas of aviation physiological impact.
Pressure
As you move above sea
level and ascend into the sky, the air becomes less dense and there is
atmospheric pressure. Gas may expand as molecules travel farther apart – which
is why you might experience “trapped gas” issues in the ear canal or sinuses.
Artificial pressurization deals with most of these issues, but during ascent
people may feel the drop in pressure more acutely.
Respiratory and
Circulation
The human body has
amazingly simple, efficient respiratory and circulatory systems. The drop in
pressure, however, can impact them, potentially causing dizziness, headaches,
shortness of brief or fatigue. Again, this is something that cabin
pressurization helps to solve. However, a flight nurse traveling with a patient
is aware of these potential issues and prepared to deal with them if needed.
Hypoxia
A very dangerous
condition in which the oxygen supply to the lungs or other important organs is
inhibited. This is why a plane offers oxygen masks in case of sudden drops in
pressure or changes in altitude. Nurses also will carry oxygen for certain
patients and administer it, as needed, if signs of hypoxia occur.
Hyperventilation
This happens with people on the ground, but also is something to watch for while in flight. It simply means breathing at a fast, shallow rate that could inhibit the flow of oxygen through the body. This is sometimes brought on by anxiety or fear, which causes breathing to be controlled by emotions rather than by chemicals in the body. It can lead to a drop in carbon dioxide levels, which is dangerous if it continues for too long. Symptoms include dizziness, a tingling sensation, blurry vision and twitching muscles. These are just some of the issues that those with expertise in aviation physiology know how to handle during commercial flight medical transportation. It’s also the reason why an increasing number of people are turning to flight nurses to travel with them for non-emergency medical transport – allowing them to relax, knowing they have an expert in aviation physiology sitting beside them.
People use a long distance ambulance to transport themselves or a loved one in non-emergency situations. This medical transportation option ensures patients travel safely by either ground-based transport or commercial air travel.
The main goal in using a long distance ambulance and non-emergency medical transport is to ensure the patient has medical attention during their journey and arrives safely at their destination.
Often, those being transferred are seniors traveling to or from an assisted living facility, cancer treatment center, nursing home or home healthcare facility. They may also have been discharged in stable condition from a top US hospital and simply need to return home.
Using non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) is a popular medical transportation option. While it can involve the use of a long distance ambulance, it often involves commercial airline travel, accompanied by an experienced flight nurse.
A trip is generally considered to be long distance if it is more than 200 miles. As the nation’s population ages, there are an increasing number of non-ambulatory patients who require non-emergency transportation.
People use medical transportation for a variety
of reasons. They include:
Senior travelers taking a vacation or making a trip to see family
Those injured while on vacation who are coming back home
Patients transferring from one medical facility to another
Travelers with a disability or chronic condition that impedes movement
Seniors who are moving to a new area
Frequent medical conditions for NEMT patients include; Alzheimer’s, cancer, dementia, stabilized bone fractures, post-operative patients and those who are wheelchair-bound.
Those are just some of the scenarios that have made NEMT and long distance ambulances a more popular medical transport option in recent years.
NEMT companies such as Flying Angels can book a
flight for patients, coordinate with the airlines and airports along the route,
handle international flights and provide an experienced RN as a flight nurse.
That level of service makes air transportation a
great choice for many people. Transportation on a commercial airline also means
patients reach their destination faster than if they use ground transportation.
Even in a non-emergency situation, this is what most patients prefer.
Using a commercial flight with a nurse is also far less expensive than using an air ambulance, which is the most expensive transportation option. Whatever method you choose, it’s important to know that patients have options when it comes to medical transportation. With the modern services available, patients can quickly and safely reach their destination while enjoying the most comfortable situation possible.
It’s important to make air travel for seniors as safe and as comfortable as possible. Some of the best tips include requesting a wheelchair, asking for special screening procedures, carrying all-important medications on the plane, protecting against checkpoint theft and getting the best available seats for seniors.
All these tips make air travel for seniors that much better. The key for seniors is to plan ahead or hire a non-emergency medical transport company that handles these issues. A flight nurse who specializes in patient advocacy can assist passengers in making all the below senior air travel arrangements.
Request a Wheelchair
For some seniors, it’s difficult to walk from the curb to the gate. Many seniors experience problems with their hips and feet. They may also have respiratory issues that hinder the ability to walk very far. This is one of the most common issues in air travel for seniors. All airports provide wheelchairs for those who request them, which can be done in advance or when you arrive. You may also bring your own wheelchair, which airline employees will store during the flight.
Ask For Special Screening Procedures
The federal Transportation Safety Agency (TSA), which oversees airport security in the U.S., offers special security check procedures for those older than 75 or traveling with a disability. Please note that if you have a wearable medical device or use medical equipment (such as a respirator), the TSA will apply extra screening tests, such as testing for traces of explosives. Another smart move is to register with TSA Pre-Check. Also, always strive to arrive early.
Carry All Important Medications On The Plane
Like passengers of all ages, seniors should never put important medicine into checked luggage. That can become a serious issue if the luggage is lost. Seniors should place medications in a handbag or whatever is the most comfortable for them to carry. Make sure it is a size that can slide under the seat in front of you. That way, you can handle it yourself and not need help putting the bag in an overhead bin.
Protect Against Checkpoint Theft
This
is another issue that applies to everyone. However, thieves may see seniors as
easier victims. The important issue here is to maintain eye contact with your
items as much as possible, or have someone there that can do it for you. For
example, try to go through security at the same time your bags go through. The
longer your items sit on the other end of the baggage belt with no one watching
them, the easier it is for a thief to take something from them.
Best Available Seats For Seniors
Most seniors prefer getting seated at or near the front of the plane, which provides more legroom and a shorter walk to the restroom. This is something to mention when buying the tickets. A flight coordinator also can arrange this with the airlines by contacting them in advance. Senior air travel is an important issue as the population of the country ages and more people want to travel. It’s important to know you are not alone and that support is available to make air travel for seniors something to enjoy, not dread.
