Healthcare options are expanding and the need for specialized services is on the rise. One area that continues to gain popularity is hiring a medical escort to accompany patients on commercial flights. Whether it’s traveling with an elderly family member who is relocating or ensuring a safe journey for a patient with special medical needs, medical escorts play a crucial role in providing personalized assistance.
If you’re considering hiring a medical escort, it’s essential to ask the right questions. Here are some top questions to help ensure you make the most of the benefits of a medical escort.
Qualifications and Training
Start by understanding the medical escort’s qualifications and training. Quality non-emergency medical transport companies (NEMT) will have high standards for their nurses to become a medical escort. Ask about their medical background, certifications and any specialized training they have undergone. A reputable medical escort should have relevant healthcare experience, CPR certification and knowledge of handling different medical conditions while in the air.
Experience with Specific Medical Conditions
Inquire about the medical escort’s experience with specific medical conditions relevant to your loved one. Whether it’s mobility issues, chronic illnesses, or post-surgery care, ensuring that the escort is familiar with the particular needs of the patient is crucial for a smooth and safe experience.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Effective communication is crucial in healthcare. Observe how the medical escort conveys information, ensuring they communicate clearly and attentively listen to your needs. Their ability to provide emotional support and establish a rapport is a testament to their interpersonal skills, essential for a comforting and secure experience.
Availability and Flexibility
Understand the medical escort’s availability and flexibility. Determine whether they can accommodate the schedule of doctor’s appointments, treatments or any other medical requirements your loved one may have. Flexibility is essential, especially when dealing with unpredictable healthcare situations.
Transportation and Mobility Assistance
Ensure comprehensive support for your loved one by discussing their specific mobility needs. A key aspect to consider is the capability of the medical escort, especially an RN Flight Coordinator, to manage all aspects of your journey. This includes not just personal assistance but also coordinating with airlines and airports for seamless travel arrangements. For a complete travel solution that covers every detail, learn more about how an RN Flight Coordinator can completely manage your trip, ensuring a stress-free experience for both the patient and their family.
Emergency Protocols
Emergencies can happen, and it’s crucial to know how the medical escort manages them. Ask about their emergency protocols, including how they would respond to a medical crisis, contact emergency services and communicate with family members. Knowing that the escort is prepared for any situation adds an extra layer of security.
References and Reviews
Request references from previous clients or check for online reviews. Hearing about the experiences of others who have used the services of the medical escort can provide valuable insights into their professionalism, reliability, and overall performance. Here’s an example of what an online reputation should look like for an industry-leading medical escort service.
Costs and Payment Terms
Discuss the costs associated with hiring a medical escort and inquire about the payment terms. Understanding the financial aspect in detail will help you plan accordingly and avoid any misunderstandings.
Contract and Terms of Service
Before finalizing the arrangement, ensure that all terms of service are clearly outlined in a written contract. This should include details about responsibilities, expectations, fees and any other relevant information. Having a formal agreement in place protects both parties and ensures a transparent working relationship.
Hiring a medical escort involves careful consideration and thorough questioning. By addressing these key areas and asking the right questions, you can make an informed decision that prioritizes the well-being and safety of your loved one.
When managing health, some people require the support of professional care providers who plan and coordinate their care. Both case managers and care managers play key roles in providing such care, but in different ways.
Understanding the difference between case manager vs. care manager is necessary to make the proper choice on the type of care you need for yourself or a loved one who requires the help of a professional care provider. This includes those who need support in day-to-day life at home or customized care for coordinating plans and accompanying people when they travel.
Differences and Similarities With Case Manager vs. Care Manager
For those researching the type of care they need, the choice between case manager vs. care manager might provide a roadblock. It’s confusing to many. While the two share some similarities, they have key differences. The following provides an overview of both.
Who Is a Case Manager?
A case manager is often called a nurse case manager. The term “case management” has been around much longer than care management. It refers to healthcare professionals, typically nurses, who coordinate the overall care for patients.
In most situations, a case manager works directly for a healthcare facility, such as a clinic, hospital, or outpatient care facility. The American Case Management Association for example is a professional community of care management professionals who provide care for people in many different situations and with a wide range of services.
The Nursing Case Management Review and Resource Manual refers to case managers as those who “focus on care coordination, financial management and resource utilization to yield cost-effective outcomes that are patient-centric, safe and provided in the least restrictive setting.”
Case manager duties may include the following.
Developing a recovery time frame and monitoring its progress
Providing advice to clients and their families on critical decisions
Making the recovery process more efficient, including building relationships with other medical professionals
Providing healthcare-related financial advice to clients and their families
Encouraging a holistic approach to recovery
Monitor the patient’s emotional well-being and keeping them motivated
Who Is a Care Manager?
A care manager works individually with patients, helping to create care plans that help them through various stages of care as well as the transition between each. Organizations like the Aging Life Care Association® offer consultation, assessment, care coordination and advocacy to help individuals and their families find care managers who often work directly for the patient or with private agencies. They provide direct support to their client, taking an active role in each stage of care.
Care managers usually work with patients in their homes or during travel. They may work as a liaison between insurance and healthcare providers, managing medications and researching treatment options in addition to creating healthcare plans. Care managers, while relatively new, already have many job titles, including geriatric care managers, nurse concierge, and professional patient advocate.
Typical tasks of a care manager include the following.
Visiting patients in their home regularly to assess their health and wellness progress and discuss any changes needed to their healthcare plan, medications, etc.
Assessing a client’s medical care, including its suitability and legality
Ensuring patients know their rights
Ensuring that the health plan is meeting those rights
Offering professional advice and information to patients, their caretakers and loved ones
While they have some similar job duties, knowing the differences between case managers vs. care managers can help patients and their families make the best choices on their healthcare services.
3 Traveling Healthcare Workers on Getting the COVID-19 VaccineFebruary 25, 2021 As of February 25, more than 66 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the U.S., and just over 13 percent of the total U.S. population has received at least one...
Everyone wants to find the best seat on an airplane, but everyone has different wants and needs. Depending on your preference and situation, you can seek out a window seat for great views and the best sleeping, an aisle seat for easier access, a middle seat to get closer to the front, seats close to the exit doors for peace of mind or seats close to the bathroom (for obvious reasons).
These days, boarding a plane can become a free-for-all. Many airlines do not give out seat assignments. Finding the right seat requires having a plan. Those who don’t sometimes end up being featured on those YouTube videos about angry airplane passengers.
You don’t want to be one of those people! Consider
these suggestions before you even get to the airport and have a plan before you
board.
Choosing the Window
Seat
This is the first choice of many. That’s why
these seats fill up fast. They are great for the obvious reason – you get a
view out the plane. Another advantage is that you can use a hoodie or jacket for
a pillow and lay your head against the inside wall of the plane. That’s one of
the best in-flight sleep positions you can find. If you want a window seat
because of the view, just make sure you don’t pick one that’s over one of the
wings.
Choosing the Aisle
Seat
Aisle seats have a bad reputation because your
legs get bumped by other passengers and (even worse) the drink cart pushed by
flight attendants. You can avoid this by staying awake and paying attention. The
hassle is worth it if you need a seat that you can get into and out of quickly because
you want to stretch your legs or make frequent bathroom trips.
Choosing a Seat
Near a Bathroom
If you suspect you’ll need to make frequent
bathroom trips, then an aisle seat near the front or the back of the plane puts
you where you want to be.
Choosing the Middle
Seat
Who would choose the middle seat? You would, if
you’re a relatively small or thin person who wants to sit near the front and be
among the first people off the plane. The middle seats are often the last ones
taken. You’ll be surprised to find how easy it is to find a middle seat near
the front, even if you are among the last group to get on a plane.
Which Seat to
Choose If You’re Injured or Impaired
Those flying with injuries or physical impairment should always call ahead and make arrangements with the airline. They will usually find the best seat for you (typically at or near the front). Make sure to arrive earlier than usual. You’ll want a seat that allows you the most room possible. You also can’t sit in the exit row. And you want to be near the bathroom to lessen the distance you must move if you need to make a bathroom trip. A smart move is to call a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation company, which not only can set all of this up for you but also have a nurse fly with you.
Other Tips
A few other things to think about when choosing
a seat.
Quickly scout out the people around you if you can, looking for loud talkers or crying babies
Bring a book and start reading as soon as you’re seated if you’re not in the mood to have someone talk to you
Dress in layers, it can get cold at 30,000 feet
This is more luck than anything, but try to find a person who isn’t leaning the chair in front of you back
Those are some tips to keep in mind to make your flight that much more pleasant. Again, the key is to have a good plan and follow through. In this age of air travel, you must look out for yourself or risk getting stuck where you don’t want to sit.
Moving loved ones or choosing to relocate your parents is never an easy task. There are ways to make it go more smoothly, including good communication, making a detailed plan, choosing what type of living arrangement best suits them and hiring professional help.
Nothing will make the process perfect. While the tips below will help, it’s perhaps most important to remember why you are doing this in the first place: out of love and caring. That can help you maintain a positive attitude, which will benefit you and your loved ones more than anything else.
As much as you do not want to talk to aging parents and loved ones about the need to relocate, they want to talk about it even less. However, situations reach the point where they no longer can live on their own or in their current house (usually a large one they’ve been in for years).
An important point to keep in mind in starting these difficult conversations is to have them while your parents are still independent enough to adapt to new situations and make new friends. One mistake is waiting too long when they no longer can make these changes easily or at all.
Choosing Where To Relocate Parents
Senior relocation can mean many different things. It’s important to have conversations about what would work best for them – and possibly you. It can include moving them to a home closer to where you live. It also can mean moving them into a care facility, also possibly near where you live. In some cases, it might mean moving in with someone else (including you). The important issue is to decide what is best early on and stick with it.
This includes not only the living arrangement decision mentioned above but also every detail of the move itself. The earlier you start the plan to relocate your parents, the better. Putting it off does not help. Plan on when you will handle issues such as cleaning out the home of things that can be thrown out or given away and packing what will be taken, Take a “room by room” attitude. The sooner you start and get everyone involved, the better.
Hiring Professional Relocation Services
In many cases, it can be best to hire professional movers who can help relocate your parent’s belongings. It also is beneficial to look into charities that will come and get many of the items you wish to throw away.
This also applies to transporting your parents. Senior Relocation Services offered by Flying Angels can handle all the arrangements for traveling with elderly parents and loved ones, ensuring they have the smoothest and safest trip possible to their new destination. That includes both arranging transportation with airlines and providing an experienced nurse to travel with them during their flight.
These ideas can help with making the relocation of loved ones and parents go more smoothly. Keep them in mind as you enter this difficult period. And don’t forget the positive attitude and end goal – getting them to a place where they will have a happier, healthier life.
