For many individuals undergoing dialysis, the prospect of air travel can seem daunting. Dialysis, a life-sustaining treatment for those with severe kidney failure, requires regular sessions that can seemingly complicate the logistics of traveling. However, with careful planning and the right support, dialysis patients can travel by air, opening a world of possibilities.
Non-Emergency Medical Transport (NEMT) services play a pivotal role in making this a reality. NEMT companies specialize in assisting individuals with medical needs during travel, including those requiring dialysis. These services encompass a range of support and services that ensure the safety and well-being of dialysis patients while they travel by air.
Understanding the Needs of Dialysis Patients
Dialysis patients require treatment several times a week, which involves either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis is typically performed in a clinic and uses a machine to filter toxins and fluids from the blood, a process that takes several hours. Peritoneal dialysis, on the other hand, is often done at home and involves a cleansing fluid being infused into and drained from the abdomen via a catheter, which filters the blood inside the body.
The key concern for dialysis patients looking to travel is scheduling treatments around their travel itinerary. For hemodialysis patients, this might mean arranging sessions at a dialysis center near their destination. Peritoneal dialysis patients have more flexibility, as they can perform their treatment independently, provided they have the necessary supplies and a clean environment.
Planning for Air Travel
When considering air travel, dialysis patients need to plan meticulously. This includes consulting with healthcare providers to ensure travel is safe and discussing shifting treatment schedules. It is crucial to have a medical plan in place that includes identifying dialysis centers at the destination and carrying sufficient medical records and supplies.
For those on peritoneal dialysis, traveling requires carrying enough dialysis supplies for the duration of the trip, plus some extra in case of delays. Airlines typically allow passengers with medical conditions to bring additional baggage to accommodate medical supplies at no extra cost, but this should be confirmed in advance.
How NEMT Services Facilitate Safe Dialysis Patient Air Travel
This is where NEMT services become invaluable. NEMT companies such as Flying Angels specialize in assisting individuals with medical needs during travel, including those who require dialysis. NEMT services include the following.
Medical coordination: NEMT providers coordinate with medical facilities both at the origin and destination to ensure continuity of care. This includes arranging treatment sessions at dialysis centers near the travel destination or ensuring that peritoneal dialysis patients have adequate space and set up at their accommodation to perform self-dialysis.
Travel logistics: In the case of Flying Angels, RN Flight Coordinators handle all aspects of the travel arrangements, from booking flights to organizing ground transportation. They ensure that all travel plans accommodate the medical schedule of the patient.
Medical equipment and supplies: NEMT companies also assist in the transport of necessary medical equipment and supplies. For dialysis patients, this could mean arranging the transport of personal dialysis equipment or ensuring an adequate supply of dialysis consumables.
In-flight care: For patients who require assistance during the flight, NEMT provides a flight nurse to accompany the patient. These professionals are equipped to address any medical issues that may arise during the journey, providing peace of mind for the patient and their family.
With the advent of specialized NEMT services, dialysis patients have more freedom to travel by air than ever before. While the process requires significant planning and coordination, the support provided by NEMT companies such as Flying Angels ensures that dialysis patients can manage their treatment effectively while enjoying the benefits of air travel.
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.
Air travel is difficult for many people, but it especially can take a toll on seniors who suffer from chronic health conditions. One of the best ways to overcome those challenges is to maximize air travel assistance for seniors by providing them support throughout their journey.
For an increasing number of patients, that support comes from flight nurses who work in the field of non-emergency medical transport (NEMT). These experienced RNs specialize in medical flight services for those flying on a commercial airline. They work with people who have difficulty traveling for any number of reasons, including injuries suffered in an accident or chronic medical conditions that hinder mobility.
For seniors, traveling with a flight nurse can provide peace of mind and also practical support in dealing with the many issues that can arise during a flight.
Common Issues Faced By Seniors During a Flight
It’s important to maximize air travel assistance for seniors because of the many different issues they can face during a flight. Some of the common issues include the following.
Difficulty breathing. Seniors with respiratory conditions may experience difficulty breathing due to the decreased oxygen levels and dry cabin air on an airplane flying at high altitudes.
Dehydration. Low humidity in the airplane cabin can lead to dehydration.
Fatigue. Long flights and changes in time zones can cause fatigue for anyone, but it might become especially pronounced in seniors who may already have low energy levels due to their medical condition.
Mobility. One of the biggest issues for many seniors is decreased mobility that can lead to difficulties in getting through the airport, going through security and finding comfortable seating on the airplane.
Medication management: During a hectic day of air travel, it’s easier for seniors to forget to take certain medications when needed.
Emotional stress: Seniors may experience more stress and even anxiety when traveling, especially if they have concerns about a medical issue or travel alone.
How Flight Nurses Support Seniors With Chronic Conditions
Flight nurses and NEMT companies support seniors every step of the way during their air travel. It starts with RN flight coordinators who plan every aspect of a trip, booking all the arrangements. They focus on finding non-stop flights and creating schedules that best suit seniors, including those with chronic health conditions.
The flight nurse will call ahead, making any special arrangements needed, such as wheelchair assistance or early boarding to get the best possible seat on the plane. They may also confer with the client’s primary care physician, getting any information that might prove important during the flight.
Flight nurses also manage all medications and medical equipment a senior requires. These can range from mobility aids to oxygen tanks.
During the commercial flight, the nurse stays with the client throughout the journey. With training in providing medical care at high altitudes, flight nurses are ready to respond to medical emergencies. They also monitor vital signs and ensure that seniors take their medication as required.
Just as importantly, a flight nurse offers peace of mind and emotional support for seniors, alleviating stress and anxiety by providing reassurance that the seniors have quality care during their journey.
Maximizing air travel assistance for seniors with chronic health conditions involves planning ahead, communicating with the airline and flight crews, managing medical supplies and offering experience on in-flight healthcare. It provides seniors a safer, smoother and more comfortable travel experience.
Having Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) does not prevent a person from traveling. It’s possible to fly with ALS across the country or to other parts of the world as long as you follow travel tips that keep you safe and comfortable.
Hiring a flight nurse with expertise in commercial airline medical escort services can also provide benefits for those with ALS. Whether or not they choose to fly with a nurse, the key to safe travel for those with ALS is to take the time to plan ahead and anticipate any challenges before they happen.
Tips For Travel Preparation For Those With ALS
Those with disabilities, including ALS, travel more today than ever before. The ALS Association writes that “the travel industry is paying greater attention to their special needs by providing more services and accommodations.” The same is true for most airports and airlines, who focus more than ever on making travel comfortable for those who fly with ALS or need assistance.
The association also offers some tips for ALS travelers. It starts with advice that is important for anyone traveling with a disability or injury: check with your primary care physician first to ensure it’s safe for you to travel. Other recommendations before starting your journey include the following.
Carry a letter from your healthcare provider that describes your condition, medications, potential complications, and other medical information.
Carry a living will
Take enough prescription medication to last the entire trip, and pack it in your carryon bag.
Ensure you have adequate health insurance coverage, including coverage for medical evacuation. If leaving the country, ensure coverage includes travel overseas.
Carry emergency contact information. Share your itinerary, airline tickets, credit cards, and passport details with a trusted family member or friend who is not traveling with you.
The association also recommends that those with ALS consider answers to important questions, such as whether you will need an assigned seat in a specific location, assistance you will need during boarding and deplaning, and time you need to make a connection if you plan to transfer planes.
Tips For Flying With ALS
It’s important to contact the airport and airline ahead of time for any special requests, such as preferred seating on the plane or help getting into and out of a wheelchair. If you use any type of medical equipment or device, you also must get approval by giving the airline notice at least 48 hours before your trip.
While transportation officers may not require you to take off your shoes, belt or light jacket when going through security, you still will be subject to screening and a possible pat down. Also, check your wheelchair or scooter at the boarding gate and request that it be brought to the boarding gate at your destination airport.
Have batteries to run any equipment or devices while on the plane, as only some planes have electrical outlets to plug in devices.
You also should plan ahead for how you will deal with going to the restroom if needed while on the plane. Flight attendants can use a special onboard wheelchair to move you, but they cannot provide lift assistance. The ALS Association advises that men consider using a condom catheter or adult diaper and women consider using an external female catheter or adult diapers.
Travel With a Flight Nurse
A flight nurse who works with a non-emergency medical transport company can provide assistance that makes flying with ALS that much easier. Those with ALS can work with a RN Flight Coordinator who makes all the travel arrangements in advance, building the most convenient travel itinerary possible.
They also will contact airports and airlines ahead of time, making any special arrangements required, as well as set up transportation to and from the airport.
During the journey, flight nurses travel with you, keeping track of medical equipment, medications and helping with issues such as going to the bathroom and ensuring wheelchairs and scooters are safely stored and available when you arrive at your destination.
It’s possible to fly with ALS with the right amount of planning and attention to detail. For those who feel they will require assistance, traveling with a flight nurse can make the experience safer and more comfortable.
