Having to go to the hospital is a stressful experience. But while it’s a great relief when the doctor discharges you, it’s important to have a plan in place that ensures you have safe transportation from hospital to home.
Medical professionals put a great deal of importance on this step of the process. They create individualized plans to maximize a patient’s chances of improving their health once they return home. When planning hospital discharge transportation, there are some important factors to keep in mind.
Before you leave the hospital, medical staff develop a plan to make the transition from the hospital to home as smooth as possible. They evaluate a patient’s condition, refer the patient to needed healthcare and make arrangements for follow-up appointments.
About 18 percent of all Medicare patients end up returning to the hospital in 30 days. A good place to start in avoiding that outcome is arranging transportation home that will provide the care you need in transit. That applies whether you are getting driven home or must fly home from your current location.
Medical professionals give so much attention to a patient’s transition out of a hospital because data has shown this is a crucial time that will impact how well a patient recovers after receiving treatment.
Everyone – the patient, their caregivers and medical staff – focus on medical treatment when a person arrives at a hospital. It’s often only at the last minute that caregivers and the patient think about transportation from hospital to home. However, it’s important to give the issue thorough consideration.
Family Caregiver Alliance writes that how transportation from hospital to home is handled “is critical to the health and well-being of your loved one. Studies have found that improvements in hospital discharge planning can dramatically improve the outcome for patients as they move to the next level of care.”
This also applies if a patient is traveling from home to another medical care facility, such as a nursing home. Those who have limited physical abilities due to injury, illness or chronic condition also will need transportation to future medical appointments required by doctors.
If you’re discharged from a hospital but remain wheelchair-bound or otherwise physically incapacitated, then it’s important to have transportation arranged from the hospital through a non-emergency transportation (NEMT) company.
Transporting a patient home is a highly choreographed operation involving many parties. NEMT coordinators work with hospital Cases Managers or Social Workers, who interface with Doctors, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, on how to safely transition a patient from the hospital to home. Transitioning to home may also involve coordinating with a patient’s Care Manager who coordinates the needs of the patient once they are home. The goal is to not simply take a patient from one location to another but to make sure that the needs of the patient are met during the transport and that appropriate resources are in place when the patient gets home.
NEMT companies have experience traveling both in ground and air transit with patients who want a medical professional with them. They also frequently manage transportation from hospital to home and will know how to work with hospital medical staff to ensure they meet all of a patient’s needs.
A Center of Excellence (CoE) in healthcare is a specialized program within a hospital or medical institution that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and researching specific medical conditions. These centers earn their status through stringent evaluations that measure patient outcomes, staff expertise, and research contributions. Their primary goal is to set exceptionally high standards in medical care and innovation.
In the modern healthcare system, patients discharged from hospitals may be taken to a CoE for continued treatment. The ability to efficiently transfer patients is an important part of their care plan. Medical providers and patients increasingly turn to non-emergency medical transport companies, such as Flying Angels, for hospital discharge transportation that involves professional care and use of the latest equipment.
The Importance of Centers of Excellence in Healthcare
A Center of Excellence in Healthcare concentrates on superior patient care by pooling specialized resources and expertise. This focus allows them to offer advanced treatment options, including access to pioneering clinical trials. CoEs usually adopt a holistic approach to patient care, integrating various supportive services to enhance treatment effectiveness and patient satisfaction.
Typical areas that CoEs focus on include cancer care, heart care, neurology, and orthopedics. These centers are pivotal in driving medical advancements and education. They contribute significantly to medical research, often participating in or leading clinical trials that push the boundaries of current medical knowledge.
CoEs also promote continuous education and training of their staff, ensuring that medical professionals are updated with the latest developments and techniques in their fields. This emphasis on innovation and knowledge fosters a culture of excellence that influences healthcare practices worldwide.
Importance of Patient Transportation to CoEs
The importance of transportation from hospitals to Centers of Excellence (CoEs) is pivotal for several reasons. First and foremost, safe transportation allows patients access to specialized care that is particularly crucial for complex or rare conditions.
Efficient and safe transportation ensures there is a seamless transition from general hospitals to specialized centers. This continuity is critical for maintaining treatment schedules without delays, especially for conditions that require timely intervention.
Transporting patients to these centers expands their options for treatment, including participation in cutting-edge clinical trials. This not only potentially provides access to the newest therapeutic options, but also contributes to broader medical research efforts.
All this makes reliable and efficient transportation from hospitals to CoEs essential.
Flying Angels and Hospital Discharge Transportation
Transportation after a hospital stay is one of the many NEMT services provided by Flying Angels. As the company name implies, Flying Angels book travel arrangements and sends flight nurses to travel with patients on commercial flights.
Flying Angels provides ground transportation services. These include the use of the company’s customized reclining wheelchairs and professional car services. Our experienced nurses travel with the patients every moment of their transportation journey. Flying Angels coordinates the hospital discharge transportation for transferring patients from their home/facility to their final destination.
By using the service, patients and their families have peace of mind in working with medical professionals with the experience to safely manage hospital discharge transportation to a CoE or wherever they need to go.
Medical travel consulting services combine healthcare expertise with travel logistics. This specialized service offered by non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) companies is especially beneficial for patients who need safe, reliable, and cost-effective transfers between medical facilities or from a hospital to their home.
NEMT companies provide an affordable solution for non-emergency situations. They offer comprehensive support and care without the high costs associated with air ambulance.
Flying Angels, a leading provider of NEMT and medical travel consulting, offers an array of services for medical travel. These include arranging transportation and providing a flight nurse to accompany patients during transfers, whether on commercial flights or ground transportation.
No matter the type of transportation required, using the services of a NEMT company provides patients and hospitals with a reliable, affordable, and safe option to transport discharged patients to their destination.
Medical Travel Consulting: Comprehensive Travel and Medical Assistance
NEMT services are tailored to meet the needs of patients who cannot travel independently due to medical conditions, disabilities, or post-operative recovery. These companies manage the entire process, from travel arrangements to medical support, ensuring a smooth transition between care settings.
Patients can discuss transportation as part of their discharge plan created in collaboration with their hospital case manager social worker, and family. A NEMT company such as Flying Angels provides an experienced RN to travel with a patient upon discharge. They ensure that patients have the necessary medication and equipment to travel safely.
Flying Angels serves as a medical travel consultant, coordinating hospital discharge transportation to a patient’s home or to another care facility.
They also offer transportation support for patients who need to fly to their destination. This includes booking flights, arranging ground transportation, and coordinating with medical facilities to ensure a seamless transfer. For international travel, consultants ensure all required documentation is in order. This detailed planning is essential for maintaining continuity of care while minimizing the stress of travel for patients and their families.
One of the key challenges in medical transport is managing the logistics of traveling with medical equipment while addressing patient needs throughout the journey. Medical travel consulting companies specialize in managing the requirements for medical apparatus such as oxygen tanks, ventilators, and other essential equipment. This applies to both ground and air transport.
They also work closely with airlines and airports to secure necessary clearances and accommodations for patients, including priority boarding and specialized seating arrangements.
For shorter trips, medical travel consultants arrange ground transportation equipped with medical modifications. Vehicles designed for patient transfers are equipped to accommodate stretchers or wheelchairs, ensuring the journey is safe and comfortable.
Cost-Effective Patient Transfers
A key benefit of NEMT services for patient transfers is their cost-effectiveness. Medical travel consulting companies offer an affordable option for patients who require medical oversight but not emergency care.
By using commercial flights and customized ground transportation, medical travel consulting services significantly reduce costs while maintaining high standards of medical care. This makes medical transport more accessible to a wider range of patients, particularly those managing chronic conditions or recovering from surgery who may need regular follow-up care at various facilities.
For patients needing non-emergency medical transport, medical travel consulting offers an essential service that combines affordability with quality care. These services help eliminate transportation barriers to medical treatments, ensuring that patients can travel safely between home, healthcare providers, or different medical facilities. Companies like Flying Angels prioritize both patient health and safety while offering a stress-free travel experience for patients and their families. By choosing medical travel consulting, patients benefit from a reliable, professional, and cost-effective solution that manages the complexities of travel, ensuring continuity of care and satisfaction throughout the process.
Fragility in medical transport poses significant challenges that demand specialized care and meticulous planning. Fragile patients — who may include the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, or individuals with severe disabilities — require a higher level of attention to ensure their safety and comfort during non-emergency medical transport (NEMT).
It’s a service Flying Angels often provides as part of its medical flight services or hospital discharge transportation. Flying Angels specializes in booking trips and providing flight nurses for patients traveling by commercial airlines. They also offer ground transportation.
Flying Angels Managing Director Bob Bachelor said the NEMT services they provide can handle people in all kinds of fragile states, “Whether it’s the grandma who got some dementia going from one nursing home in Florida to a nursing home in Philadelphia who just needs a little bit of help all the way, up to patients on ventilators on international flights to India or China.”
Fragility in Medical Transport: Some of the Precautions NEMT Companies Take
Transporting fragile patients with NEMT services requires special considerations and precautions to ensure their well-being. Some key precautions include the following.
Comprehensive patient assessment. Before transporting a fragile patient, a thorough assessment of their medical condition, mobility limitations, and specific needs is essential. This assessment should include medical history, mobility needs, and determining whether the patient requires a wheelchair, stretcher, or assistance with walking. Special equipment is often needed. For example, Flying Angels has specially designed wheelchairs to safely move patients.
Customized transport vehicles. Quality NEMT services use vehicles equipped to manage the specific needs of fragile patients. Key features might include accessibility ramps, lifts, and securement systems for wheelchairs and stretchers.
Trained personnel. The staff involved in transporting fragile patients should have specialized training in patient handling, medical monitoring, and basic life support skills. Flying Angels always has experienced flight nurses traveling with patients. They have emergency room experience and training for delivering healthcare services at high altitudes.
Precautionary measures. Several precautionary measures are critical to the safe transport of fragile patients. They include pre-trip planning, such as having detailed flight schedules and contacting airlines and airports ahead of time to ensure a patient has any special accommodations they need (such as boarding early on the plane).
Coordination with healthcare providers. Effective coordination with healthcare providers is vital for the safe transport of fragile patients. This includes having clear instructions from the patient’s healthcare team regarding their care needs during transport and ensuring a smooth transition of care when the patient reaches their destination.
Patients Considered Fragile in Medical Transport
During medical transport, several types of patients are typically considered fragile due to their medical conditions, physical limitations, or specific healthcare needs. These patients require extra care and precautions to ensure their safety and comfort.
Elderly Patients
Older adults often have multiple chronic conditions, reduced mobility, and a higher risk of complications during transport. Conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease require careful handling and monitoring.
Patients with Chronic Illnesses
Patients with heart conditions may need continuous monitoring and specialized equipment. For example, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or severe asthma may require oxygen therapy during transport.
Patients with Severe Disabilities
Those with limited mobility or paralysis need specialized equipment such as wheelchairs, lifts, or stretchers. Patients with conditions like multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy also have complex needs.
Post-Surgical Patients
Individuals recovering from major surgeries require careful handling to avoid complications like bleeding or infections. Post-surgical patients often need pain management during transport, necessitating skilled medical professionals.
Pediatric Patients
Pediatric patients, especially those with congenital conditions or severe illnesses, require specialized care and equipment. Children with developmental disabilities or complex medical conditions need tailored pediatric transport solutions.
Patients with Mental Health Conditions
Those with significant mental health issues may need emotional support and reassurance during transport. Patients with severe psychiatric conditions may require secure and safe transport arrangements.
Patients with Severe Injuries
Those with severe injuries from accidents or other trauma need immobilization and careful handling to prevent further injury. Patients with extensive burns require a controlled environment to manage pain and prevent infection. Transporting fragile patients requires a detailed understanding of their specific needs, proper planning, and specialized equipment. Ensuring that medical transport personnel are adequately trained and equipped to manage these diverse needs is crucial for the safety and well-being of fragile patients.
Flying Angels provides its clients with flight nurses and flight coordinators who rank among the best in the non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) industry. They understand how to provide clients with the safety, security and peace of mind of having expert medical care and travel support.
The NEMT services provided by Flying Angels involve flight coordinators who make all the arrangements for the journey and a flight nurse who accompanies clients on the flight. They plan ahead with commercial airlines and airports, making any arrangements needed to clear obstacles patients might encounter during their trip.
People in a wide variety of situations use NEMT services. They include the following.
People who recently suffered an injury and want assistance while flying
Those who have had a medical procedure and require medical support during travel
Those with a chronic condition or illness that makes traveling alone difficult
Families who want a nurse to travel with older family members when they relocate to a new home
A flight nurse provides care during the journey and offers clients and their families the security of having a trained nurse as a flight companion.
Examples of Flying Angels in Action
The following offers a synopsis of several success stories involving Flying Angels providing NEMT services. You can read more details about each case on this page of case examples.
Caitlin and Emma
Caitlin had been assisting her mother, Emma, in relocating from her condo in a Florida retirement community to an assisted living facility near Ithaca, New York. The move brought Emma, 82, closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Emma manages well on her own, although with diabetes and some mild dementia she now can no longer live alone.
While Caitlin managed all the logistical aspects of the move, she recognized the need for assistance during the flight with Emma. That’s when she reached out to Flying Angels. The flight coordinator took charge of all the arrangements, from booking the flights to finalizing the plans. A flight nurse accompanied Caitlin and Emma on their trip on a commercial airline.
The flight nurse meticulously tracked Emma’s insulin supply, which she required every four hours, and kept a close watch on her blood sugar levels. Emma eventually slept during the flight, which landed only a few minutes behind schedule. At the airport, Caitlin’s husband and Emma’s twin grandchildren greeted them. Caitlin took comfort that experts at Flying Angels handled the flight, giving her one less thing to worry about.
Rose
After a tragic car accident, Rose lost the ability to move, becoming a quadriplegic before she ever learned to drive. However, with the support of Flying Angels, Rose can fly. She recently flew from a hospital in Kansas to a rehabilitation hospital in Colorado. Her caseworker called in Flying Angels to take care of the trip, taking the burden off of Rose’s parents.
Kim, the flight nurse, traveled with Rose, starting with picking her up in a wheelchair van, transporting her to the airport, and working with airline staff to get Rose comfortably on the plane. Kim monitored Rose’s vital signs throughout the journey and moved her every quarter of an hour. She also fed Rose her meals and ensured she drank enough fluids. She arrived safely, and her parents hope the rehabilitation therapy will improve her life.
Carl
Carl required Flying Angels’ services after he suffered a heart attack while biking through the Pyrenees in Spain with a group of college friends. His friends got him to a cafe where they could call an ambulance. Eventually, his doctor back in the United States recommended a clinic in Cleveland for him to go to for rehabilitation. The clinic recommended he get transported by Flying Angels.
As with every case, the flight coordinator took over, managing all the arrangements to get Carl back to the U.S. from Spain. Flight coordinators are also experienced in handling last-minute complications. In the case of Carl, it required getting a new connecting flight after the first flight was diverted due to lightning. Flying Angels got Carl to Cleveland a little late, but well in time to start the road toward recovery.
These success stories, just three of thousands, provide examples of how Flying Angels helps its clients every day. They provide world-class NEMT services that provide people with the medical care and travel support they need to ensure a worry-free medical transport experience.
