Medical Tourism - The Next Big Thing

Medical tourism in very simple terms implies the movement of people from one country to another in search of better medical care.

The trips are well planned and a lot of research goes into the whole exercise. They are a combination of surgical care, combined with touring, a small vacation and sightseeing too. It is a silent but powerful revolution that has been sweeping the medical corridors for over a decade now. The countries that have directly benefited from it are India, Greece, Mexico, Israel, Hungary to name a few. The global medical tourism market is anticipated to be around US$60-billion. Lets read some more about this global phenomenon.

1. Sound Marketing Skill

In the last few years after the big bang settled down, nations that lost out on the cake have realized that marketing is the key to success. Hospitals and institutions that have expected patients to reach them and not the other way round are making changes in their approaches. Countries that are marketing themselves as safe medical havens are cashing in on the business and making heavy profits.  The reason that plastic surgeons, dentist and cosmetic surgeons do so well, is much clearer now.

2. Similar Cultures

Over the last decade or so, the ground root problems have become very clear. People travelling to strange countries faced language barriers, dealt with cultural differences and came back utterly dissatisfied. The present day customers are travelling to countries where they know the culture, will get familiar food and probably similar religious backgrounds too. They are now expecting the nurse to speak their language and the doctors to treat them with respect.

3. Global Awareness

The present day customer is comparing the rates of  travel medical assistance companies, doing their homework and only then deciding to move out of the country. The way this industry is heading, it only stands to benefit all associated with it.

Read More

Top 10 Medical Escort Companies In USA

Long distance medical transportation companies have seen a boom in their industry over the last one decade.

Today, we take a look at the list of top ten medical escort companies in the USA. These companies have been judged on the basis of their service quality, presence across different US cities and towns, and customer testimonials. Here’s the list of top 10 medical escort companies (in no particular order) in the USA:

1. TheMedEvent911

It based out of Arizona, and is known to provide comfortable and well equipped safe transport to all their clients. They have a strong base with the local medical service providers.

2. Mercy Jets

It is based out of Phoenix and can be called as one of the leaders in medical transportation services worldwide. They have a sound fleet of world class jets, and a state of the art set up with a highly trained team.

3. Sky Nurses

Florida is home to Sky nurses, a well known name in medical escort services. They specialize in non emergency medical transport services. The company has one of the most experienced teams on board.

4. Sentinel Med

It is a well known long distance medical transportation services company. The directors of the company have extensive experience in the aviation industry and stick to a hands on approach to all cases.

5. AirMD

It’s a well known name in air ambulance services.  Patient safety and outstanding medical care is their strongest forte.

6. Global MD

GlobalMD has extensive experience in transporting elderly clients from one place to another. They have been serving families, hospitals and corporate for over two decades.

7. Aero National Inc

Aero National is based out of Washington; it a trusted name in critical care, bariatric care and escort services. They are well versed in providing international and domestic medical services.

8. Flying Nurses International

Based out of Florida, they are one of the most recognized faces in medical escort services and air ambulances in the region. Since, 1993 they have built a sound reputation for themselves.

9. U.S Air Ambulance

Since their onset in 1990, they have completed 97,000 medical transports and claim to have a 100% safety record. They actually transport almost 800 patients on a daily basis.

10. American Air Ambulance

They offer some of the most affordable travel options to patients worldwide.  Their excellent customer services have earned them a solid reputation.

Read More

What Do Air Ambulance And Medical Escort Services Do?

An efficient Air Ambulance and Medical Escort Services coordinate the medical services around the clock. This coordination happens within the domestic country and globally too.

Medical escort services are available around the clock and they offer bed to bed services to the patients. They are responsible for organizing the pick-up, drop and all other coordination with the ground staff and the air ambulance Once they take over, the family of the patient and the individual who are ill can stop worrying about small complications and concentrate on getting well.

Let’s read a little more about Air ambulances and medical escorts in detail –

1. Air Ambulance Services

An air ambulance is fully equipped to take care of all kinds of medical emergencies. Most reputed medical transportation management companies, offer their customers a choice between private jets and airplanes with twin propellers.

• They have inbuilt ICU units.
• They also have life support equipment like cardiac monitors, defibrillators, medication and ventilators on board.
• They have a paramedic team on board that is trained to handle all situations.

2. Medical Escort Services

Medical escorts are perfect for patients who cannot hire an air ambulance and are fit enough to sit through a commercial flight. Medical escorts are full trained to handle any crisis situation. They offer the following services –

• Complete coordination between the medical facility and the insurance company in order to prepare the paper work.
• Take complete handover from the accepting and the handing out facility.
• Arrange logistics support between the ground arrangements, airline and the patient.
• Offer translation services in any language.
• Keep the family updated by effective communication.

Read More

What You Should Know About the Provision of Medical Escort Services

Medical Escorts is a facility that ensures that the caregivers and the family can give undivided attention to the sick family member.

Medical Escorts make travelling with a sick family member very smooth and comfortable. They are specialized companies that focus on providing value travel services to the sick and also to hospitals that are looking to get their patients transported comfortably.

Have a look at a list that tells you all about a Medical Escort Services.’

1. Patients that are well enough to sit in the seat of an aeroplane are advised to hire the services of a medical escort.

2. It is the responsibility of the service provider to get all the necessary clearances and approval from the ground staff and the airline.

3. Details like oxygen requirement during in-flight, procurement of the tickets and all details of the ground transportation to the airport will be handled by the escort service.

4. The cost of hiring a medical escort is very less compared to the services if an air ambulance.

5. The patient is monitored every second and his safety and comfort are given top most priority.

6. Escort Service providers work in collaboration with hospitals who need to transport their patients from one facility to another. They are also hired for patients who are returning home after a treatment.

7. Most good service providers will essentially provide the following-

• International standard stretcher services
• Transfers between multinational medical teams
• Co-ordination with airlines staff
•  Complete bed to bed services

Read More

Go For a Medical Air Escort for Safer Travel

Illnesses are stressful times for any family. The services of a medical escort can reduce the pressure and make things more streamlined for the patient and his immediate caregivers.

Travelling with an unwell family member can be very demanding and risky. He or she might require urgent medical attention while in flight or his condition might deteriorate suddenly. A Medical Air Escort is trained especially to handle any crisis and take a call in case of a crisis.

Let’s take a look at the reasons a Medical Air Escort id highly recommended during Air travel.

1. He or she is specially appointed to take care of all the specific needs of the patient.

2. They ensure that the patient is transported safe and comfortably from one place to another.

3. The patient is provided with facilities of a first class travel on a commercial liner.

4. All the details of ground travel are also taken care of to ensure that the travel experience is smooth and comfortable.

5. Simple details that can cause undue stress and discomfort like organizing a wheel chair, check in and luggage are all taken care of by the escort.

6. The escorts carry emergency medicine kits to handle any untoward situation. They always travel with the essential CPR gadgets and are fully aware of the medical history of the patient.

7. They are available for domestic and international travel and are self sufficient to take a call based on algorithms and medical protocols in the absence of a physician. 

Read More

What Are The Different Options Medical Transportation Patients Can Avail?

Sometimes, fraction of a minute can conclude the difference between life and death. Consequently, it becomes important to choose the quickest possible mode of medical assistance transportation available to be able to save a patient’s life. Here’s telling you about the different options available.

The need of medical transportation in most cases is unanticipated, but depending upon the extent of urgency, there are different medical transportation options that can be considered.

Local Ambulance Services

This is certainly the most commonly preferred medical transport option that can be either opted from private or government operators. Often engaged in non-emergency medical situations, local ambulance services are better for moving patients to local hospitals or a similar heath care institute. At times, the service can be used for shifting within medical institutes or even when discharging from a hospital. 

Air Medical Transportation

This mode of travel medical assistance is relatively new, but has proven out as the most steadfast options to avert medical emergencies. It is the fastest medium to catch up with medical urgencies. The use of airplanes and helicopters both is made to transport patients stuck in medical emergencies to safer and better health care centers. The service is also referred to as Air Ambulance services because it generally makes provisions for immediate first aid, and caters to the medical requirements of the travelling patients. 

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

At times when the patient doesn’t require immediate medical assistance, services like non-emergency medical transportation prove best.  Such options are also preferred when patients need to be shifted from one medical center to another, in the same place or different. There are both private and public non-emergency medical ambulances, however, the former prove more expensive than the later.

Read More

Why is Commercial Medical Transport better than Air Ambulance?

When it’s about getting the best medical transportation services, commercial medical transportation is undeniably a better option than opting for an air ambulance. Find out how in what follows next:  

There’s no denying that air ambulance is the fastest mode of medical assistance transportation. However, in light of one advantage offered by air ambulance, you cannot overlook aspects where it lags much behind.

There are plenty of reasons why we say that commercial medical transportation can be better than air ambulance, and these are:

Greater Medical Comfort and Superior Facilities

Certainly, the biggest drawback of an air ambulance is limited space and consequently lesser availability of space for medical equipment. The space in an air ambulance is only appropriate for a stretcher, few medical essentials and a medical attendant. So, while this option is useful for needs emergency travel assistance, during non-emergencies, commercial medical transport is better.  

They can accommodate a wider variety of medical equipment, and also allow a patient to carry his luggage and bring along a family member or two in addition to the attendant.

Individual Medical Escort to Travel

Another crucial factor that weighs the importance of commercial medical transportation is that a patient gets to travel with his own personalized team of medial attendants. In general, an air ambulance service will allow only its own medical attendants to accompany you, whereas a commercial medical transport service provider allows patients to pre-plan their trip and bring along doctors, nurses and attendants of your choice.

Such services prove to be quite accommodating, especially when travelling over long distances for medical diagnoses. With commercial medial transport, a patient gets better assistance for obtaining tickets and clearances, which are arranged by the commercial medical transport service provider companies. 

Read More

Choosing the Right Air Ambulance Service

Though most people are familiar with air ambulances, choosing the right one during emergencies can be highly confusing. Read on to know what you should look at in a provider!

When a medical emergency occurs, especially when traveling, air ambulance is always the first preference. But in the hurry of reaching the hospital, we may not know how to choose the right ambulance services

So, when in such a situation and in need for air transportation, keep the following in mind:

Updated Service License

A good air ambulance service provider will always have a license issued by the federal aviation administration. You should also check for advanced life support and other essential certifications.

On-Board Medical Consultants

Check if the provider has trained medical experts with each flight. Since these consultants are always in contact with the patient’s physician, they are of great help.

A Team of Medical Professionals

It is highly important to have a team of expert health professionals including doctors, nurses and technicians. This ascertains that the patient will get quality healthcare services.

Read More

Non Emergency Medical Transportation: What you Should Know

Non Emergency medical transportation is a kind of medical transportation which is carried out when the patient needs some extra medical care, but is not under any form of emergency. Here are the things you should know about it.

For patients with diverse travelling needs, opting for non-emergency medical transportation services can prove to be very convenient for you’ll travel is specially designed vehicles that offer great comfort, you’ll remain under the supervision of commercial medical attendants and enjoy different range of facilities that won’t let travel deteriorate your health.

Here’s a list of things a medical transportation company is most likely to offer to you: 

Ambulances, Helicopters and Other Medical Transportation Vehicles

These are used to transfer patients from one hospital or nursing home to another. There is no field treatment involved here – it is done to enhance the quality or requirement of the patient.

Special Non emergency Service Companies

Non Emergency services are sometimes made mandatory by hospitals as a part of their special services. In case you do not find such hospitals there are special private medical transportation services. They are easily available and cost effective. These services happen at normal working hours unlike the odd hours in emergency cases which reduces the cost.

Only A Medically Stable Patient Is Capable Of Getting Such Services

For instance a person had been shifted to a hospital from a nursing home where he/she was initially admitted – the hospital arranges this service so that the patient can be taken back and looked after for special medical care by the doctors and nurses.

Transportation from one hospital to another

Some hospitals make use of non emergency transport services to transfer surgical patients to the surgeon of their choice. Some patients make use of these special services which are easily available to them. Hospitals might also transfer patients from emergency facilities to general medical facilities to make room for patients who need emergency beds.

Provision for Wheelchairs

The special features that will be provided by this facility are – the patient will be transported in a gurney or a wheelchair and is accompanied by a nurse or a paramedic. All medical equipments are present in the vehicle to monitor the patient and make sure that he is under utmost care during the journey. Other accommodations include bags, intravenous fluids and colostomy bags.

Less Costlier Than Emergency Transportation

The biggest advantage is down there in the pocket – it is much less costlier than emergency transportation. Emergency transport requires the driver to hurry and have adequate medical equipment to keep the patient alive, but this is a much safer trip.

Read More

Private Medical Transportation Industry: Some Key Points

The private medical transportation industry is a for-profit service which does not operate under the municipality or government organizations. Sometimes these industries work for certain hospitals that need to shift patients under non emergency services. In this post, we discuss some important pointers.

The market for private medical transport service is pretty big with around 7,000 players worldwide. Emergency and non-emergency private medical transportation services usually involve provision of extra care as well as availability of life support systems, paramedics and nurses. Such companies offer a basic medical care during the time of transport.

Para-transit services are a kind of private medical transport services offered in many countries that cater to non-emergency cases – usually for people with disability. They have the required equipment such as wheelchairs and on-ground transport equipment needed to comfortably transport a patient from one location to the other.

The private medical transport companies usually have specialized agents since the space provided for by the very few municipality ambulances make them grow. They have the idea of having to travel quite a bit to attain that level of confidence among users.

Used ambulances are not preferred because most people expect the best services; they want the value for money.

Drivers and paramedics are given special training since driving an ambulance is not like driving any other car. It needs special ability to understand the preferred speed, traffic signals and the siren. Paramedics too have to be well versed with the medical support system.

The medical equipment is insured on a blanket basis. These services usually provide insurance coverage for physical damage and inland marine. You have to take note of these before signing the insurance papers, if there’re any!

The risk management programs associated with these services take special care of the ambulance and their drivers. 

Read More

Choosing a Private Medical Transportation Service

Choosing a non-emergency medical transportation service depends much on the cost as it depends on the quality of service offered. In cases of emergency, we generally end to paying those extra bucks. Some key points should be kept in mind while choosing a service of your choice.

It is unlikely that everyone chooses their emergency or non-emergency private medical transport service as per their wishes. It almost always happens in a hurry when a medical crisis arises and the ambulances or air ambulances charge you way more than they ideally should. Prior information on the subject can help you make an informed decision when selecting a credible medical transportation company.

Most medical insurance companies do not cover the costs of the medical transport services and especially the non-medical ones. These companies allow for insurance only in the event of an emergency that needs to be immediately looked after.

Private medical transportation services might end up getting a bit expensive but you must get that noted down with your medical insurance company. Before signing, confirm which services are really covered.

Also, make sure to avoid the ones that appear to be offering private medical transportation services at throwaway prices. You have to look into the services provided by them during the journey to the hospital or nursing home.

Before choosing a medical transportation service, see to it that the vehicle is equipped with at least two professionals – a paramedic and a nurse. The vehicle must have the necessary equipment (dialysis and respiratory equipment, for example) for a patient in need of immediate services during the journey.

Do not hesitate to ask some tough questions about the quality of service, insurance cover and other such parameters. 

Read More

How to Select the Best Travel Medical Assistance Company

There are many travel medical assistance companies today that offer emergency services. But how do you select the one that best meets your need? Let’s find out!

Professional care and reliable transportation are very important in times of medical emergencies.

Seasoned medical assistance transportation will provide you the following facilities:

Monitoring Treatment

A well qualified team should be always be present to continuously monitor the patients conditions, while transferring the patient from one location to another.

Transfer of Insurance Information to Medical Providers

Reliable medical assistance transportation companies assist their patients with hospital admissions such as passing on insurance benefit information, to help prevent denials and delays of medical care.

Replacement of Corrective Lenses and Medical Devices

International medical assistance companies should act responsibly and coordinate the replacement of medical devices in case they are lost or tempered while transferring the patient from one location to another. 

Emergency Travel Arrangements

The travel medical assistance company should be well prepared with reservations for airlines and other travel services in to meet emergency requirements in case of injury or illness. 

Read More

Air Ambulance Medical Dispatch Guidelines

Medical dispatch is one of the biggest responsibilities while efforts are on for saving a life during an emergency situation.

There are always certain protocols and communication rules, commonly referred to as ‘Medical Dispatch,’ that are used while saving a patient and providing care. These medical efforts need to be carried out flawlessly before, during and after a patient’s arrival at the hospital.  Since you should be aware of all this, here is an account to guidelines to be followed during private air ambulance medical dispatch:

Pre-flight Phase

The dispatcher must start planning before the air ambulance reaches the site. In addition to ensuring that the patient is out of danger, the dispatcher needs to give over-the-phone instructions to control the situation.

The task includes:

• Evacuation plans
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Common safety precautions

In-flight Phase

The dispatcher is responsible for planning what will happen during the transport. It involves:

• Requesting asking air traffic control to provide flight services
• Communicating with the receiving health center
• Tell medical support staff about patient’s condition

Post-flight Phase

The last thing the dispatcher plans is what must happen after the patient reaches the hospital, including:

• Asking permission for using sirens and emergency lights
• Briefing doctors, nurses and paramedics about the patient’s status

Read More

Important Tips for Air Ambulance Travelers

Air ambulance travelers accompanying patients often have a difficult time during the transport. Read on to learn about some important tips that will come handy when it’s your turn!

When you get to accompany a patient in an air ambulance, you may need to take care of your health as the environment inside can be highly stressful; you can care for your patient only when you are feeling fine yourself!

Here are some important tips and steps that will be helpful during the transport:

Step 1: Support your immune system by taking vitamin C supplements. If you are not habitual to these tablets, try using them a couple of days before the flight. Once your body is familiar with supplements, it will be able to resist any germs in there.

Step 2: Don’t sit with your legs crossed, for it may slow down blood circulation on a lengthy flight.

Step 3: Make sure your air ambulance provider keeps drinks and snacks on board. If not, carry  your own stock and keep your body fully hydrated.

Step 4: Consider keeping a decongestant with you in order to prevent sinus problems.

Step 5: Take some chewing gums for the flight to prevent pressure-related problems, especially  during landing and taking off. 

Read More