Medical escort
Medical escort is a non-emergency medical service provided by air ambulance, medical escort companies and at times self-employed Medical escort freelancers, which typically work for a Medical Company.
Cost effectiveness comes from using Commercial aircraft first and business class chairs, but on some occasions an airline stretcher will be used if that patient is unable to sit up for landing and take off. Several rows of seating in the back of the plane allow for a medical stretcher to do a non-emergency medical transport. Medical escort crews are supplied with equipment that enables them to provide medical treatment to a nonemergency patient. Common equipment for Medical escort services includes basic medication, monitoring unit, and CPR equipment
Some programs provide the full spectrum of medical professionals, including certified paramedics, critical care nurses, Respiratory Therapists and physicians. Receiving physicians consult with the referring physician to jointly determine the most appropriate level of care and transportation.
Standards
Flight crews
The medical crew of an air medical escort varies depending on country, area, service provider and by type of air medical Services.Commercial airliners are most likely to be used to transport patients, and the crew may consist of Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, flight nurses, a Respiratory Therapist, or in some cases, a physician. Those services with a primary focus on non Emergency care transport are more likely to be staffed by paramedic and or a nurses. In these cases, the crew generally consists of a specially-trained advance care paramedic or nurse.
Medical control
The nature of the air operation will frequently determine the type of medical control required. In most cases, the available skill set of a typical paramedic. As a result, those operating in this environment will often be permitted to exercise more latitude in medical decision-making. Most systems operate almost entirely off-line, using protocols for almost all procedures and only resorting to on-line medical control when protocols have been exhausted. Some Medical escort operations have full-time, on-site medical directors with pertinent backgrounds
Equipment and interiors
All commercial aircraft can be used for air medical escort, aircraft are equipped with basic life support equipment and advanced life support Drugs in addition to all equipment and medications take by team. Many escort teams can carry portable oxygen concentrators for patients that require it. Certain airlines can also accommodate commercial stretcher service where several congruent seats in economy are removed and a commercial stretcher is placed.
Challenges
The challenge in most air medical escort operations, are the fellow passengers,the amounts of working space, both of which create significant issues for the provision of ongoing care.While in flight the entire patient will be physically accessible. Although some companies have adapted many techniques and procedures to minimize the effect on other passengers and the overall safety and well being of the patients flying on commercial.
See also
- Air Ambulances in the United Kingdom
- Air Ambulances in the United States
- Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems