Monday, October 14, 2013

How To Choose A Reliable Medical Flights Company

By Megan Landry


It is not easy for anyone to choose emergency medical flights. The process can even be more traumatic than the trip itself. There are many factors one needs to consider when making such a decision and practically no one has the required information to make such a choice easily. With the information provided below, your selection should not be a problem.

Ensure that you are not working with a broker. Moreover, you have to get assurance that the provider has all the services and equipment it requires and does not outsource anything. This will ensure that they can easily make arrangements any time you call with an emergency. Check the CAMTS website to see if the provider is listed as certified operator. You can also check their charter certificate.

Consider the experience of the operator. It is advisable to choose a company that has been in business for at least five years. This alone tells you they have clients and have been able to survive many challenges. Look at the number of patients they have transported over the years and their safety record.

Ensure the quality of care is outstanding. The staff should be highly experienced and properly trained. Evaluate their physicians, flight medics, and critical care nurses based on these qualities. Check if they provide an aeromedical doctor to accompany the team on flights. This will guarantee any emergency treatment is performed under the supervision of a professional.

Confirm the quality of equipment used on the aircraft. The essence of a medical flight is to provide quality care until the patient is delivered to an appropriate facility. The machines and tolls used, therefore, should equal those that would be available in an ultramodern emergency room. This will guarantee that even very critical individuals can be airlifted without exposing them to health risks.

The operator should also be committed to flight safety. The pilots need to be chosen carefully to ensure that they have only the best. They should be highly trained and extremely experienced as well. Their captains should also be provided with simulator training after every six months. Each flight should also have a co-pilot and a captain to ensure that they have superior standards and comprehensive Safety Management System.

Confirm if the company will accept your insurance. They should have an experienced internal billing department that helps customers with filing claims. They will first determine if your policy has air ambulance coverage. This is important because the flight can be activated even when you have no money and later bill your insurance plan.

Ensure the company is affordable. Some services may not be covered by your insurance plan. Given that you are probably already paying a lot of money to the policy provider, you do not want to be burdened by additional expenses. Check if they provide one-way flights to reduce the cost on clients.

Before you sign up with any medical flights company, ensure their services are superb. The customer service should be unparalleled, starting from the first phone call until they deliver the patient safely to the receiving facility. Some providers may even allow at least one family member to accompany the team at no additional charge.




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