When you think of air medical transport, you may be thinking of an extreme emergency where someone must be rushed to the nearest hospital at a moment’s notice. Thoughts of helicopters arriving on a crash scene or am accident may come to mind. The rapidness with which a medical helicopter can transport an endangered life is one reason why air medical transport is used, but it isn’t always for that.
Air medical transport is especially necessary for long-distance travel for people who may need oxygen support, are unable to function without medical equipment, or who have mobility problems and who may not be able to handle a long trip by car. Imagine being very ill and having to ride in a vehicle for many hours. No matter how comfortable a medical transport vehicle could be, it definitely is not as comfortable as arriving at your destination in a shorter amount of time and just as comfortable. Of course, for someone who may like the idea of medical transportation RV’s to be able to see the country as they travel from one point to another, they may prefer land transportation.
People with serious medical conditions have it harder than most of us. Where we can just get on the next plane when we want to see someone, even while dealing with some sort of injury, sickness, or handicap, people who require the help and care of an RN, equipment, and medical help at all times, may not be able to get a commercial flight like we can.
Whether they want to visit someone in another area of the country while they still can or they need to visit a distant medical facility that is designed to meet their specific medical needs, air medical transport can mean that someone gets to go somewhere they otherwise wouldn’t be able to visit.
Air medical transport can provide assistance for a patient while they are traveling, making sure that they attended to by an experienced medical crew member. This helps to make the flight a calm and reassuring one for the individual as they do not need to worry about any unexpected problem while traveling. Air medical transport is often geared towards patients who need to remain in a horizontal position or require medical equipment and attention at all times and are specially equipped for such scenarios.
Traveling by air is also easier for those may need to rest and lay down continuously-something they would not be able to do on a regular flight. Air medical transport is often equipped with stretcher space so that a patient can comfortably travel from one place to another. While more costly than other means of transport, it is highly beneficial for many people, especially terminally ill patients, who safe, quick, and reliable medical transport.