Many people never give much thought to air ambulance transport until an emergency or critical illness strikes. Being able to make important medical decisions under stressful circumstances is often difficult for the patient and family members. If the medical emergency happens while traveling, the primary goal may be to get the patient back home to familiar doctors and hospital facilities. But without the appropriate background knowledge, it may be hard to choose among available options. Here are some important questions to ask air ambulance providers before arranging transport.

What medical providers will be aboard my flight?

Some air ambulance services focus mainly on transport, so there may be minimal medical staff aboard their flights. Medway Air Ambulance tailors their flight crews to the medical needs of each patient. Highly specialized healthcare professionals create a mobile intensive care unit aboard the flight. The team may include doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and paramedics. Medway is able to transport both adult, pediatric and neonatal critical care patients.

What medical equipment do your flights carry?

The air ambulance flight should carry all equipment and medications that may be necessary to keep a patient stable during the flight. Such equipment should include an ECG monitor, Cardiac monitors/defibrillator, ventilators, advanced life support kits, respiratory kits, IV kits, and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) drugs and solutions. Medway Air Ambulance flights are outfitted with state-of-the-art medical equipment to provide patients with the best possible care.

Is air medical transport covered by insurance?

The patient should check with their health insurance provider to determine whether the condition qualifies for coverage. In most cases, a physician must document that there is an urgent medical need. Prior authorization by the insurance company is generally required. A less expensive alternative would be a commercial air escort, provided the patient is stable enough to fly by commercial carrier.

Medway Air Ambulance is an in-network provider with all major insurance providers. Medway is accredited by Eurami as a commercial medical aviation escort.