Medical Escorts
From a hospital bed to a business class seat on a commercial airline and on to your final destination, Sky Nurses is here to assist you. Our professional medical escorts and flight nurses provide the same attentive care in the air as they do in the hospitals in which they serve.
What Is a Medical Escort?
A medical escort is a form of transportation that gets a patient from one location to another while providing medical support and attentive care. Medical escorts are typically provided in non-emergency situations to people who require special medical attention.
If the patient is capable of sitting during takeoff and landing, a commercial medical escort may be appropriate. With a commercial medical escort, a Sky Nurse clinician travels with the patient via commercial airline or private jet or charter flight service. Patients who are immobile or unable to care for themselves are placed in a first class or business class seat.
Reasons for a medical transport by Sky Nurses include, but are not limited to:
- Cardiopulmonary complications
- Neurological complications
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Endocrine disorders
- Mental health care
- Injury while traveling
- Post-surgical care
Request for a Commercial Medical Escort
The patient is assigned an RN Coordinator that will monitor the patient’s medical status until arrival at the assigned destination. The RN Coordinator will communicate with the assigned Case Manager and/or Primary Nurse to update the patient’s “Plan of Care” to reflect their specific needs.
During the Flight
Each patient’s comfort is our concern. Vital signs and pain are assessed frequently throughout travel. During long international flights, a Sky Nurse will assist the patient with exercises that will prevent DVT.
Escorting the Patient
All patients are escorted by a qualified clinician with extensive training in medical transports. All medical treatment administered by the medical escort is based on Sky Nurses standing orders provided by our Medical Director, airline policy and procedures, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support standards.
Patient Arrival
Once the patient arrives at their destination, the clinician will provide a detailed report to the receiving medical facility or family member.
AED Use in Commercial Medical Transport
Sky Nurses provide an experienced ACLS critical care nurse or physician to transport a patient with an AED. Patients with respiratory problems or who have been recently transitioned off of a ventilator will require additional equipment such as a portable oxygen concentrater (POC).
For more information about commercial medical transports or our AED/ACLS transport program, please contact our Medical Management team at (866) 611-8434 today.
Sky Nurses coordinates domestic and international medical transportation and evacuation utilizing licensed medical personnel. Sky Nurses does not own, lease, or operate any aircraft. All transportation is completed by commercial airline or licensed and insured private jet or charter flight service.
Scope of Care
Interested in our services? Then please keep reading to fully understand the scope of our care.
Age and Clinical Requirements for Medical Transport
Basic Care Medical Escort
Adult (16 and older): Transportation provided
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- 5+ years in Medical-Surgical Unit or Telemetry Unit
- Physician, Registered Nurse, and/or Paramedic
Advanced Care Medical Escort
Adult (16 and older): Transportation provided
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- 5+ years in Adult Emergency Room and/or Critical Care
- Physician, Registered Nurse, and/or Paramedic
Mental Health Medical Escort
Adult (16 and older): Transportation provided
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- 5+ years in Mental Health Unit or ER
- Physician, Registered Nurse, and/or Paramedic
Equipment Available
The following equipment can be provided during a medical escort:
- Portable oxygen concentrator (POC)
- Nebulizer
- Ventilator
- Cardiac monitor
- AED/defibrillator
Clinician to Patient Ratio
Our clinician to patient ratios are as follow:
- 1-1: One clinician to one patient utilizing an Economy/Business/First Class seat.
- 2-1: Two clinicians to one patient utilizing a Stretcher.
Worldwide Service
We provide medical escorts worldwide (excluding areas of civil unrest as indicated by travel.state.gov).
Transportation Available
Sky Nurses utilizes the following modes of transportation:
- Commercial airline
- Private plane*
- Cruise ship
- Private yacht/ship
- Train
- Bus
- BLS or ACLS ambulance
- Wheelchair and stretch van
*All private planes must be chartered by the client.