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Factors to Consider When Choosing a Medical Repatriation Service

Medical repatriation is returning an ill or injured immigrant to their country of origin for medical treatment. It is distinct from emergency medical evacuation, also known as medevac, which involves transporting a patient to the closest hospital with appropriate facilities.

It can be done via a dedicated air ambulance, a commercial flight with a medical escort, or in a patient transport compartment (PTC). PTCs are equipped like flying hospital rooms, allowing continued care throughout the journey.

When Choosing a Medical Repatriation Service

Reliability

When it comes to medical repatriation, there are many options out there. That makes it essential to choose a company with a reputation for reliability. A reliable medical repatriation service should be able to provide the highest level of care and safety for their patients.

This includes pre-trip consultations with medical professionals to assess the patient’s condition, determine the best action plan and onboard medical care during the flight. It also provides for the use of medically configured aircraft that can travel at higher altitudes to reduce turbulence and provide a more comfortable ride for the patient.

Flexibility

Travelers and ex-pats often need medical repatriation services when they cannot receive the necessary care in their current location. Depending on their condition and the type of repatriation necessary, they can be flown back home via medically escorted commercial flights or air ambulance jets.

Booking these flights as quickly as possible is vital as patients’ conditions can deteriorate rapidly, and they may become unfit to fly. Repatriation also helps patients avoid healthcare debt, as many hospitals in foreign countries don’t accept U.S. insurance carriers or require payment in full before discharge.

Safety

An excellent medical repatriation service will ensure the patient is thoroughly cared for and supervised during their journey back to their home. This means ensuring they are in the proper condition to travel and that any medication they require is on hand during the trip.

It also involves arranging for continuing treatment once the patient returns to their home country, often by air ambulance or medical escort service on a commercial flight. This is especially important if the patient’s condition deteriorates while traveling and is no longer suitable to fly.

Reputation

A medical repatriation service should offer high-quality care and support to individuals throughout the process. This can include pre-trip consultations with doctors to assess a patient’s condition and arrange flights to meet their needs, onboard medical care, coordination between healthcare providers at the destination and departure locations, and more.

Medical repatriation is a type of medical evacuation that involves transporting a patient back to their country of origin for treatment. It is often used when specialized healthcare is unavailable in the patient’s current location or to avoid substantial medical debt when healthcare insurance isn’t accepted in foreign countries.

Cost

Medical repatriation is a costly service, and it’s essential to determine how much the process will cost. This will help you plan accordingly, especially if your health insurance doesn’t cover it.

A medical coordinator can arrange for the patient to be repatriated using a long-distance air ambulance or commercial flight with a medical escort. The latter option is typically the cheapest.

Medical repatriation includes the costs of transporting an insured person back home after being stabilized at a treatment facility and, if necessary, the transportation of remains. It is also included in some travel insurance policies.

Security

Patients who are injured or sick while traveling abroad may need medical repatriation. This involves returning home or to the U.S. after a medical emergency has been stabilized or transporting a loved one’s remains back if they die on a trip outside of the U.S.

This can be done by road in a long-distance ambulance, by air in a dedicated medically equipped plane, or by a medical escort on a commercial flight. The patient must be safe and comfortable during the entire transport.


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