A Service for Every Need
What is a Medical Escort?
In simple terms a medical escort is transferring a person by a commercial aircraft with a healthcare professional.
CME’s medical escort travel process is a complete bedside to bedside service. CME’s medical team is comprised of highly qualified registered nurses, doctors, and paramedics that not only provide quality medical care to each patient, but also go above and beyond to ensure that the flight process is smooth and comfortable for both the patient and companion.
The medical escort travel process is outlined below so that you can become familiar with how we transfer our patients and the attention to detail that is involved with every medical escort.
Understanding the Flight Process
- The medical escort that will accompany the patient throughout the transfer or the Chief Flight Nurse will call the facility to get a full detailed medical report
- Our in-house travel agent will book all the airline tickets for the medical escort, the patient and any companion members traveling
- Ground transportation is arranged to and from all airports. The type of vehicle is based on the patient’s medical condition and/or needs at the time (Limo, Ambulance, Town Car, Wheelchair Van, SUV, Stretcher Van, etc.)
- For those countries that require a visa, we will work efficiently and promptly to acquire a same-day visa, unless one of our medical escort’s currently holds a visa for that country (Brazil, China, India, Russia, etc.)
- We will arrange medical clearance with the airline for a seamless security check in experience.
- We will arrange approval for a FAA approved Portable Oxygen Concentrator on the airline of travel.
- Wheelchair assistance is offered and will be noted in the reservation. Typical wheelchair reservations ensure there is a wheelchair available and accessible in all locations at the airport, and loading/unloading of all vehicles.
- Upon arrival into city of origin, the medical escort will go to the patient’ s residence or facility to complete the pre-flight assessment and determine if any changes need to be made.
- All international flights allow for access to the VIP lounges, with a 4+ hour connection.
- Our medical escort will provide high quality medical care, including the administering of medications, and assistance with meals, assistance with the bathroom, and other care issues.
- The medical escort will monitor the patient for any changes during flight and take the appropriate action if required.
- Regular updates are sent throughout the transport.
- Upon arrival at the destination, wheel chair or stretcher service will be provided and the escort will assist the patient and companion in acquiring their luggage from baggage claim.
- The medical escort will ensure the patient is safely delivered to their destination whether it be a residence or a facility.
- If home oxygen has been arranged, the escort will ensure the patient knows how to use and operate the equipment as well as a companion (if available).
- The escort will provide a full medical report to the receiving physician or nursing station at the facility where the patient is delivered
- Within 72 hours, the nurse’s notes will be completed and sent to the CME office. All nursing notes will be sent to the client with the invoice and are available upon request by the patient.
- After the patient is safely delivered home, we invite you to complete an evaluation online to share your experiences and feedback.
Non-Medical Travel Companion
Commercial Medical Escorts provides professional, knowledgeable and trained male and female team members to escort your loved one safely to their destination. Non-medical escort transportation is the perfect service for anyone who avoids traveling alone or may need some additional assistance while traveling by commercial airline either domestic or international, delivering the highest quality of care and support throughout the entire journey.
It is important to consider a non-medical escort for the following situations:
Non-Medical escort transportation services feature:
Medical Escort vs. Air Ambulance
A Commercial Stretcher is a row of seats removed and replaced with a stretcher. If the patient is unable to sit up and requires a lie-flat position throughout the transport, commercial Stretchers are a great alternative over a critical care air ambulance. Commercial stretcher service requires detailed medical clearance and coordination with the airlines, their medical desk and engineering departments. This can take 5 to 7 days to make all arrangements, although we have arranged airline stretcher service in as little as 48 hours. CME works with specific airlines to ensure that an FAA approved stretcher is properly secured into the aircraft, and to accommodate all the necessary medical equipment.
Many patients within the United States and around the world are capable of flying via a commercial airline being accompanied by a physician or nurse medical escort. The patient’s physician and our medical team can assist in evaluating the patient and determining his or her needs.
Medical Escort via Commercial Airlines- “Your Air Ambulance Alternative”
It is also important to recognize that the accommodations on a commercial airline differ significantly from an air ambulance:
Concierge Services
Concierge Services at Commercial Medical Escorts is your guide to getting all the VIP services you need from one trusted company. For all our clients’ convenience, each concierge service provided by CME is available 24/7, completed efficiently with attention to detail and delivered to exceed your expectations. Please contact us to inquire about any of the following services that can be arranged.
CME will determine the type of ground transportation that is needed based on the medical condition of the patient to get to and from the airport. We provide bedside-to-bedside care which can include: Town car, limo, SUV, ambulance, stretcher vans, wheelchair vans and private car transfers are available throughout all airports and destinations within our Worldwide network.
We have VISA Professionals available to assist you with acquiring a VISA when travelling to another country. Not only do we have professionals ready to help, this service provides you with up to date information on those countries requiring a visa based on your country of citizenship.
CME has a full in-house travel department, that can assist you with making travel arrangements to destinations all around the world. See FLYCME for more information.
Outside transporting patients, CME has experience with medical management of large groups. We have experience, with staffing knowledgeable medical personal for a variety of events such as company gatherings, movie production sites, concerts, and conferences. Our team will set up with all basic necessary medical supplies to handle minor issues that should arise.
Entrust your important health concerns with one of our on-call physicians. With this concierge service, you can rest assure that all of our consulting physicians are extensively trained to provide you, your client, and/or your family with quality care.
CME’s strong network throughout the country and experience in the health care industry, can assist you in acquiring admission even in some of the most remote facilities around the world.
With proper documentation provided by you, we will contact any hospital or facility and work to ensure admission with no hiccups or issues.
We understand that it may be difficult arranging your own home oxygen, but rest assured, CME can easily assist with this issue. Once we have all proper documentation needed, we are able to find and supply the right concentrator based on the diagnosis and needs.
As a medical escort company, we have our nurses and doctors equipped with the necessary medical equipment to complete each medical escort assignment.
If the patient requires oxygen for the flight, the flight coordinator will arrange that need with the airline during the ticketing process OR provide the medical personnel with a portable oxygen concentrator. CME has developed relationships with most airlines and is able to make the arrangements very smoothly.
In-House Travel Agent
As we are well aware, disruptions often happen when traveling by commercial air. By having an in-house travel agent, our medical transport company is able to make changes and anticipate any of those disruptions and act accordingly. We monitor each and every flight, and always look for the best itinerary for the patient while being cost effective.
