What Non-Emergent Care Means

One of the most common questions we receive at MedFlight911 is how often do we land our helicopter on the roof on a hospital? Often when people think of an air ambulance, they visualize a helicopter swooping down at a major accident. And, while emergency medical personnel may call for a helicopter rather than using a ground ambulance if the patient has a life-threatening injury and needs to get to a trauma center very quickly; ground ambulance and helicopter air ambulances aren't the only form of medical transport. And air ambulances aren't just used to save car crash victims.

Many times, air ambulances are used for patients in non-emergent, or nonemergency, situations. Patients in non-emergent situations don't need to be transported immediately, yet the patient still needs the care of an air ambulance. Perhaps the patient needs hospice treatment closer to home, or the patient has a traumatic brain injury and needs to move to a different hospital for treatment. Sometimes, the patient is elderly and simply wants to be closer to relatives. Other times, the patient fell ill while travelling abroad and needs to get back to the U.S. for treatment. These are examples of the kinds of patients whose situations we would classify as non-emergent. In those situations, a fixed-wing aircraft (airplane) is often used, rather than the rotor-wing aircraft (helicopter) people commonly associate with the term "air ambulance."

So, why do we use a fixed-wing aircraft instead of a helicopter for air medical transport? If a patient needs to travel a long distance, a fixed-wing air ambulance is a better choice, since the plane can travel for a longer distance without needing to refuel. Fixed-wing aircraft can also carry more equipment, passengers, and luggage than helicopter air ambulances making the transport more comfortable for everyone involved.

We understand that it can be confusing to know which is the right form of medical transport for you or your loved one. We would to evaluate your loved one's needs and help you understand your options.

To find out more about MedFlight911's worldwide air ambulance services give us a call at 888-359-1911 or get a no-obligation air medical transport quote here.