What You Did Not Know About Coast to Coast Medical Transport

Nearly everyone will encounter sickness and disease, a debilitating accident or a devastating injury that will incapacitate them, temporarily or permanently, at some point in their lives. As a result, there are a number of industries, such as the professional practices of medicine, nursing, radiology and physical therapy, that exist to provide for the specialized needs of such people. Another, essential support industry for the infirm and disabled is that of medical transport. Medical transportation provides conveyance for people whose medical conditions necessitate special accommodations or nursing care as they travel from point A to point B. Sometimes a patient may require out of state medical transport or even cross country medical transport. They are typically unable to transport themselves and family or caregivers lack the necessary means or skills to do so.

Categories of Medical Transportation

• Medically Necessary Transport – Transportation that falls under this category is typically the only medical transport insurance companies cover. It includes situations such as emergency transportation to the hospital via ambulance when 911 is called. It would also likely cover the moving of a patient from one hospital to another that is better able to provide for his needs. Transportation of critically ill patients from a hospital to a rehabilitation center is another example. Medically necessary transportation could be local or long distance.

• Non-medically Necessary Transport – There are times when a injured or ill patient must travel, for example, to a doctor’s appointment, therapy or dialysis, but the trip is one that an insurance company would not consider “medically necessary.” Generally speaking, urgency of need and the stability or lack thereof are factors insurance providers use in distinguishing trips that are covered from those that aren’t. Routine trips are rarely covered. There is great need for non-medically necessary Coast to Coast Medical Transport. Bedridden or wheelchair bound patients often need to travel long distances to be with family or friends for special occasions, for a change in care providers, or for specialized treatment opportunities. The best patient transportation companies provide bedside to bedside transportation for patients needing to travel anywhere in the country.

Types of Ambulances

An ambulance is any vehicle that transports sick or injured people. They include trucks, vans, station wagons, buses, airplanes, helicopters and even boats. An ambulance must provide room for the patient, and also any support personnel or equipment his care entails. Ambulances come in many varieties, including:

• Type I – Built upon the body of a truck, this ambulance has a separate compartment for the driver.

• Type II – This is the vehicle most people envision as an ambulance. It is a customized, long wheelbase van with an integrated cab.

• Type III – This type ambulance is similar to Type II, but has a van chassis whereas the Type II is built upon a truck chassis.

• Air ambulance – Emergency air transportation is usually by helicopter whereas long distance transportation of critical care patients is by airplane.

The larger an ambulance, the more comfortable its ride. Many medical transportation services use new Ford E-250 vans that have been optimized for safety and patient comfort for cross country ambulance transportation.

Circumstances Necessitating Medical Transport

The reasons a patient might need transportation by ambulance are as varied as are the patients themselves. They include:

• Emergency transport

• Transportation of stretcher or wheelchair bound patients

• Patients needing skilled care or monitoring

• Doctor appointments

• Physical therapy appointments

• Dialysis

• Transportation from one facility to another

• Moving to be closer to relatives

Until you or a loved one has needed specialized medical transport, you might not have realized the importance of such a service. Coast to Coast Medical Transport provides essential support, not only for patients and their families, but also for hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation facilities. Medical transportation eases the burden on patients and also facilitates better medical care.