We Fly Patients on Commercial Airlines
Moving Grandma
Caitlin has been helping her mother, Emma, move out of her condo in a retirement community in Florida. It’s time to move to assisted living near Ithaca, New York where Caitlin and the grandchildren live. Emma is 82 and does pretty well, considering. She has diabetes and is getting a bit of dementia and can’t live alone anymore.
Caitlin has been handling all of the affairs but knew she needed help with Emma on the flight. She called Prime Life Relocations. The Flight Coordinator, Claire, took care of everything. The flights were booked—the plans made.
Brandon, the Flight Nurse, picked up Caitlin and Emma for the flight. Emma was given an oral sedative and Brandon double checked the insulin supply that Emma would need every four hours and began monitoring her blood sugar.
The flight was uneventful—almost. Another passenger dropped his carry on bag from the overhead bin and startled Emma. Brandon was concerned and had a sedative ready but it thankfully wasn’t needed. Caitlin and Brandon also made sure her food wouldn’t mess with the glucose levels. Emma finally settled in for a nice nap. The flight landed only 7 minutes late.
Caitlin’s husband greeted Emma and Caitlin at the airport with Emma’s twin grandchildren. Emma remembered both their names, everyone had worried about that, but Caitlin told stories about them on the flight. Caitlin has a lot to do with selling the condo and getting Emma settled in the nursing home. She didn’t have to worry about the flight. Prime Life Relocations took care of that.
Rose is going from a hospital in Kansas to a rehabilitation hospital in Colorado. Rose’s case worker called Prime Life Relocations to arrange everything. Her parents didn’t have to worry.
The Flight Nurse, Brandon, picked her up in a wheelchair van from the hospital. Once at the terminal she worked with the airline staff to get her to her seat on the plane. Patients usually fly in First Class or Business Class because the seats are more comfortable and there is more room should there be an emergency. It makes getting to and from the seat easier too.
Patients like Rose need very specific care. She can’t move on her own, so Brandon moves her every quarter hour or so to prevent skin breakdown. Brandon also closely monitors her vital signs like her pulse and blood pressure. Any small change could be a problem. The Flight Coordinator has already planned for Rose’s arrival at the rehabilitation hospital.
Rose is happy to be on the flight and to meet her fellow travelers. Brandon feeds her the meals and makes sure she has enough fluids. Rose thought the food was not too bad. It’s first class, she said. Brandon, a frequent flier, agreed. Like a lot of people with severe disabilities, Rose is optimistic.
Rose and her parents hope that the therapy hospital will be able to improve her life. Rose deserves the best. Prime Life Relocations helped make it possible.
Rose Can Fly
Rose can’t move. She was in a tragic car accident that left her a quadriplegic before she learned to drive. But she can fly. She can fly with a Flight Nurse from Prime Life Relocations.
Carl Comes Home
Carl and his friends have been taking trips to ride their bikes every couple of years since college. They would plan carefully and look for good air fares and good deals. One of these trips was going well. Until he suffered a heart attack.
Carl rides a lot and stays in decent shape. He was biking through the foothills of the Pyrenees, in Spain, when he felt pain in his left arm. His friends got him to a cafe where an ambulance was called. Carl was lucky his friends acted quickly. Carl’s wife, Shelly, who was home studying for an exam, was shocked when she got the call. He was stable but he needed help to get back to the states. His doctors arranged for him to go to a clinic in Cleveland for rehabilitation. The clinic recommended Prime Life Relocations to get him there.
The Flight Coordinator handled everything. He got all the medical clearances, and booked his flights to Cleveland. The Flight Nurse, Brandon, brought specialized equipment to provide Carl with oxygen along with his prescription medicines. The first flight was on time to take off but was diverted to another airport because of lightning. The Flight Coordinator was able to change the booking and get a connecting flight at the new airport.
Carl made it to Cleveland a little late and tired but he didn’t get stranded. Shelly was there at the airport to greet him. She was always happy to see him after his bike trips but this was special. Prime Life Relocations got him to Cleveland, with his wife, and on the road to recovery.
How Does This Work?
It's as easy as 1–2–3
What Does This Cost?
Approximate Worldwide Costs
While costs vary depending on each patient’s medical and travel requirements, flying on a commercial aircraft with a Flight Nurse is vastly less expensive than an air ambulance. Many factors affect the total cost of a medical transport, including the patient’s physical and mental health, equipment and personnel needs, the dates of travel, and the sending and receiving locations. We tailor each transport.
