Once a physician has cleared the patient for travel and a receiving facility has been secured, Flying Nurses International can organize travel plans within 48-72 hours of your initial phone call.

Coverage for non-emergent flights will vary with each individual’s private insurance plan. Many plans will provide some form of coverage for travel on a commercial airline if a medical escort is deemed necessary by your discharging physician. Travel insurance that is purchased for vacation protection generally provides for emergency medical evacuation to the nearest suitable medical facility. Travel insurance will often provide medical repatriation on a commercial aircraft when you are ready to return home.

Business or First class reclining seats with footrests or stretcher service can be arranged for the unresponsive patient. The RN flight nurses can safely support the patient when seated upright for take-off and landing. Thereafter, the patient is fully reclined in a sleeping position for the flight and airplane taxiing.

Most of our patients are unable to ambulate onto the aircraft or within the aircraft cabin. Special arrangements are made to safely transfer the patient on and off the aircraft, to their seat, or to their stretcher.

After receiving a physician’s order for oxygen, we can generally provide for supplemental in-flight oxygen within 48 hours of making the request. Many domestic carriers no longer supply in-flight oxygen tanks but they do allow the passenger to utilize a personal portable oxygen concentrator. Patients that require use of a ventilator will require special equipment along with authorization from the carrier. Your flight coordinator will determine what is necessary and make the appropriate arrangements. Your flight nurse will be able to monitor and regulate a patients oxygen requirements with the use of a portable oxygen monitoring device.

Due to the decreased humidity when flying, adequate fluids are of particular importance. If your condition does not permit you to drink fluids in-flight, the RN flight nurse will administer IV fluids whether traveling in 1st class or stretcher service.

The cost will vary depending on the distance and days traveled. Generally, someone can travel on a commercial airline within the 50 states for approximately $4,500.00 to $9,000.00. International travel cost is completely dependent on destination but is considerably less than air ambulance which ranges from $25,000 to well over $100,000.