Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Are you able to move my loved one? He needs medical attention.
Q:Does my patient need an air ambulance?
Q:What am I required to do for the trip?
Q:What is bedside-to-bedside service?
Q:Does your service travel to my locations?
Q:How much does your service cost?
Q:Is ground transportation included in your quote?
Q:Does insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare pay for this service?
Q:What form of payments does Intensive Air Ambulance accept?
Q:What type of medical personnel do you provide?
Q:What type of medical equipment and medications are on board?
Q:Who is your Medical Director?
Q:What type of aircraft do you use?
Q:Are the aircraft pressurized?
Q:Which aircraft is right for my patient?
Q:How many family members can travel with the patient?
Q:How much luggage can I bring?
Q:How far in advance do I need to schedule the trip?
Q:When can I reach someone to discuss my needs?
Q:My patient is not in the U.S. Can you transport her?
Q:My patient doesn't speak English. Do you have multi-lingual personnel?
Q:Can I bring a pet with me on the plane?
Are you able to move my loved one? He needs medical attention.
Intensive Air Ambulance has the medical capability to transport the most acute
patients from infants to senior citizens as well as the sensitivity to transport
persons who just need a little assistance. Working with your patient's
doctor, our Medical Director will determine the best method of safely
transporting your loved one.
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What is an air ambulance?
An air ambulance is a business class aircraft that has been specially equipped
with a flight stretcher, advanced life support equipment, medications and a
highly trained medical staff to safely, efficiently, and quickly transport
your loved one from one location to another.
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Does my patient need an air ambulance?
If the patient is being treated medically or requires some assistance, it is
quite possible that he will require medical assistance while traveling from one
location to another. Air ambulance is the fastest method of transport.
However, Intensive Air Ambulance offers several lower cost alternatives for
stable patients. Call 1 (800) 543-3759 to discuss alternatives.
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What am I required to do for the trip?
When you schedule a trip, we will ask for your departure and arrival locations,
sending and receiving doctor information, date and time you would like the
patient to travel, and method of payment. Intensive Air Ambulance
does everything else. We provide a worry-free transport for you so that
you can concentrate on other important matters.
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How does the service work?
Our team manages the entire process for you. Our Flight Coordinators
schedule ground transportation and manage communications between facilities,
doctors, case managers, admissions personnel, airport terminals, ambulances,
caterers, and families. Our Medical Coordinator manages flight medical
crews and insures that proper medical equipment and medications are available
for your patient. Our Chief Pilot plans the flight path and manages the
aircraft and crew preparation. Our Medical Director insures that your
patient receives proper treatment during the transport. Our Insurance
Specialist helps manage the paper work for you after your trip is completed.
Our team makes your transport as peaceful as possible.
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What is bedside-to-bedside service?
For continuity of care, it is vital that our medical team starts and finishes
the entire journey with your patient. Therefore, our medical team arrives
at your patient's bedside at the start of the transfer. At the start, we
are able to assess the patient before she ever leaves her bed. We also
comfort her so that she is less anxious about the trip. At the end of the
trip, we also travel with her by ground transportation to her new bedside.
At this time, we discuss the trip process with the receiving nurse so that she
is aware of any issues the patient may have. In this way, your patient is
assured the utmost in care.
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Does your service travel to my locations?
Intensive Air Ambulance flies to all continents except Antarctica. Within
the U.S., we travel to hundreds of airports -- more than are used by commercial
carriers. Chances are that there is an airport within minutes of your
location and destination.
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How much does your service cost?
As you might expect, the cost of medical transportation is fairly expensive.
Intensive Air Ambulance is committed to providing you the lowest price possible
without compromising patient care. Our PRICING section discusses
pricing
examples, rate schedules, and several money saving options that can save you
thousands of dollars for your transport.
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Is ground transportation included in your quote?
Ground transportation as well as all other costs are usually included in our
quotes. Intensive Air Ambulance will provide you with a written quote that
includes all costs unless specifically omitted by customer request. When
comparing us to others, please request a quote in writing from other vendors for
your protection.
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Does insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare pay for this service?
About 35 percent of our clients have some insurance coverage for air ambulance.
Generally, medical necessity must be shown. Medicaid, in some instances of
medical necessity will cover air ambulance. Medicare and Medicare Gap
insurances generally do not cover air ambulance. Our insurance specialist
will gladly work with you to obtain prior authorization from your insurance
carrier.
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What form of payments does Intensive Air Ambulance accept?
We accept payments such as money orders, bank wire drafts, cashiers
checks, personal checks, cash and all major credit cards. Many
insurance companies pay the cost of air ambulance transportation. Please provide
the flight coordinator with your insurance information and we will work with
your insurance provider to obtain payment authorization for your patient.
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What type of medical personnel do you provide?
At a minimum, all air ambulance trips require a critical care paramedic.
Our standard of care is one critical care paramedic and one critical care
registered nurse. When necessary, we provide respiratory therapists, nurse
practitioners, and physicians. Our medical personnel have a minimum of
five years critical care experience and have extensive training in
flight physiology and air ambulance medical protocols.
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What type of medical equipment and medications are on board?
A partial list of supplies and equipment includes oxygen, ventilator, cardiac
monitor/ defibrillator, suction equipment, full ACLS drug complement, IV
supplies, resuscitation equipment, FAA approved stretchers, AC inverters and
much more.
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Who is your Medical Director?
Dr. Paul March, Intensive Air Ambulance’s Medical Director, is an FAA Medical
Inspector with more than two decades of ACLS experience. Dr. March developed and
enforces strict protocols that exceed national standards. He will
personally review your patient’s case and will provide specific protocols for
your patient.
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What is your safety record?
Intensive Air Ambulance has a 100 percent safety record.
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Is your service insured?
The aircraft are insured for up to $20,000,000 per occurrence. In addition, we
carry medical liability insurance of $1,000,000.
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What type of aircraft do you use?
We have access to several types of aircraft including jets, single engine planes
and turbo-props. Our Flight Coordinators will be happy to explain the options to
you.
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Are the aircraft pressurized?
Air ambulances are cabin pressurized to maintain a comfortable and safe flight
for our patients.
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Which aircraft is right for my patient?
Our medical director in consultation with the patient's doctor will recommend
various medically appropriate options for the patient.
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How many family members can travel with the patient?
Family members may travel without charge. The number of passengers is based on
the aircraft chosen, the patient’s health, and the length of the flight.
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How much luggage can I bring?
Luggage is limited on medical flights due to the significant amount of medical
equipment that is carried aboard air ambulances. Luggage generally is
limited to three medium pieces in total. Our customers typically ship
other non-essential materials prior to the trip.
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How far in advance do I need to schedule the trip?
Some of our clients must fly within hours. However, it is best to give us
at least 24 hours notice if possible. Doctor consultations must sometimes
be flexible to your attending doctor's needs. More notice can sometimes
substantially reduce your cost.
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When can I reach someone to discuss my needs?
Intensive Air Ambulance is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist you.
Call (800) 543-3759 and a flight coordinator will personally answer your call to
help with your questions.
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My patient is not in the U.S. Can you transport her?
Our medical teams have transported patients to and from almost every country.
In addition to air ambulance, we can coordinate international airline stretcher
transports than can sometimes reduce your costs by tens of thousands of dollars.
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My patient doesn't speak English. Do you have multi-lingual personnel?
Intensive Air Ambulance has medical personnel on staff who speak many of the
prevalent languages. In addition, we have access to interpreters who can
travel with the patient if required.
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Can I bring a pet with me on the plane?
Small pets are allowed on the plane, but not in the ground ambulance.
Arrangements will need to be made to bring the pet to the aircraft site.
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For more information call us now 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
800 - 543 - 3759
Judith McPherson, Peterborough, ON