Transporting a patient: how not to make a mistake with the choice of an ambulance?

Life often presents us with difficult challenges. It is especially difficult when someone close to you is in need transportation by ambulance due to serious illness or injury. In such situations, it is important to quickly find a reliable patient transportation company. But how not to make a mistake with the choice in conditions of stress and lack of time? This article will help you understand this issue.

When is an ambulance needed?

Reanimobile is a specialized ambulance equipped with everything necessary for the transportation of patients in critical condition. It is used in the following situations:

1. Emergency hospitalization from home or from the scene in case of acute conditions (heart attack, stroke, injuries).

   
   
   

2. Transfer from one hospital to another for continued treatment or surgery.

3. Transportation home or to a rehabilitation center after improvement.

4. Delivery to the airport or train station for transportation for treatment in another country.

Olena from Dnipro faced the need to call an ambulance when her father suffered a stroke. She tells:

"It was a shock. Dad had always led an active lifestyle, and then he suddenly fainted and could not move. An ambulance was called, but they said that he urgently needed to be taken to a specialized hospital in another city. I was lost, I didn't know what to do. It's good that friends suggested contacting a patient transportation company. They quickly provided an ambulance with all the equipment and an experienced team of doctors. It probably saved my father's life."

Elena's story is not an isolated case. According to statistics, every year thousands of Ukrainians are faced with the need to order transportation of patients. That is why it is so important to know in advance how to choose a reliable carrier.

We determine the needs

Before starting the search for a patient transportation company, it is necessary to clearly define:

1. The patient's condition and transport needs. Consult your doctor to find out exactly what equipment and medical support is needed during transportation. Will a standard ambulance be enough, or is special equipment needed, for example, for transporting obese people?

2. Route and distance of transportation. Some companies operate only in the city, others carry out long-distance and even international transportation. Consider this when choosing.

3. Budget. The services of an ambulance are not cheap. Find out in advance about the availability of insurance coverage or the possibility of compensation from the state. Calculate how much you are willing to spend.

Having a clear understanding of your needs will help narrow your search considerably and save time.

Search and compare

The next step is direct search and comparison of patient transportation companies. There are several ways to do this:

1. Search online. Start with a query in Google such as "transportation of patients by ambulance Kyiv". Explore the websites of the issuing companies. Pay attention to the completeness of the provided information, availability of contacts and customer reviews.

2. Doctors' recommendations. Ask your doctor if he can recommend a proven company. Doctors usually have information about the top players in the market.

3. Advice from friends. If someone from your environment has already used transportation services, be sure to find out their opinion. Reviews of real customers are the most valuable information.

Having found several options, evaluate and compare them with each other according to the following parameters:

1. Prices and range of services included in the price.

2. Customer reviews on websites, forums, and social networks.

3. Qualifications and experience of personnel.

4. Condition of the fleet, availability of the necessary equipment.

Communication and detailing

Having decided on the best applicants, call or write to them to clarify important nuances:

1. Personnel qualifications. Ask whether the company's staff has medical education and experience working with seriously ill patients. Is regular retraining, training in new techniques provided.

2. Reanimobile equipment. Check whether the car is equipped with everything necessary for your specific case: ventilators, cardiac monitors, defibrillators, oxygen masks, etc.

3. Transportation organization. Find out how long it will take to deliver the car, whether it is possible to order several medics in the escort team at once. Does the price include transportation to/from the apartment?

4. Guarantees and insurance. Ask about patient life and health insurance, procedures and coverage in the event of illness on the road.

Do not hesitate to ask a lot of questions and ask for clarification on unclear points. The success and safety of transportation depends on it.

We choose and book

After collecting a maximum of information, make the final choice of the carrier. Weigh all the pros and cons, evaluate the price-quality ratio. If transportation is planned, book an ambulance in advance, at least a few days in advance. In case of emergency transportation, the company's employees will tell you how to act.

Additional tips

To protect yourself from unpleasant surprises, follow these recommendations:

1. Check whether the company has a license for medical transportation and other permits.

2. Check whether it is possible to accompany relatives during transportation. Ask how many people will be able to travel with the patient.

3. Prepare medical records, referrals and other necessary papers in advance.

4. Even in a stressful situation, try to stay calm. Clearly and clearly explain your wishes to company employees.

Remember that the life and health of your loved one is above all else. Do not try to save on transportation or look for "budget" options of dubious quality.

Visnovok

Therefore, choosing a company for the transportation of patients by ambulance is a responsible process that requires a careful approach. Key steps that will help you make the right choice:

1. Determination of needs and budget.

2. Search and compare companies.

3. Communication and clarification of details.

4. Final choice of carrier.

Do not forget about additional checks of documents, availability of escort, preparation of papers.

If you need psychological support or more information, you can contact the free hotlines:

1. Hotline of the Ministry of Health on coronavirus: 0 800 505 201

2. Center for emergency medical care and disaster medicine: 103

3. Hotline of the Ministry of Social Policy: 15-45

You will also find a lot of useful information on the website of the patient transportation company "Honey 103".

We sincerely hope that our advice will be useful and help you in a difficult situation. May your loved ones recover as soon as possible! And may you never have to look for an ambulance again.