FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General Questions:

1. What is the difference between Airborne Critical Care, LLC and other air ambulance providers?

Answer: First of all, ACC is not a DEALER. When you ask us to transport your patient or loved one, we do not in turn sell your flight to another provider who happens to be the lowest bidder. All of our patients are transported by our highly trained medical flight teams onboard “Critical Care One, Two”, and soon to be “Three”. Therefore, we can insure the highest quality of care. In addition, the aircrafts are dedicated flying Intensive Care Units. The aircraft are not for charter and providing air ambulance services on the side.

2. My patient or loved one is very ill or injured. Is he too sick to fly?

Answer: ACC’s Medical Flight Teams are among the highest trained teams in the world. Our team maintains constant communications by satellite phone with one of our Board Certified Critical Care Physicians for consultation from anywhere in the world. Our teams are trained to provide the most critically aggressive interventions found in fixed-wing aeromedical transport.

3. Does ACC travel to my location?

Answer: ACC flies to countries throughout the world. Within the US we are capable of landing and taking off on any runway of at least 3000 feet in length. This makes up the majority of small community airports. Therefore, chances are there is an acceptable airport within minutes of your location and destination.

4. Does ACC pick my patient or loved one up at the bedside?

Answer: Unlike many providers, ACC believes in the importance of starting and finishing the entire transport with the patient. Therefore, ACC’s Medical Flight Teams insure continuity of care by providing bedside-to-bedside care. This not only allows for our Flight Nurses and Flight Respiratory Practitioners to receive report directly from the caregivers, nurses, and physicians, but also allows them to directly pass this information along to the receiving caregivers, nurses, and physicians, along with any interventions, medications, or changes that occurred during the transport.

5. What is an air ambulance?

Answer: ACC’s air ambulances are business class jet aircraft specially converted into flying Intensive Care Units with the same equipment and personnel found in most modern hospital intensive care units. ACC strives to provide the same high level of care that the patient has been or will be receiving.

6. What do I have to do to fly my patient or loved one?

Answer: One call does it all. Our team manages the entire process for you. When you call to schedule a trip, our flight coordinators will request the following information:

• Sending and receiving facilities along with to and from locations.
• Sending and receiving physician information.
• Date and time you would like the patient to travel.
• Method of payment.

Our flight coordinators will then do the rest. They manage communications between facilities, physicians, case managers, admission personal, airports, ambulances and families. Furthermore, they schedule ground transportations on both ends of the transport and coordinate with the medical flight teams.

7. How much does a flight cost?

Answer: As I am sure you realize, the cost of aeromedical transportation is somewhat expensive. ACC is committed to providing the highest level of care at the lowest reasonable price. Please contact one of ACC’s Flight Coordinators for a quote.

8. What is included in your quote?

Answer: ACC’s written quotes are all-inclusive. There are no hidden charges or add-ons. They include ground transportation, air transportation, medications and supplies, and of course the professional services of the Medical Flight Team. Any special permits involved with international travel will be included.

When comparing ACC to other providers’ quotes, please be sure to obtain their quote in writing for your protection. Furthermore, please compare the level of care, number, education and capabilities of the team members. Many providers send one team member and/or they are basic trained emergency personnel such as Basic EMT’s on stable basic life support transports. We never expect the worst to happen but with ACC you always have our highly trained critical care team on board our aircraft regardless of the patients status. If an emergency should arise, they are there to provide care immediately. They don’t have to land and call 911 to initiate care.

9. Does insurance, Medicaid or Medicare pay for air ambulance transport?

Answer: About 20 to 40 percent of patients have some form of insurance coverage for air ambulance transports. Usually, medical necessity must be shown. In instances of medical necessity, Medicaid will also sometimes cover air ambulance transports. Our Flight Coordinators will more than happily work with you to obtain prior authorization from your insurance carrier. If you travel, we suggest you look at the ACC Assist program sponsored by Travel Assist, Inc. on our “Home Page”. This is a very inexpensive one-time-payment insurance policy that covers either an individual or family for up to one year and provides air ambulance transportation if needed at no out of pocket expense.

10. What form of payments does Airborne Critical Care, LLC accept?

Answer: ACC accepts payments in the form of money orders, bank wire transfers, cashiers checks, personal checks, cash and all major credit cards. Our Flight Coordinators will work with you to process multiple forms of payment if necessary. They are also more than happy to refer you to a financing company. Please provide the patients insurance information and we will work with their insurance provider to obtain payment authorization for your patient.

Medical Questions

11. What type of medical personnel are on the flight team?

Answer: ACC always has at least two clinicians onboard every flight. Our primary team is comprised of specially trained Flight Nurses and Flight Respiratory Practitioners. Both have at least three years of critical care experience. Many have emergency department and 911 EMS experience as well. All go through ACC’s in house 100 hour plus training program. In some situations, our medical director or another critical care physician may also accompany the flight. Please see the “Flight Team” page for more information.

12. What equipment and medications are on board the aircraft?

Answer:Critical Care One, Two, and Three are equipped as flying Critical Care Units. Each aircraft has a Cardiac Monitor, Defibrillator, External Pacemaker, Mechanical Ventilator, IV Pumps, and a Portable Laboratory on board. For special missions such as Intraaortic Balloon Counterpulsation or Neonatal and pediatric transports, mission specific equipment is added. Please see our “Equipment and/or Medications” pages for a more complete list.

13. Who is your medical director?

Answer: Our medical director is Carol R. Young, MD, FCCP. Dr. Young completed his undergraduate degree at the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated medical school from Georgetown University’s School of Medicine. He completed the residency-training program in Internal Medicine at The Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. Following his residency, he completed a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Young has extensive experience in Critical Care Medicine and transports. He has served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Critical care Physician, Flight Physician, and Medical Control Officer for the US Army’s Flight Medic Program. Dr. Young or one of our Assistant Medical Directors is always available for consultation with the flight team, referring physician, and/or receiving physician.

14. Is anyone else on board your aircraft?

Answer: Of course we have two pilots on board besides our medical team. ACC feels strongly in our responsibility to further research and training within the critical care transport community.

Aircraft Questions:

15. What kind of safety record does ACC have?

Answer: ACC has a 100 percent safety record. Aircraft operations are provided by Segrave Aviation, Inc. who’s pilots are all ATP certified and the aircraft are under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 135 regulations. The FAA’s Part 135 regulations are strict rules governing aircraft operations, maintenance, and pilot training. They also control pilot work hours to ensure that pilots do not fly when fatigued. ACC’s contracted aircraft vendor meets or exceeds these regulations.

16. Is ACC and it’s aircraft insured?

Answer: ACC maintains aircraft insurance to protect our patients, crew, and passengers. We also maintain Medical Liability insurance as well.

17. What type of aircraft do you have?

Answer: ACC utilizes a Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond Jet as the primary aircraft. It is known as “Critical Care One”. We also have available a Lear Jet 36A known as “Critical Care Two” for long distance transports. “Critical Care Three” is on the drawing books and will be a Regional Turboprop aircraft. All of these aircraft are equipped as flying critical care units. Please go to our “Aircraft” page for more information.

18. Are your aircraft pressurized?

Answer: All of the aircraft are cabin pressurized to maintain a comfortable environment for our patients. Cabin pressure is very important for patient care! At lower pressures, patients require more oxygen in their blood and medical equipment can have their functions compromised. If you choose another provider other than ACC, please make sure their aircraft is pressurized!

19. Which one of your aircraft is right for my patient or loved one?

Answer: The main difference between aircraft is length of travel before refueling. We will choose the most practical aircraft for the mission. When speed is important and extreme distance is an issue, we will choose “Critical Care Two” due to the Lear Jets ability to fly farther and faster than the Diamond Jets. Of course flight costs are different between the three types of aircraft as well.

Logistical Questions:

20. How many family members can fly with the patient?

Answer: Family members may travel without charge. The number of family members is based on the aircraft, the patient’s health, and the length of the transport. Usually ACC will allow 1 to 2 family members on board. If the patient is highly unstable and may require significant interventions during flight, the flight team may choose to deny passengers to accompany the patient. This would be determined in advance of the transport.

21. How much luggage can I bring?

Answer: Luggage is limited due to the amount of equipment on board the aircrafts. We normally limit luggage to two medium size carry on pieces total. ACC will be more than happy to assist you with shipping additional luggage and/or packages at your costs.

22. How far in advance should a flight be scheduled?

Answer: Some patients must fly within minutes or hours. However some may not need to fly for some days or even weeks later. It is always best to call us and arrange the transport as soon as possible. This allows time to obtain all necessary documents, insurance approval and allow for proper planning. Sometimes, advance notice can actually reduce the patient’s cost. Call 1-800-989-4067 for more information.

23. When are you open so I may call and discuss a transport?

Answer: Airborne Critical Care, LLC is a 24-hour per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year operation. One of ACC’s Patient Care Flight Coordinators is always available to discuss your needs. Please call 1-800-989-4067 to speak with someone.

24. My patient or loved one is not in the United States and needs to be transported here or needs to be transport outside of the United States. Can ACC help with this?

Answer: ACC’s flight teams can transport patients to or from anywhere in the world. We are THE global air ambulance company!

25. My patient or loved one does not speak English. Can your team still care for the patient?

Answer: ACC has many bi and multilingual team members. We also have access to interpreters that can travel with the patient if needed.