Medical Escort Services | Stretcher Repatriation | Air Ambulance
MEDICAL ESCORT SERVICES
YOUR MEDICAL ESCORT IS A
LICENSED MEDICAL DOCTOR
For all our patients, ARK Medical Services offers a Licensed Medical Practitioner as Medical Escort to provide effective and continuous care from the initial embarkation port to the final destination. All of our Doctors are holders of Medical Travel Professional Certification. You can therefore expect the highest standard of care and a readiness to intervene at anytime should any complications arise during the repatriation flight.
INSURANCE POLICIES ACCEPTED
If you have Travel or Medical Insurance, then at ARK Medical Services, we have a dedicated team that works with your Insurance Company to ensure that you are compensated for your expenses. As soon as you elect to travel with us, our team sends a “cost-estimate” to your Insurer and works relentlessly in the background to get prior-authorization.
FAA-APPROVED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
We bring all essential emergency medical equipment onboard, including ICU-Grade Cardiac Monitors, Portable Oxygen Concentrators, and Ventilators. All our equipment is FAA-approved and complies with the varying specifications of the different airlines we fly with.
ONBOARD MEDICATION AND INJECTIONS
Our medical escorts carry a comprehensive set of oral and injectable medications, along with IV line sets for fluid infusion. We also carry equipment such as Endo-Tracheal Tubes, Naso-Gastric Tubes and Chest Drains so we are prepared for any eventuality.
READY TO FLY
Our Medical Escorts are holders of VISAs and Entrance Permits to most of the major countries of the world. Otherwise, our Medical Escorts are able to secure fast-tracked clearance to enter the country of your choice as they are registered as Emergency Medical Service providers.
FULL BOOKING RESPONSIBILITY
We handle the complex process of coordinating with airlines to obtain the medical clearances required for the patient, as well as for our Medical Escort. As far as possible, we also endeavor to have the patient's relatives/friends also brought onboard the same flight.
STRETCHER PATIENTS
If you are unable to sit, then you will need to be repatriated as a Stretcher Patient. Requesting a stretcher is a complex process and usually takes a lot of time. We have included more detailed information about Stretcher Repatriation in the next section.
PATIENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
In some cases, the patient is able to sit in a regular seat but is unable to walk long distances during the airport transfers. Our Medical Escort will provide you with Wheelchair Assistance throughout your journey and will even operate the wheelchair themselves to prevent any accidents.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ARK Medical Services does not discriminate when it comes to insurance. As long as your Insurance Company has a phone number/email through which can reach out to them, our specialized team will get in touch with them on your behalf and start the process of getting you pre-authorization.
Our rates are similar, if not more affordable, compared to companies offering a nursing officer as medical escort. The fact that you need a medical escort implies that there is a high risk that you may develop complications during travel. Having a doctor by your side means having access to the highest standard of medical care during the entirety of your trip. Although nursing officers are highly capable individuals, they usually need to obtain a doctor’s permission before starting new treatment. At 40,000 feet above ground with poor satellite coverage, by the time permission has been obtained, the patient may have already suffered irreversible damage. Hence, our policy is to cut the middle-man and to directly offer you, a fully licensed medical doctor with full authority to manage and treat you at anytime during your trip.
Once you have reached your destination, your medical escort will most likely check into a hotel and take the next flight out. The entire process of booking accommodation and travel arrangements for the Medical Escort is handled by us.
Another practical advantage of having a doctor with you is that your medical escort, by virtue of being a fully-licensed medical doctor, is able to produce all the Medical Certificates that the Airline may require as you go along your journey. All of our medical escorts carry their prescription pads and seals on their person at all times and can produce the documents that you may require as you progress along your repatriation journey.
With time, ARK Medical Services has developed close relationships with the Airlines. Hence, we are able to reach out to them personally and request for your application to be expedited. Since we specialize in the repatriation of sick patients, requests that we submit on behalf of our patients are generally treated with a sense of urgency.
Absolutely not! We only charge for the consumables that we have used on you during the flight. All unused materials are returned back to our base of operations by the medical escort on their return flight.
Traveling by Business Class has the distinct advantage of allowing access to a more spacious and ergonomic seat. However, it also has some constraints in that while in Business Class, the Airline will not allow any procedure to be performed on the patient as they would not want their Business Class passengers to be “disturbed.” Also, there is the matter of significantly higher ticket prices which can quickly rise to exorbitant amounts when factoring in the Medical Escort’s ticket as well as that of any other accompanying passengers. Hence, after that we make our assessment of the patient, we make sure to discuss all available options with our clients so that they can make an informed decision.
STRETCHER REPATRIATION
COMMERCIAL AIRLINER
STRETCHER REPATRIATION
At ARK Medical Services, we specialize in the safe and compassionate repatriation of stretcher patients on commercial airliners. This service is designed for patients who are medically stable but require horizontal positioning and continuous medical supervision throughout their journey. Coordinated with precision, we handle all logistical arrangements—from securing airline approvals and modifying cabin seating to ensuring a dedicated medical escort team is present at every stage. Our goal is to provide a seamless, dignified, and medically sound transfer for patients who cannot travel in a regular seated position, ensuring comfort and continuity of care from departure to arrival.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For patients on Life Support, there are essentially 2 means of repatriation; either via Air Ambulance (Private Jet) or as a Stretcher Patient (Commercial Airliner). Although hiring a Private Jet is the gold standard, the costs may not be within every patient’s reach. Traveling as a stretcher-patient is the preferred option as it is not only less expensive but is also designed to carry patients who are on life-support and who are unconscious. Our Medical Escorts have successfully repatriated patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 3/15 [3 being the lowest score possible] in the past and we pride ourselves on our stellar success rate.
The stretcher is designed to be utilized with the specific airframe and complies with all the norms of security. Just like in regular seats, the patient needs to be fastened with seatbelts and other restraining devices to prevent movement during periods of aircraft instability.
This can range anywhere from 1 day to 1 week, depending on the Airline as well as the Aircraft. In most cases, the Aircraft has to be reconfigured to accommodate the stretcher. However, what accounts for the length of time is obtaining clearance from the Airline’s Doctor to bring the stretcher patient on board in the first place. Once again, by providing a Medical Doctor as your Medical Escort, the Airlines have more confidence in the success rate of the mission and are more inclined to provide the clearance we need. Once clearance is obtained, ARK Medical Services has the resources to liaise with the Airport Authorities to hasten the process of fitting the stretcher.
Although the exact amount varies considerably, it must be regognized that in order to install a stretcher, the Airline needs to remove 6 to 9 seats from the aircraft; hence, the cost is significantly higher. Once we have made our assessment of the patient’s condition, we will be able to guide you towards the option that is best for the patient all while being cost-effective.
At ARK Medical Services, our Medical Escort is a Licensed Doctor who can perform procedures such as:
- Emergency Intubation and Ventilation
- Defibrillation and Cardioversion
- Chest Drain and Tube Management
- Wound Dressing Changes
- Anything else that may be required for the patient
While Airlines will not allow us to perform such intensive procedures in plain sight of other passengers (especially children), when we travel with a stretcher patient, we are allocated a curtained area whereby such procedures can be performed away from the line of sight of other passengers.
Whilst this may be frowned upon by some companies, at ARK Medical Services, we encourage that family members travel alongside the patient. This not only makes the journey easier for the patient but it also alleviates the stress that the family members have to withstand when they are made to sit far away from the patient.
The dimensions are as follows:
- Length: Approx. 180 cm
- Width: Approx. 40 cm
- Height: Approx. 96 cm
AIR AMBULANCE
YOUR MEDICAL ESCORT IS A SURGEON
Patients who need an Air Ambulance are usually in critical condition and require Intensive Care. Whilst other companies will typically provide you with a Physician for such trips, at ARK Medical Services, we want you to be accompanied by a Surgeon who can perform Emergency General Surgery procedures on the patient whilst in the air.
MINOR OPERATION THEATRE IN THE CLOUDS
Since we are in a Private Jet, the resources we can bring onboard is limitless. We can setup a literal Minor Operation Theatre whereby our Surgeon can perform procedures requiring Incision, Drainage and Suturing such as:
- Wound Debridement
- Management of Fistulas and Ostomies
- Management of Tracheostomy
- Placement of Chest Tubes (in case of Pneumothorax)
ICU-GRADE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
Once again, the lack of restrictions as to the equipment we can bring onboard, allows us to set up an ICU-level equipment and the additional privacy allows us to provided round-the-clock care to the patient, similar to an ICU-setting. The equipment we usually carry include
- Ventilators (with Bi-PAP Capability)
- High Flow-Rate Oxygen Canisters (up to 15L/min)
- Powerful Suction Machines (for VAC Dressings and Negative Pressure Chest Drainage Systems)
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Air Ambulance Services are expensive. This is why at ARK Medical Services, we are not focused on pushing our own leases on our clients but instead, we work with a wide network of other Air Ambulance providers to give you the most competitive rates.
FASTER AIRCRAFT AVAILABILITY
Since the number of Air Ambulances are limited, it may be that at the time of your booking, the aircraft we would have chosen for you is servicing another patient or is in a remote location. Once again, through our extensive partnerships, we can arrange for the first available aircraft without having to waste precious time awaiting for the desired aircraft to return to base.
AIRFRAME CHOICE
Depending on the destination you choose, it is important to choose the most efficient aircraft for the job. Although smaller aircrafts are typically cheaper, they have limited range and require multiple stops along the way which not only makes the total trip take longer, but is also more taxing on the patient’s overall health status.
GET A QUOTE
CONTACT US
Using the options listed below, send us as much information as possible about your case. Our representative will reach out to you as soon as your file is reviewed
GET CHECKED-UP
A Licensed Medical Doctor comes to your location to perform a thorough medical assessment of your condition and also to start documenting your medical history
DOCUMENTATION
Most airlines require specific documentation (MEDIF) that need to be reviewed by their medical professionals in order to obtain clearance to board the aircraft
FLY OUT
Once clearance is obtained, we aim to set off by the first available flight. If required, we can also arrange for on-tarmac ambulance drop-off for a more convenient boarding
As soon as you retain our services, we send out a Licensed Medical Doctor to your location, anywhere in Mauritius, as soon as possible in order to obtain a complete medical assessment of your condition. This allows us to determine the level of care that will be required during your trip and the type of package that would be most appropriate for your case.
- Available 24/7 Worldwide
- + 230 5459-9999
- info@arkmedicals.com
-
ARK Medical Services,
Tamarin, Mauritius
- 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Daily (Including Week-Ends & Holidays)
GET A FREE QUOTE NOW
Although you can reach out to us through this simple contact form, we also understand that you may have Medical Records and/or Multimedia that you wish to send to us. In that case, we would recommend that you email us directly at info@arkmedicals.com
TESTIMONIALS
RANDALL H.
After undergoing emergency surgery in Mauritius, my wife went into Septic Shock and DIC. Our Insurance Company refused to repatriate her back to the United States and all of the Airlines Companies declared her "NOT FIT TO FLY." After 45 days of being stranded in Mauritius with my wife in the ICU, we got in touch with the wonderful team at ARK, especially their lead Surgeon, Dr. K. Within a few days, we were on an Air Ambulance from Mauritius to Djibouti, Djibouti to Turkey, Turkey to Iceland, Iceland to Canada and Canada to the USA. My wife's life was in Dr. K's hands for an entirety of 34 hours. Dr. K never once rested and did everything he could to get her home; and he did everything humanly possible to make this miracle of a feat a reality. After that experience, my wife spent 6 months in the hospital in the US and today, he is absolutely fine and we are even planning on taking our next trip very soon...
My father needed to be brought to India for an advanced Spine Surgery that could not be performed in Mauritius. ARK Medical Services provided us with Dr. V, an amazingly caring and compassionate doctor who not only treated my father like his own but who also took care of my entire family during this trip. To Dr. V and everyone at ARK Medical Services, especially Mrs. D, we want to say "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You."
LECKRAM C.
FAADIL B.
Ma femme a eu un accident pendant notre lune de miel à l'île Maurice et elle s’est fracturé le tibia droit. Elle ne voulait pas se faire opérer à Maurice, et aucune compagnie aérienne n’a accepté de la laisser monter à bord de leurs avions. Après que trois entreprises proposant des services de médical escort à Maurice aient refusé de nous aider, et que même notre médecin de l’assurance ait refusé de l’accompagner, nous avons contacté ARK Medical Services. Ils nous ont fourni un médecin ayant de l'expérience en orthopédie pour accompagner ma femme. Il a organisé son transfert directement sur le tarmac, et pendant le vol, il a géré sa douleur et a rendu notre retour à la maison aussi confortable que possible. Elle a pu se faire opérer par notre médecin de famille en France, comme elle le souhaitait, uniquement grâce à ARK Medical Services.
ABOUT US
ABOUT ARK MEDICAL SERVICES®
We are a privately-owned company based in Mauritius. We are a team of professionals from diverse backgrounds with a strong portfolio of Medical and Non-Medical Professionals who allow us to provide a stellar service at affordable rates.
OUR COMMITMENT
To provide you with the best service at the most competitive rates