What Aircraft do you Use?

We mainly use a Beechcraft King Air 200 ...

considered as one of the best Medevac aircraft of its class and the preferred choice of medium-to-short distance aero-medical providers, due to larger cabin space, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

 

General characteristics

• Crew: 1-2
• Capacity: 1 flight doctor, 1 flight nurse and 1-2 patients

Performance

• Maximum speed: 322 mph (280 knots, 518 km/h) at 25,000  ft (7,600m)
• Range: 2,075 mi (1,800 nm, 3,338 km) with maximum fuel and 45 minute reserve

 

When can a Patient be transported by Aerocare Flying Ambulance??

• Patients that need to be transported distances over 200 kilometers and require advanced medical attention.
• Patients with serious medical complying with the flight criteria.
• See our flight and Call out Criteria, click here .

Are Aerocare’s service covered by Medical Aid/Insurance plans?

• Many Medical Aids cover air ambulance services. It is important to check your plan to determine if there is an air ambulance benefit and what the criteria is. (see flight criteria)
• The referring physician must certify that the transportation by air ambulance is necessary and indicate that transportation by any other means may endanger the patient’s life.
• Some plans require that the transport be required due to a life threatening emergency or that the destination is the closest appropriate facility.

Are there Medically Trained Staff on Board?

Aerocare flights always include a team consisting of one doctor and one ICU flight nurse. Specialized practitioners (such as anaesthetists, pediatricians and neonatologists) are on board when the nature of the emergency flight requires their expertise.

This includes:

• Flight Physiology
• Critical Care Transport Medicine
• Trauma Life Support
• Infectious diseases and hygiene
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Crew member training

The multi-lingual composition of our medical roster enables us to pair efficient medical crew member assignments, enhancing the effectiveness of our communications with medical facilities and patient / family members. Flight nurses are registered nurses with an average of 8 years of emergency and / or ICU experience.

Who manages the Medical Flight Crew?

Aerocare’s Medical Director

Aerocare’s team of doctors, nurses and specialized therapists are led by the Aerocare Medical Director.

Dr Hannes Coetser is a physician and is appointed as our medical officer. The Medical Officer advises on medical issues, provides medical care input and problem solving. He is also responsible for Medical policies and procedures, as well as physician recruitment.

The Medical Officer ensures reliable medical crew member availability, continuity in standards and on-board procedures. All personnel participate in a continuous training program focused on constant improvement of the service and efficiency required to deliver the best service possible.

Can AeroCare assist me in determining whether my insurance will cover the charges?

• Yes. Our Flight Co-coordinator will call your insurance company on your behalf and attempt to obtain pre-authorization.
• AeroCare will submit all claim forms and other documentation required.
• No payment will be required when an authorization is obtained from the Medical Aid

If I must pay out of my own pocket, how much might the service cost?

The following factors determine the final cost of an air ambulance transfer.

• The distance flown,
• Type of aircraft utilized. (Aerocare Flying Ambulance utilizes a Super King Air B200 turbo prop, pressurized, air conditioned aircraft)
• Medical requirements of the patient in flight.
• Please contact our emergency call centre for a quotation. Aerocare tries to accommodate private patients

What questions can I ask to determine if an Air Ambulance company is qualified?

All providers do not offer the same level of quality service. The cheapest company is often not the best choice. A "yes" to the following, is an important response:

• Does the company have a Medical Director?
• Is the company's aircraft licensed by the SACAA (South African Civil Aviation Authority)?
• Is the company licensed as an Air Ambulance? (Part 135 and 138)
• Does the company have liability and malpractice insurance?
• Is the company an actual provider and not a broker?
• Does the company staff each flight with a nurse, paramedic and a physicain?
• Is the aircraft Pressurized and Air Conditiuoned?
• Are the medical crew members trained in altitude physiology?
• Is the Medical Director involved with each flight?
• Does the company provide 'bed to bed' service?

What is "bed to bed" service and why is it important?

• Bed to bed transfer service means that the medical crew is with the patient from the discharging facility, on the flight until arrival at the receiving hospital.
• Although many companies do not provide this service, Aerocare feels that a bed to bed transfer service is very important and we provide this with every flight.
• It allows our crew to maintain continuity in care, even while on road ambulance and also insures that a detailed medical report is given to the receiving doctor and hospital.

Why is it better to deal with an Air Ambulance provider and not a broker?

• A broker normally does not own aircraft, equipment, medical teams or pilots.
• They advertise as an air ambulance service and when they receive an enquiry they call multiple providers and then “broker”  the flight to the cheapest provider.
• They add a profit for themselves to the quote.
• The cheapest provider may therefore, not provide the highest level of quality nor have the capabilities required by the patient.
• The advantage of dealing directly with Aerocare Flying Ambulance is that we can directlycontrol the quality of service since we employ the pilots and medical crew, own the aircraft and equipment, and directly oversee operations.

Does Aerocare provide International Medevac Service?

Yes.

May a family member accompany the patient?

Family members are always welcome at the discretion of the medical and flight crew, subject to the availability of a seat.

What arrangements does Aerocare make for the flight?

Aerocare makes all the arrangements regarding the air ambulance flight.

This includes the following:

• Obtain all information of the patient from the referring doctor. Information needed:

• Patient’s full details. (Name, ID number).
• Medical Aid (a) Main member (full name and ID number).

• Name of Medical Aid and Membership number.
• Patient’s name and Id Number.
• Patients diagnosis.
• Patient’s history.
• Patient’s clinical history.
• Referring doctor’s name and contact number.
• Referring hospital’s name and contact number.
• Receiving doctor’s name and contact number.
• Receiving hospital’s name and contact number

• Consulting with the referring doctor.
• Consulting with the receiving doctor and hospital.
• Determining flight safety and landing accessibility.
• Consulting with Medical Aid for flight Authorization.
• Dispatching of crew after receiving authorization. (Response time 45 minutes after activation by Medical Aid).
• Ground crew arranges Road Ambulances.

What assurances are there that the aircraft is safe?

• All of the aircraft that are utilized by Aerocare Flying Ambulance are operated under the regulations by SACAA. (Part 135 and Part 138). These are very stringent regulations that outline pilot training, aircraft operations and maintenance.
• All flight crew employed by Aerocare Flying Ambulance, are re-trained every six months.
• All Aircraft utilized by Aerocare are designed and equipped for IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) weather operations and have an outstanding safety record.

end faq