AMERICAN AIRLINES WILL LAUNCH SKYCAARESM SERVICE FOR TRAVELERS WITH MEDICAL NEEDS

LATEST IN-FLIGHT MEDICAL INITIATIVE IS ANOTHER "FIRST" FOR AIRLINE INDUSTRY

In another first for in-flight medical care, American Airlines will start a new service called SKYCAARE to provide skilled medical companions for travelers who need limited medical attention or care during their flight. SKYCAARE companions are registered nurses – usually flight nurses – with advanced medical experience, training and certifications.

American will introduce the new service in phases beginning Feb. 19. Initially, SKYCAARE service will be available on certain domestic flights to or from American’s Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth hubs. The program will be expanded gradually to include other domestic and international flights.

"People with medical conditions may need to travel for a variety of reasons," said Dr. David McKenas, American’s corporate medical director and architect of the SKYCAARE program. "Some may need medical care that is not available in their hometown, while others might need to return home after becoming ill during travel.

"Not all people with an illness require an air ambulance, but that is often the only option available and it can be a very expensive one," McKenas added. "American’s new SKYCAARE program offers personalized attention from skilled medical travel companions at an affordable price for passengers that do not require the full range of medical services provided by more expensive air ambulance services."

Under the program, the traveler buys two adjacent seats in first class or the main cabin at a 30 percent discount off the full fare and also pays an hourly fee for the SKYCAARE nurse.

"SKYCAARE is a great program, but it’s not intended to provide extensive medical services, so it is not for everybody," McKenas said. "Travelers requesting SKYCAARE service must be stable for air travel, should not pose a health risk to others and should not be expected to need intensive or extraordinary medical care during flight."

A customer can request SKYCAARE service by calling American Airlines reservations. The potential SKYCAARE client will be referred to a SKYCAARE coordinator, who will assign the traveler to a SKYCAARE nurse based on the traveler’s medical needs and nurse availability.

Before travel begins, the SKYCAARE nurse will consult with the traveler, as well as the traveler’s family and physician, to obtain certification that the traveler is stable for air travel and directions regarding what in-flight care, monitoring or services the traveler will need. The SKYCAARE nurse obtains standing orders from the traveler’s physician regarding medication, special meals, oxygen and other care. Based on these instructions, the nurse may feed the traveler, administer medication and provide other care that can be reasonably rendered during a normal commercial airline flight. The SKYCAARE nurse can also help the traveler use the restroom.

American is already looking at future enhancements to the SKYCAARE program. The company is researching the feasibility of using medical telemetry equipment that would give ground physicians 'vision' into the aircraft and enable them to provide real-time advice based on downloaded medical information. With these devices, a ground physician would be able to monitor the traveler’s blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen, EKG, appearance and other key measurements and advise the SKYCAARE nurse on appropriate in-flight medical care.

American was the first U.S. airline to equip its aircraft with automatic external defibrillators and enhanced medical kits. "SKYCAARE is a logical extension of our previous in-flight medical initiatives and is an expression of our commitment to provide special services for travelers who may need medical attention or care during flight," McKenas said.