Family member ride-alongs during interfacility transport

A significant portion of the Air Med Team (AMT) flight missions involves interfacility transport of the ill or injured to receiving facilities with comprehensive resources available for their care. In an effort to help meet the psychologic needs of our patients and their families, AMT developed a Family Member Ride-Along program that allows family members or significant others to accompany patients during interfacility transport. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ride-along program from the perspective of the family member passenger (FMP) who has accompanied a patient during transport.

Thirty-one family member ride-alongs responded to a 10-item questionnaire using a scaled response. Questions were designed to evaluate the benefit of the ride-along program to patients and family members from the FMP perspective.

All FMPs surveyed thought the program was beneficial to either themselves or the patients. Several benefits described by FMPs included the ability to offer emotional support to the patient, provide patient information to receiving physicians, and sign releases for medical treatment. During interfacility transports, FMPs did not hinder either patient care or transport safety.

Our study shows that allowing FMPs to accompany patients during transport benefits both patients and family members.