One phone call brings the expertise of Cleveland Clinic physicians, nurse practitioners, critical care nurses, paramedics and allied to patients in need anywhere at anytime across the globe.
Our Team
Where Have We Been?
- »Domestic Missions
- »Countries Visited
Argentina
Canada
China
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
France
Great Britain
Greece
Guatemala
Italy
Kuwait
Mexico
Panama
Portugal
Saudi Arabia
Switzerland
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
On average Critical Care Transport Team makes more than 4,500 transports a year.
Community Outreach
Cleveland Clinic's Critical Care Transport Team is devoted to serving the community. In an effort to provide the highest level of service, we have developed a Community Outreach Program to ensure we stay in close communication within the community and with professionals around the world.
Modes of Transport
We care for and transport critically ill and injured adults and children via the following services:
- »Fixed Wing
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Our Fixed Wing service eliminates geographic boundaries for access to Cleveland Clinic care.
- Dedicated, medically-configured Cleveland Clinic Aircraft
- Domestic and International capabilities
- Cleveland Clinic medical team on every mission
- Management capabilities include:
- Full mechanical ventilation
- Ventricular Assist Devices
- Diagnostic imaging
- Temporary Pacemaker
- Point-of-care lab analysis capabilities including: ABG; blood chemistries; hemoglobin; and hematocrit
- Invasive line insertion and monitoring including: Swan-Ganz; Arterial, Central Venous and Intracranial Pressure
- »Rotor Wing
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Cleveland Clinic's Critical Care Transport Team has three online Sikorsky 76C+/C++ Model, dual pilot, IFR-, WAAS-capable aircraft with a range of 250 miles with speeds of up to 170 miles per hour.
This aircraft provides the largest usable interior for medical transport, allowing for the use of cardiac-assist devices while providing room for up to four medical crew members.
- »Ground Mobile ICU
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Two Mobile Intensive Care Units are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These units provide routine service within approximately 75 miles of main campus.
Non-time-sensitive missions outside of the 75 mile range can be arranged upon request.
Critical Care Transport available Domestic and Worldwide
- »How to Request a Transport
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Acute Care Transfer Line*
877.379.CODE (2633)
*For STEMI, ACUTE CVA, INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE, AORTIC SYNDROMES only.
All Other Transports:
Call 216.444.8302 or 866.547.1467
Referring providers please have the necessary information to easily request a transport.
Patient Information
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Diagnosis
- Cleveland Clinic Medical Record if available
- Location of patient (ED, ICU, CCU) and phone number of referring location
- Description of your patient’s current medications
- Current invasive lines, assistive devices, drips, or needs for telemetry
Be sure to fax the demographic/insurance sheet to: 216.445.7222
Please have your contact information available:
- Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- Fax Number
- Email
- »Additional Resources
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Online Access to Your Patient's Treatment Progress
Whether you are referring from near or far, our new eCleveland Clinic service, DrConnect, can streamline communication from Cleveland Clinic physicians to your office. This new online tool offers you secure access to your patient’s treatment progress at Cleveland Clinic. With one-click convenience, you can track your patient’s care using the secure DrConnect website. To establish a DrConnect account, visit eclevelandclinic.org or email drconnect@ccf.org.
Direct to physician: Our 216.444.2200 or 800.223.2273 (outside of Cleveland) operator-assisted number will connect you at the physician’s office. You may also call Patient Access Hospital Transfer Services at 216.444.8302 or 866.547.1467. This direct-access, 24-hour phone line can connect you to a Cleveland Clinic physician.
For more information: call 800.223.2273, ext. 55580, visit clevelandclinic.org/services, or email medicalconcierge@ccf.org.
Contact Us
Acute Care Transfer Line*
877.379.CODE (2633)
*For STEMI, ACUTE CVA, INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE, AORTIC SYNDROMES only.
All Other Transports:
Call 216.444.8302 or 866.547.1467
Global CARE Membership
Cleveland Clinic Global CARE Program is ideal for avid travelers and their families.
Becoming a member of the Cleveland Clinic Global CARE (Critical Care Air Rescue and Evacuation) program provides peace of mind. When you enroll you can be assured that if you are ever hospitalized while traveling more than 150 miles from your home, you can still receive Cleveland Clinic care. No patient is too sick or too far for transport on our fixed-wing aircraft, and there are no preexisting condition restrictions. We provide transport from anywhere in the world to Cleveland Clinic or the destination of your choice.
If you are unable to fly commercially due to your medical condition, day or night, our team is prepared to assist you. One phone call brings the expertise of Cleveland Clinic physicians, nurse practitioners, critical care nurses and allied health professionals to you. While in the air, our specialty teams provide care while maintaining communication with other physicians on the ground at Cleveland Clinic.
- »Why choose Global CARE?
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There are many travel insurance and premium credit card plans out there, but the Global CARE program is different. Dedicated to providing the highest quality of care, our team of Cleveland Clinic healthcare professionals is aimed at offering critically ill patients safe and rapid transport to Cleveland Clinic or the destination of your choice. We can begin treatment before arriving at one of our facilities, thus providing the highest possible quality of care to you and your loved ones.
Global CARE also makes the process as easy as possible, unlike most travel insurance programs.
- There are no deductibles or co-pays for your transportation
- There are no claim forms to fill out if transport services are used
- There are a number of travel benefits, such as emergency language translation and travel assistance for family members
- With your Global CARE membership, you are covered all year round, inclusive of all of your travels
- There are no pre-existing condition clauses that would prevent your transport in the event of an emergency, though there are some restrictions for organ transplant patients.
If you are a Global CARE member, and you are hospitalized and cannot travel by other commercial means, we will transport you to a Cleveland Clinic facility or the destination of your choice at no cost to you.
Need more info?
Call us at 866.442.5092 or email us at ccglobalcare@ccf.org.
- »Pricing/Program Details
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Program Benefits
The greatest benefit that the Cleveland Clinic Global CARE Program can give you is peace of mind. If you or your loved ones are traveling, you can be sure that your healthcare is in good hands.
If you are hospitalized more than 150 miles away from home, and you cannot travel home by commercial means, Cleveland Clinic will transport you to one of our facilities or the destination of your choice without any additional co-pays or deductibles. Your care will begin right away, and you will have the expertise of a Cleveland Clinic medical team while in transit.
Additional Features
- Pre-trip intelligence to include worldwide health alerts, travel alerts, visa & passport requirements, and destination information: Members of Global CARE will have access to a web-based portal that will direct them to various travel intelligence resources. Members can also call during business hours for information.
- Emergency language translation services: If members are injured in a non-English speaking country, our foreign language service translators will ensure that communication between the attending doctor and Cleveland Clinic staff is seamless and efficient.
- Travel assistance for family members to join critically injured or ill patients: Our travel experts will reach out to any listed contacts and assist in any way possible in order to reunite them with their loved ones as quickly as possible during their time of need.
- Toll-free access for evacuation and general program information: All numbers will be free of charge to members no matter where or what time of the day the call originates.
Annual Plans
Global CARE Plans
Individual membership: $400
Family membership: $600
Need more info?
Call us at 866.442.5092 or email us at ccglobalcare@ccf.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
- »How is the Cleveland Clinic Global CARE Program different from travel insurance?
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With the Global CARE Program, there are no deductibles, no claims to file, no maximum dollar limits and no out-of-pocket expenses. Also, travel insurance normally covers just one trip, but our annual plan covers every trip you take, all year long, and you can utilize your membership up to twice per year.
Travel insurance provides transport to “the nearest appropriate facility” and that can be anywhere but back home where you want to be. Travel insurance also states that it is the insurance company’s choice if they deem your transport a “medical necessity.” That means you have no control over how, when, if and where you will get treated. A member of the Cleveland Clinic Global CARE Program can always decide if they want to be transported to the Clinic or the destination of their choice—no matter how far away it is.
Let’s say you live in Chicago and have a boating accident, heart problem or bad virus in the Caribbean. You may be taken to that “nearest appropriate facility” hospital in Puerto Rico and can be there for several weeks. With our program, you get the quality and expertise of Cleveland Clinic care the moment our airplane touches down at your location.
- »What does “No Medical Necessity” mean?
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It means that unlike travel insurance or premium credit card plans, members of the Global CARE Program are not subject to their insurance company’s decisions on if and when transport can occur. The hospitalized member or his /her family decides if the patient is better off at Cleveland Clinic. When the physician confirms that the hospitalized patient cannot travel by commercial means, a phone call is made to arrange for the air evacuation.
- »My premium credit card covers air ambulance service, so why would I pay for the Global CARE Program?
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First, read the fine print, and then do the math. Your card probably gets you to the “nearest appropriate facility,” and may even pay to fly someone to be with you, but you have no control over your medical care or destination. It will also cost a great deal of time and money for anyone to be at your side during your recovery. No premium card or travel insurance guarantees you the choice of getting on a medical flight home (or to any hospital), where you can enjoy the comfort and loving support of family and friends — not to mention your own doctors.
- »Are there any hidden deductibles, fees or co-pays?
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No. The only cost is the annual fee. With the Global CARE Program, there are no out-of-pocket expenses for your transport. Not a single claim form to fill out either. Also, unlike travel insurance, our annual plan covers every trip you take, all year long, and you can utilize our transport services in the event of a medical emergency up to twice per year.
- »How ill or injured must I be to be eligible for transport?
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You must be hospitalized, over 150 miles from your home, and unable to travel by commercial means (such as an airplane, cruise ship, or rental car).
- »Does this affect my health insurance coverage?
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No. No claims are submitted to your health insurer should you require air medical transport because, as a Global CARE program member, your transport from hospital bed to hospital bed is prepaid.
However, hospitalization and related medical expenses are subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of your health plan.
- »Do I have to be in perfect health to qualify for membership?
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No. In fact, we do not need any information about your current or past health status on our membership application. However, individuals who are hospitalized at the time of enrollment are not eligible for transport services for that hospitalization. Some restrictions regarding organ transplants are also found in our Terms & Conditions..
- »Will Cleveland Clinic transport the injured/sick person’s traveling companion as well?
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If room allows, a traveling companion(s) and one small piece of luggage may accompany the patient. We will also help with travel arrangements for any traveling companions who cannot accompany the patient.
Contact Us
For membership inquiries please call: 866.442.5092
Global CARE Memberships
P.O. Box 932096
Cleveland, OH 44193
