FAI transported 225 Covid patients in isolation pods
Since 2020, German-based FAI Air Ambulance has saved 225 Covid patients – most of these patients have been isolated with the EpiShuttle
Safe patient transport from outbreak hotspots to areas with intensive care units available has proven a critical factor when fighting a pandemic.
Volker Lemke, Managing Director in FAI Air Ambulance, says that they investigated the market for single-unit isolation units and decided to acquire the EpiShuttle in 2020. “We deployed the EpiShuttle as a security measure for our pilots. Contrary to our medical staff who also work in hospital settings, our pilots were not used to this kind of patient transport. At the beginning of the pandemic, there was a lot of insecurity regarding transmission, routines, severity and so on.”
After almost two years, the main rationale for deploying the EpiShuttle has changed in line with the development of the pandemic. Plus, patients benefit from being transported inside an EpiShuttle.
Patients are more relaxed in the isolation pod
“We see that the patients are more relaxed and comfortable when being transferred in an EpiShuttle. When the patient is awake and conscious, they have access to an iPad or iPod with music and movies. Of course, we make sure that we have some good and new movies downloaded,” Lemke said.
FAI is specialized in long-haul transport and returning holiday travellers and expats back to their home country. The EpiShuttle is used mainly on long-haul transport missions, intercontinental flights that take up to 16-26 hours.
“We have done more than 80 per cent of all Covid-transport using the EpiShuttle, which clearly impresses the industry. We have always had the reputation of doing difficult and long flights, and the implementation of EpiShuttle has helped us maintain the top position in the industry. During the worst periods of the pandemic, we had an economic advantage compared to our competitors as our fleet was still operative. The EpiShuttle helped us stay operative because of the safety advantage,” Lemke said.
The isolation unit has also been used for transporting patients with tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
Clara Bullock
Clara Bullock is a writer for ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue. Initially a freelance writer for publications ranging from gardening news to music magazines, she has made the transition to writing about the ins and outs of travel insurance and aeromedicine. In her spare time she reviews books on Instagram and eats pasta.