If you have cancer or another serious medical condition, you want to have the best possible treatment. But what do you do if you’re in a small town without specialized care or treatment options? What if you need a second opinion for a medical diagnosis?
The decision to get medical treatment away from your hometown is an important one. Here are a few suggestions to help you make the best decision about treatment:
Review all your options with your doctor. It may be that the best treatment for you is further than you can comfortably drive, but Angel Flight West can help with no cost flights to medical treatment or other pressing need, so don’t let distance stop you from making the best choice for you and your family. If you don’t live in one of the 13 Western states Angel Flight West serves, you may be helped by one of our sister organizations.
Take your doctor’s suggestions and ask others about their experiences. If your doctor can’t connect you to other patients or medical professionals, try reaching out to patient groups or social workers located where you are considering treatment. If you have a rare condition, look for a national association dedicated to the condition, and you should be able to find a group that can help. Type your diagnosis plus the word “association” into any search engine for links.
Speaking of the internet, it can be a very helpful or a very scary place when you’re ill and seeking information. Do yourself a favor and use credible websites for information about treatments or procedures. Try the National Institutes of Health, the Mayo Clinic, the American Cancer Society, or a similar organization for your information search. If a website is trying to sell you a miracle cure, they may not have your best interest at heart.
Speak with your insurance or Medicare provider about the options you and your doctor have chosen. Ask for a social worker at the hospital to help you understand the fees and coverage. Make your best decision based on all the information available.
Of course, if you need free medical transportation to treatment, make a flight request to Angel Flight West. Call us today: (888) 426-2643. Or click here to request a flight online. We will need further information verified by a healthcare professional. For more information about making a flight request and all the helpful types of missions we fly, please click here. You may have some big decisions to make, but once you do, our volunteer pilots can help you get there.
