Focus on emergency medical transport

Below is information about Focus on emergency medical transport

The Momentum Medical Scheme has established a partnership with Netcare 911 to offer our members comprehensive emergency medical transport benefits throughout South Africa. This service is available around the clock, seven days a week, ensuring that our members can receive immediate assistance in the event of a medical emergency. In such situations, whether you find yourself in need of help or if a family member or friend is available to assist, you should promptly call Netcare 911 at 082 911 to request ambulance services. Upon receiving your call, Netcare 911 will conduct an assessment of the situation, gathering essential information such as medical details and the location of the patient. Based on this evaluation, an ambulance will be dispatched to transport you to the nearest available hospital, utilizing either road or air ambulance services. The decision regarding the type of transport will be made by Netcare 911, taking into account the specific circumstances surrounding the emergency.

In instances where Netcare 911 is unable to dispatch an ambulance directly, they will coordinate with one of their preferred contracted ambulance service providers to ensure that you receive the necessary care. It is important to note that if you happen to become unconscious during an accident and are unable to reach out to Netcare 911 yourself, you must ensure that they are informed as soon as possible about the details of the alternative service provider that was utilized for your transport.

In addition to emergency responses, Netcare 911 is also contracted for inter-hospital medical transfers, which require pre-authorization in certain scenarios. These scenarios include transfers necessitated by an upgrade in care due to the unavailability of specific specialists or services that are covered under the plan, provided that the patient is stable enough for transfer. Furthermore, inter-hospital and facility transfers are only covered if the required level of medical care is not available at the current facility. For scheduled inter-hospital or facility transfers, it is imperative to obtain pre-authorization by contacting Netcare 911 at 082 911 prior to the transfer, as coverage is contingent upon authorization from Netcare 911.

The following scenarios are not covered:

• Any emergency transport that has not been authorized by Netcare 911.
• Transfers from home to a hospital for planned procedures. Coverage is limited to emergency cases that have been assessed via phone by a Netcare 911 consultant.
• Discharge from a hospital to home or any other place of residence, including facilities such as old age homes.
• Transfers from a rehabilitation facility to a home or other residence.
• Transfers conducted for social reasons, such as a patient wishing to relocate to a facility closer to family members.