A Huge Relief
June 9, 2025
A Georgia resident praises AirMed International for caring for her father after he suffered a medical emergency while on vacation.
Kathryn “Laine” Dupree is a true believer in having the right kind of health coverage, especially in times when you’re far away from home. The Georgia resident has long touted the benefits of signing up with AirMed Care Network (AMCN) for its medical emergency membership, but two events that involved her father, Randolf Robinson, made her even more convinced that air medical memberships are “must-haves” for anyone serious about their medical well-being.
Dupree, a sales manager for AMCN, the membership service of Global Medical Response, says the first event happened in December 2023, when Mr. Robinson was being treated at a local ER in Georgia after he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and needed vascular surgery. Because he was a member of AMCN’s emergent program, he was able to get a hospital-to-hospital air transfer in one-fourth of the time that it would have taken had he arrived by ground. His AMCN membership also meant he had no out-of-pocket expense for the flight.
Then, the second event happened, and it was even more frightening than the first because Mr. Robinson was out of state when he fell ill and required immediate medical intervention.
“My dad was in Santa Fe, New Mexico in September 2024 on a 14-day vacation when he suddenly began hemorrhaging,” recalled Dupree. “It was eventually discovered that he had colon cancer and needed to undergo an immediate operation. Fortunately, a hospital in Atlanta said they had a bed available and could do the surgery, but that he needed to get there fast.”
Once again, membership turned out to be a lifesaver for Dupree’s father, but this time, with the “Fly-U-Home” membership, which is operated by AirMed International (AirMed) and of which Robinson is also a member. Dupree says once she contacted AirMed, she knew her father was in good hands.
“They handled everything from A to Z,” said Dupree. “They picked him up at the hospital in Santa Fe, rode with him on the ambulance to Lear 35 jet and then took him to the hospital in Atlanta. They also kept me continually informed of his condition during the three-hour flight. I never felt like I didn’t know how he was doing.”
Dupree goes on to say the staff’s commitment to care continued way after the medical aircraft landed in Atlanta.
“You have no idea the huge relief I felt when I was able to wait on the tarmac and see my dad after he landed,” said Dupree. “And then when he did, the staff continued with their great service, riding with him to the hospital and handling all the paperwork with the incoming hospital. Never once did I have to talk to the hospital; AirMed managed everything, and our Fly-U-Home membership ensured that we never saw a bill for the transport.”
Dupree says the fact that AirMed flew her father when they did, made all the difference in his recovery. She says doctors told her that if he didn’t arrive when he did, his outcome could have been unfavorable. Today, she says her father is progressing well and that the experience, while difficult as it was, made her even prouder to work alongside a company that really cares for its patients.
“It’s one thing to promote a service and another to actually experience it,” said Dupree. “Today, I can tell you from firsthand experience that AirMed lives out its commitment to patient care to the fullest of the definition. From the moment they take the call to the time the patient is transferred to the incoming hospital team, they do it all. Their presence, care and expertise really left me feeling a sense of huge relief.”
*Benefits of the AirMed International membership program include AirMed facilitating transports to a hospital of the patient’s choice in one of the program’s medically equipped, private aircraft or by medical escort on a commercial flight. Under the AirMed membership plan, the patient must be hospitalized more than 150 nautical miles from their home. The patient pays no out-of-pocket expenses for the flight and AirMed coordinates all aspects of the mission. Additional membership benefits include worldwide air medical evacuation and repatriation to the hospital of the patient’s choice, commercial medical escorts for less extreme circumstances and transportation of mortal remains. Benefits of AirMedCare Network Membership include no-out-of-pocket costs, only when transported by an AMCN provider. Membership terms and conditions apply for both AirMedCare Network and AirMed International memberships.
Dupree, a sales manager for AMCN, the membership service of Global Medical Response, says the first event happened in December 2023, when Mr. Robinson was being treated at a local ER in Georgia after he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and needed vascular surgery. Because he was a member of AMCN’s emergent program, he was able to get a hospital-to-hospital air transfer in one-fourth of the time that it would have taken had he arrived by ground. His AMCN membership also meant he had no out-of-pocket expense for the flight.
Then, the second event happened, and it was even more frightening than the first because Mr. Robinson was out of state when he fell ill and required immediate medical intervention.
“My dad was in Santa Fe, New Mexico in September 2024 on a 14-day vacation when he suddenly began hemorrhaging,” recalled Dupree. “It was eventually discovered that he had colon cancer and needed to undergo an immediate operation. Fortunately, a hospital in Atlanta said they had a bed available and could do the surgery, but that he needed to get there fast.”
Once again, membership turned out to be a lifesaver for Dupree’s father, but this time, with the “Fly-U-Home” membership, which is operated by AirMed International (AirMed) and of which Robinson is also a member. Dupree says once she contacted AirMed, she knew her father was in good hands.
“They handled everything from A to Z,” said Dupree. “They picked him up at the hospital in Santa Fe, rode with him on the ambulance to Lear 35 jet and then took him to the hospital in Atlanta. They also kept me continually informed of his condition during the three-hour flight. I never felt like I didn’t know how he was doing.”
Dupree goes on to say the staff’s commitment to care continued way after the medical aircraft landed in Atlanta.
“You have no idea the huge relief I felt when I was able to wait on the tarmac and see my dad after he landed,” said Dupree. “And then when he did, the staff continued with their great service, riding with him to the hospital and handling all the paperwork with the incoming hospital. Never once did I have to talk to the hospital; AirMed managed everything, and our Fly-U-Home membership ensured that we never saw a bill for the transport.”
Dupree says the fact that AirMed flew her father when they did, made all the difference in his recovery. She says doctors told her that if he didn’t arrive when he did, his outcome could have been unfavorable. Today, she says her father is progressing well and that the experience, while difficult as it was, made her even prouder to work alongside a company that really cares for its patients.
“It’s one thing to promote a service and another to actually experience it,” said Dupree. “Today, I can tell you from firsthand experience that AirMed lives out its commitment to patient care to the fullest of the definition. From the moment they take the call to the time the patient is transferred to the incoming hospital team, they do it all. Their presence, care and expertise really left me feeling a sense of huge relief.”
*Benefits of the AirMed International membership program include AirMed facilitating transports to a hospital of the patient’s choice in one of the program’s medically equipped, private aircraft or by medical escort on a commercial flight. Under the AirMed membership plan, the patient must be hospitalized more than 150 nautical miles from their home. The patient pays no out-of-pocket expenses for the flight and AirMed coordinates all aspects of the mission. Additional membership benefits include worldwide air medical evacuation and repatriation to the hospital of the patient’s choice, commercial medical escorts for less extreme circumstances and transportation of mortal remains. Benefits of AirMedCare Network Membership include no-out-of-pocket costs, only when transported by an AMCN provider. Membership terms and conditions apply for both AirMedCare Network and AirMed International memberships.
