SkyHope supports air travel for special medical care

PLATTSBURGH | SkyHope has provided free air travel to medical appointments, helping people, families, children, and veterans access healthcare services since 2010. The non-profit based in East Farmingdale reaches across the eastern U.S. seaboard, a distance of some 800 air miles. The service is supported by a network of nearly 600 volunteer pilots based throughout the northeast, including Plattsburgh. SkyHope is actively reaching out to families in the North Country to let them know they are here for people who have medical appointments far from home. SkyHope is not an air ambulance service. They don't provide in-flight medical care. But they do support families and people who might otherwise have to spend hours on the road traveling to and from doctor visits The Sun spoke with Executive Director Donna Collins about how their service works, how much lead time is needed to schedule a flight, and how they coordinate travel arrangements. "At SkyHope, we're more than a service; we're a compassionate network of volunteers dedicated to removing distance as a barrier for those on their path to wellness," Collins said. "Whether you're a patient seeking specialized care or a veteran accessing vital support, we provide free flights whenever they're needed and for as long as the journey requires. "We firmly believe that no one should face barriers to the best healthcare simply because of geography—let us lift you toward hope and healing." Several years ago, SkyHope surveyed the various areas they serve. "We found that one-third of our flights are from Maine, which is also a rural area," Collins said. And like rural Maine, specialized care for illness, appointments, treatment or clinical trials is often available in urban areas hours from rural North Country communities. "We have been reaching out to the Plattsburgh region," Collins said on Wednesday. "We flew three passengers from Plattsburgh last week." It may seem hard to believe that SkyHope would provide flights at no cost to families or veterans in need. But the entire program works through a volunteer corps of pilots and a central coordinating staff who love what they do. "Most people don't want to ask for help. Asking for help is okay," Collins said. "Having access to the best medical care is critical. If you're a parent, you always want the best for your children. One third of our flights are for children on the East Coast. "And our pilots love to fly. What better way than to fly, helping people? They love to help. They are nothing but compassionate. We see the best in humanity." Many amazing stories have been shared on SkyHope's webpage, some from families that have relied on the service for years. Sometimes pilots become close with families they fly. "We try to make it as easy as possible," Collins told The Sun. "Someone who needs a flight can call or sign up online on the website. We have a button there: Request a Flight." Information on the first page provides the most important details. People looking to reach a distant medical appointment will receive a call back from SkyHope staff. "They provide the date of the appointment and where are they going with contact information. The sooner they fill out all the steps, the sooner we put the flight into the system. The pilots can see the flights needed. We have 600 pilots up and down the East Coast; they know their calendar, and they choose the flights." For lead time, it's best to contact SkyHope at least a week before the appointment. "But we've had people call us the night before, and we try," Collins said. "We have had that happen. We do have pilots in Plattsburgh. Or it could be a pilot in Boston or pilot in Connecticut. "We will do a very good job of communicating. We make sure everybody is comfortable with the experience," Collins said. The pilot will reach out to the travelers, usually a few days before, and explain what type of equipment is on the plane and make sure items like wheelchairs fit on the plane. Asked if weather could impede travel, Collins said pilots always keep an eye on upcoming weather. "Pilots are very much in tune with the weather and will cancel if it is not safe for flight." Travel for care through SkyHope encompasses ground transportation from the airport to the medical facility, clinic or doctor's office, too. "The minute you land, we send you an Uber link. The Uber takes you to the hospital or doctor's office, and then we send an Uber link for the return flight. We pay for transportation from the airport to the hospital or the appointment location," Collins said. These services help ease concerns with cost and distance, making it easier for people with medical challenges to reach care when and as often as they need. "We have patients that have flown with SkyHope 300 times," Collins said. They have logged over 6.5 million passenger air miles. Local families who travel for specialized care or treatment can contact SkyHope online or by phone. And there are back-up plans. "What we do with new patients is encourage back-up plans. The first few flights are backed up with reservations through Southwest, Jet Blue and Cape Air commercial flights. We want them to know we're going to get you there as best as we can." Distance is usually within 800 miles by air, but if a family needs to go further, to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, for example, SkyHope would try to facilitate the trip. "We're going to encourage you to go to different hospitals, get second opinions or participate in clinical trials. We know there are unique diseases and conditions that require special doctors. This is who we fly," Collins said. "If you're on the East Coast, we're going to work with you." SkyHope also provides transportation with Compassionate Flights, such as Body, Soul and Mind flights for veterans. "Anything to help veterans heal. We've accommodated service dogs, provided flights to camps and sometimes flights so family can visit a child in the hospital. Veterans should put flight requests on the website if there are camps or programs that they want to go to," Collins said. "Nothing should get in the way of people getting the care they need most." To find out more about flights for veterans: skyhope.org/pals-for-patriots To find out more about SkyHope flight services: skyhope.org To contact SkyHope by phone: 631-694-7257 "Our staff will reach out to everybody that contacts us, either via email or by calling a phone number provided," Collins said. For those who would like to support ongoing SkyHope services, there is also a donation button on the website. SkyHope (also known as Patient Airlift Services or PALS) is a non-profit organization based in East Farmingdale that provides free air transportation for individuals needing medical care, compassionate assistance or humanitarian aid, connecting them with volunteer pilots and aviation partners across the United States. They arrange flights for those who can't afford commercial travel or face long, difficult drives to specialists, serving veterans, rare disease patients, and others in need.

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