Chicago and the greater Midwest have a large Indian diaspora with strong family ties to Gujarat, Telangana and Andhra. We coordinate the entire transfer end to end — you deal with one team, not four vendors on two continents.

Two ways to bring a patient home

• ICU air ambulance charter. A dedicated aircraft fitted as an intensive-care unit — ventilator, multi-para monitoring, infusion pumps and route oxygen — with a doctor and paramedic who fly with the patient. For patients who are unstable, ventilated, or need continuous intervention.

• Commercial stretcher transfer. A stretcher berth on a scheduled airline with our medical escort alongside. For stable patients this is a large saving over a charter and, in our experience, the right answer for most planned repatriations from the USA.

• Medical escort. For patients who can sit but should not travel alone, a doctor or nurse travels with them in a normal or business seat.

Our aeromedical doctor reviews the case and tells you which of the three the patient actually needs. We will say so if a charter is not necessary.

What the Chicago–India route involves

• Distance and time. roughly 12,000–13,000 km; an ICU charter typically runs 22–27 hours door-to-door, a commercial-stretcher routing 20–25 hours

• What we line up. Fitness-to-fly assessment, the sending hospital’s discharge summary and imaging, landing and overflight permits, airport slots, ground ambulance at the Chicago end and in India, and admission confirmed at the receiving hospital before wheels-up. We do all of it.

• Origin hospitals. We coordinate discharge from any hospital in and around Chicago, including major centres such as Northwestern Memorial, Rush, University of Chicago Medicine.

• Destinations in India. Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and onward to any Indian city with a receiving hospital.

Getting your quote

We give a written, itemised quote within 1 hour — aircraft or airline, medical crew and equipment, ground ambulances at both ends, permits and oxygen, all arranged by one team with no hidden extras. Share the patient’s medical summary and we’ll respond within the hour.

Insurance made simple

Many international repatriations are wholly or partly insurer-funded. Send us the policy details with your enquiry and we will deal directly with the insurer or assistance company — pre-authorisation, documentation and billing — so the family does not have to.

Why RED

Our own aeromedical crew (not brokered), bed-to-bed coordination, and a single team from the first call to admission in India.