Field Health & Patient Travel

The Annette Island Service Unit will pay for emergency travel to the hospital for the patient and an emergency medical technician (EMT) acting as an escort; however, all patient travel must first be authorized by an Annette Island Service Unit provider. For emergency travel authorization contact the Annette Island Service Unit Health Center:

To reach us, call (907) 886-4741

For emergency travel authorization, the attending physician determines what constitutes an emergency. If your doctor determines that you require emergency transportation, he/she may refer you to a hospital within the Indian Health Service System such as Mt. Edgecumbe or ANMC. If the emergency is determined to need immediate hospital care, you may be transported to Ketchikan General Hospital.

Native beneficiaries, who personally choose to be referred to a clinic or hospital outside the Native health care system, are responsible for the costs of such outside services. Annette Island Service Unit provides an emergency medical technician (EMT) or medical personnel escort for emergency transports. In addition, Annette Island Service Unit will pay for a patient escort other than an EMT if the patient is a child or an elder, who is frail, confused, has difficulty communicating or is critical. All patient escort travel must be authorized by the provider. Escorts are responsible for their own lodging, meals, and other expenses.

Please contact the Annette Island Service Unit Health Center at (907) 886-4741 for additional information on emergency travel authorizations, patient escort policies, Referrals Outside of the Annette Island Service Unit Field Health Services, and transport of the deceased.