NEMT service is not a new concept. But, how it has evolved in the past few years has absolutely revolutionized the way patients’ mobility issues are being tackled in the modern healthcare settings. The credit for this turn-around predominantly goes to emerging of professional NEMT service providers who’ve made the rides prompter, safer, and much advanced for patients with unique medical conditions and the aging immobile citizens alike. Now patients who need and deserve a convenient and quality ride can book them.
Traditional NEMT Set-up
Many hospitals organize non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services for patients unnecessarily stuck and stranded owing to immobility issues. Patients comply and do schedule rides in advance and have the cost borne by insurance, but the system has not always worked. Those who’ve suffered, attribute it to poor reliability, increased costs, lack of accountability, insufficiently equipped vehicles that are dangerous for patients who need specialized facility while being transported. This need gap has led to the revolution we’re witnessing in the NEMT segment.
Modern NEMT Services Extended to Non-Patients (but Immobile)
The new NEMT service providers cater to wide range of customers. Their services are not limited to providing to and fro transport and assistance for non-emergency patients for medical treatments, labs for tests, routine doctor appointments and medical check-ups. These NEMT service providers can also assign an appropriate vehicle to take the immobile individuals to any other event that he or she may have committed to or scheduled. From attending a wedding, mass, going for a family get-together, spend an evening with friends, shopping, beauticians, theaters, or any other.
Advanced Features
These vehicles are specially equipped with tools to take the patients via elevators, lifts, narrow doors etc. From ramp width, to interior space, to safety, everything is taken care of. NEMT service vehicles come with features such as an inbuilt specialty operated wheelchair lifts, various safety system like a ramp that never breaks down. Some vehicles are large enough to accommodate a wheelchair with three or four or even people assisting the patient, vehicles have an alternate patient friendly exit, a first-aid-kit inside the vehicle. The vehicles may be equipped with a stair chair, fire extinguisher, heating and air conditioning; auto-retracting wheelchair restraints and in-motion auto locks provide intuitive safety features in modern NEMT vehicles.
NEMT operators facilitate such well-equipped, high-tech non-emergency medical transportation and necessary assistance to pick and drop you from nursing home, rehab facility or from your own home. The rides can be booked by people of any age; the aged, those suffering from immobilizing injuries and chronic illnesses, or those who are sick, differently-abled, injured, etc. Also people, who can’t drive because they’ve undergone surgery, are on medication that causes impairment, their legs are fractured and are in a cast, or they’re vulnerable etc. Situations that puts driving themselves out of the question.
Primary benefit of hiring NEMT services is that it helps you to live life with dignity and enjoy independence without having to seek favors from friends, neighbors and family each time, saving you many awkward situations and moments. Those in need can book NEMT service independently with a call or an app as applicable. Customers are free to choose a suitable vehicle after filter his/her own unique needs, from the wide range of vehicles available.
Patients and those seeking to hire NEMT vehicles should know that not all vehicles may be alike in terms of facilities so it is for you to enquire and discuss your special requirements with operator before booking the NEMT vehicle. Advanced facilities may include a wide range of conveniences under room-to-room service. This means the customer will be picked up from right inside his/her room, taken to wherever s/he wants to go, and be dropped back to the room safe, done, and satisfied.
Ever since NEMT services have been launched & people have experienced the convenience of riding in a clean and safe transportation, the service has seen an upsurge in demand. Over time, operators have also developed better equipped vehicles to provide superior services to their customers. Now the vehicles are cleaner, spacious, much more secure and safe, technologically driven, and equipped to handle patients with the most unique medical conditions by way of machines as well as caregivers.
Vehicles with GPS
Besides employing friendly, compassionate, and trained drivers, NEMT service providers use vehicles fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS). This means that the service provider at all times is able to track and get real time data of the vehicle, such as the routes, timings, unauthorized stops, etc. The operators know where the rides are going and if they’re on time. It leaves nothing to chance or excuse and ensures that the patient or rider reaches his/her destination on time, under proper care, in safety and convenience and likewise dropped back to his or her desired destination. GPS thus keeps the patient on track with his/her plans from the moment he steps out the door till he’s dropped back.
Compassionate Caregivers & Drivers
The NEMT operators ensure that they employ compassionate drivers and dedicated caregivers to help riders at every step of the way, no matter the distance and destination. Drivers are trained to offer first Aid and provide necessary passenger assistance in case of an emergency; they stick to defensive driving.
The modern NEMT service providers have transformed the NEMT service to a great extent. They not only cater to patients suffering from some medical conditions but also to the aged and the immobile, who are not able to drive or arrange transportation for themselves, but they wish to lead an active lifestyle, and want to maintain their independence as much as possible. NEMT service providers cover all of them and beyond. People who can avail of and benefit from NEMT services include a wide range of people – from the aged who can walk on their own, those who need a walker or cane for assistance, to those who are bed-bound and need to be picked up from their bed and have to be dropped back to the bed.