A Reliable NEMT Service Provider Offers Clarity on Staffs’ Safety Practices
A lot of discipline and intense hard work goes into making of a dependable and efficient NEMT service provider. A non-emergency medical patient transport services is found to be utmost effective when the owner or operator of such a company hires staff that understands everything about safety behaviors expected of them. On the other hand this also means NEMT company ought to have a clearly laid out policy statements, managerial support, parameters of safety practices etc. Unless they have these defined, there will always be confusion and chances of miscommunication.
A good NEMT service provider clearly explains purpose and importance of safe transportation policies and procedures. They set systems in place to ensure what action the management will take to ensure policies and procedures are understood and followed. They ensure that all employees, at all levels understand and observe safety practices.
In this post we shall focus on the skill criteria that an NEMT service provider takes into account while hiring their drivers and staff that is on board NEMT vehicle which offers transportation service to patients with various conditions and problems. Drivers and assisting staff are the backbone of success of an NEMT service provider. If they don’t perform their duties to meet or exceed the expectations of patient hiring their service the whole machinery or work model fails.
Well Defined Driver Hiring Criteria & Procedure
For organizations operating NEMT services it is important to select the best qualified drivers, both in terms of experience as well as past driving record. While selecting drivers the NEMT companies consider among many things, minimum age limit; driving history of applicant should be free of serious violations; a thorough background check that also includes credit and criminal background check. Some NEMT service operators also go as far as doing substance testing.
A driver whose job is to ferry patients needing assistance while being transported is expected to possess a profile of critical values and skills required to perform such specialized job duties and meet safety related responsibilities associated with such patient.
NEMT service providers hire only that staff which displays knowledge, understanding, and who practice safety values; possess work ethic and interpersonal skills needed to interact with fellow colleagues and passengers.
All the drivers and patient handling staff inside the vehicle undergo a meaningful road test and patient handling test to have their skills and knowledge related to patients’ safety evaluated and approved before being assigned the real job. For example the assisting staff should be familiar with operation of passenger entry/exit devices, especially lifts and restraint systems etc. Drivers should know to safely perform vehicle inspections, should have knowledge of defensive driving techniques; maintenance and repair procedures etc. They should be safe and highly skilled and attentive drivers who are capable of steering clear of intersection crashes, lane change collisions, rear end collisions when situation arises.
Taking Care of the Passenger
Non-emergency medical transportation service providers deal with a wide range of customers in their day to day working. Many types of patients with varying disabilities depend on their services to get on with their life independently. It is responsibility of the drivers and assisting staff to take care of the passengers and ensure that they are not injured while in the process of entering or exiting the vehicle or while in transit.
Drivers and assisting staff of NEMT vehicle is trained to protect patient from typical injuries that occur during loading or unloading patients and while in transport. Typical injuries include slips, trips or falls, more so for passengers on wheelchair. The NEMT staff ensures to use lift and ramp properly while entering or exiting the patient from NEMT transport.
The driver avoids situations that call for unsafe maneuvering; they ensure wheelchair securement and other occupant restraint systems are working properly to ensure smooth transition. It is the primary concern and responsibility of the driver to ensure that patient does not encounter any physical or mental discomfort while being transported. A good NEMT service provider develops procedures that have to be adhered to, in order to ensure that passenger needs are understood and communicated clearly to drivers and assisting staff. NEMT vehicles in service are always under scanner and monitored by service providers.
Prior to starting a trip it is responsibility of the driver or inspecting staff to thoroughly examine the vehicle to ensure operation of the lift and ramp is good to go. It is for driver and assisting staff to ensure that wheelchairs, scooters and patients are secured before engaging the vehicle.
Fragile, Elderly Patient Transportation & Care
NEMT service providers and managers apprise drivers and assisting staff with the special needs of elderly and disabled persons whom they will be serving. This may include informing them about patient’s prosthetic, orthopedic, and sensory aids. The NEMT driver and staff are given instructions about methods of communicating with patients who may have visual, hearing, speech, and mental impairments. Other medical conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, respiratory ailments, back or spinal conditions, degenerative muscle or bone conditions, cerebral palsy, nervous disorders, etc.
It won’t be an exaggeration to say that an NEMT service provider is as good as the drivers and assisting staff it hires.