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Category Archives: Wheelchair Transportation

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Author Medi-Ops Team Categories Hospitals, Wheelchair Transportation

NEMT & the Benefit of Designated Vehicles

Here at Medi-Ops, we work with facilities to increase productivity and effective transportation, while decreasing the stress and logistics that often come with it. Specifically with NEMT (non-emergent medical transportation), the immense need for capable vehicles and staff is on the rise.

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

NEMT does it all. Wheelchairs. Stretchers. Ambulances. These services meet patients where they are at (through assessment of medical and financial needs) to give them the best care possible. An increase in elderly populations in the United States means an increase in the need for NEMT services. Due to this increase, service providers must be aware that NEMT options are important to constantly evaluate in order to be prepared for all types of transportation services. Even though this branch of medical transportation is non-emergent, issues of slow response times or late arrivals can not be tolerated. It is truly imperative for facilities to have these services available while always being safe and time efficient, in order to care for patients and their families. 

We offer multiple patient transportation services across the country. The use of personalized operations coordinators helps determine the correct service or operator according to the patient’s medical and financial needs. Obtaining a free quote or scheduling transportation today is always an option for you and your loved ones! Medi-Ops’ can serve both individuals and facilities in this capacity. 

Custom NEMT Plans

Nursing and medical facilities are able to provide that extra level of care when working with Medi-Ops. Custom plans are available and extraordinarily beneficial to these institutions. Here’s how it works…

  1. Medi-Ops meets with the facility to determine needs and wants in relation to  NEMT services
  2. If fit for our network: The facility will be set up with our network of operators and are given a login to track dispatches and vehicles being utilized through our specialized AI technology and algorithms. 
  3. If fit for a dedicated vehicle: We will work with the facility to obtain a vehicle (whether they have purchased a vehicle or we help them obtain one) that will stay at their operating facility for their use, 24/7! 

If the facility is eligible for a dedicated vehicle, they are able to save on operating costs by not having a need to pay a per-mile transportation fee. Since Medi-Ops serves as the logistics and operations behind the vehicle, the elements of stress that come with vehicle and logistics issues, as well as staffing and maintenance, are all taken care of. In addition, we provide vehicle wrapping and other branding opportunities for each facility. We have the option to subsidize the cost of the vehicle with any extra trips that we may have.

Benefits of Having a Dedicated Vehicle

There are several benefits that come with a facility choosing to have a dedicated vehicle. One of the more obvious is dedicated reliable transportation. A dedicated vehicle is just that – absolutely dedicated to the needs of the facility. This creates reliability and efficiency for the facility utilizing the vehicle. 

The day-to-day logistics and plans are all taken care of in order to conduct and carry out all transportation needs, ensuring every trip is completed with the highest levels of quality and care. 

Rarely do you meet anyone that enjoys dealing with vehicle maintenance. Thankfully, a dedicated vehicle means Medi-Ops uses our knowledge and expertise in transportation to bring the most hassle-free process of vehicle utilization and maintenance. This allows us to ensure that method of transportation is up to date with safety, legal, and maintenance standards.

It is absolutely essential to have drivers and staff that are reliable and consistent when dealing with NEMT and medical transportation in general. We are able to educate drivers and staff to have up-to-date training and imperative qualities to be the most successful in serving you, your patients, or your clients. We eliminate problems with staff through an infrastructure of insurance and extensive training.

The decreased cost is a benefit of dedicated vehicles that can’t go unsaid. With a high volume of clients, costs continue to decrease so a dedicated vehicle is just a financial benefit that can’t be passed on. 

While utilization of services such as Medi-Ops increases the safety and efficiency of all medical transportation, not all accidents can be diminished. In the unlikely case of an accident that involves a dedicated vehicle, the facility is adequately covered.

NEMT is an essential part of the medical field and a direct reflection of a facility. Thankfully, Medi-Ops is able to and happy to relieve this burden from any facility or home, providing exceptional service with efficient costs.

Wheelchair Transport
Author Medi-Ops Team Categories Wheelchair Transportation

The Increasing Demand for NEMT in Rapidly Rising Elderly Populations

Older Americans are one of the country’s fastest-growing demographics. The percentage of Americans aged 65 or older has a little more than quadrupled since 1900. This rapidly growing group of people not only brings increased wisdom, great stories, and plenty of life experience but also an ever-growing need for healthcare and transportation services – specifically non-emergency medical transportation.

Why is the Elderly Population Growing?

A prominent explanation of why the elderly population has been growing so rapidly is due to the generation of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964). This generation is now between the ages of 58 and 76, reflecting their baby boom roots. The population increase brings benefits – increased education levels, a drop in poverty for 65 and older Americans, and high life expectancies. However, the challenges of having a large senior population aren’t lost in America today. One of the challenges caused by the high number of senior citizens is a steep rise in the demand for elder healthcare and transportation.

What is NEMT, and Why is it Important?

Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is a service for individuals with healthcare needs in non-emergency situations that require a safe and reliable source of transportation. This service is used to move individuals to and from health care centers for appointments, studies, or other medical needs when circumstances preventing self-transportation are present. NEMT transport comes in many forms – wheelchair, stretcher, ambulatory, and rideshare options all fall under non-emergency medical transportation solutions. Depending on an individual’s medical and financial needs, utilizing these different NEMT forms becomes situational and varies from person to person. 

Transportation barriers can affect any individual – anything from vehicle access to physical, mental, or cognitive limitations that would cause an individual the inability to drive or transport themselves to and from necessary medical care appointments. Due to these barriers, accessibility to NEMT services is imperative, specifically within older populations where transportation challenges are more prominent. Lack of transportation is one of the biggest reasons why an individual misses a medical appointment, and this delayed medical care can create a number of future problems. NEMT assures that a missed medical appointment or service will not be due to transportation concerns.

Medical emergencies are prevented with regular healthcare appointments and treatments. Without transportation to and from these services, an individual can’t have the medical access they require to live the healthiest life possible. The importance of NEMT can’t be denied, as ease of patient transportation is a direct factor in one’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. 

NEMT Challenges

Population increase is extraordinarily apparent in the United States today. If only the population were the sole reason for NEMT needs! Several circumstantial issues can factor into the need for NEMT. Busy schedules don’t always allow for transporting loved ones to and from medical appointments. Increased attention to sick individuals in relation to daily medical advances creates higher needs for medical appointments. Unreliable vehicles or lack of a personal method of transportation can come into play in these situations as well.

Legal challenges also arise in the NEMT world. Each state has different guidelines and regulations for service providers to follow, whether that be certifications or driver evaluation. Therefore, NEMT service providers must comply with their state’s standards. Ensuring your NEMT provider is aware of and enforcing state rules and regulations is vital to a safe NEMT experience.

The last thing you would want when utilizing a NEMT service is late arrivals or slow response times—because of this, using just any service would be ill-advised. Doing your homework and finding reliable and responsive providers make all the difference. Patients have diverse needs, and utilizing experts that can help make the correct call on what kind of services would best influence the patient creates a safe and productive transportation experience.

NEMT and Elderly Communities

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the main goal for many senior individuals. While achieving this goal as a senior requires attention to diet, activities, and relationships, a large part of living a healthy life is consistent medical care and check-ups. Senior living solutions are quick to encourage regularly scheduled healthcare appointments. However, what happens when the time comes to actually get to those visits?

Elderly individuals face more transportation barriers than the rest of the population. Inability to drive, physical and mental limitations and access to vehicles are only some of the transportation barriers faced by this population. Seniors also generally require a higher attention to detail when it comes to healthcare. Regular medical visits are essential, and more healthcare benefits are utilized in this population. Because of these realities, the increasing population of seniors in the United States directly affects the increase in the need for non-emergency medical transportation. Whether you or a loved one falls into this population group, NEMT can be the answer to healthcare and safety concerns regarding transportation.

NEMT at Medi-Ops

Medi-Ops offers multiple patient transportation services and is proud to offer NEMT across the country for your loved ones. Personalized operations coordinators are available to determine the correct service and operator after considering your patient’s medical and financial needs. Obtain a free quote or schedule transportation today!

Proper healthcare requires proper transportation. Therefore, non-emergency medical transportation is undeniably a necessity in the medical industry. With population size on the rise, specifically the number of elderly individuals, NEMT is a growing need and requires attention to detail and personalization. Thankfully, the right services exist to address and recognize the medical transportation needs of each person and their loved ones.

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