What Are the Benefits of Non-Emergency Medical Transportation?

December 4, 2019 12:03 am Published by

Ride hailing, or ride sharing, has been around since long before Uber and Lyft. If you think of taxis or even stagecoaches, these are all examples of individuals using a shared form of transportation to reach a specific destination, rather than public transit which follows a pre-determined route.

We are all aware of the many benefits of ride sharing or ride hailing for our everyday lives, but what about using a similar system for accessing medical care? There are many ways that non-emergency medical transportation in Tacoma, WA can benefit the community and you.

What is non-emergency medical transportation?

Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is a ride-sharing or ride-hailing service that transports individuals to places where they can receive medical care. Unlike an ambulance, which is for emergency situations, NEMT is used for things like doctor appointments, routine medical care and even inpatient/outpatient medical services. Now that we’ve defined NEMT, let’s talk about its benefits.

Providing access to care

Low-income or underprivileged individuals often put off care, don’t seek care or fail to maintain care due to lack of affordable means of transportation. In most states, NEMT works with local funding programs to provide these individuals with a safe, reliable and affordable way to access the care they need.

NEMT also benefits those who are not considered low-income or underprivileged, but still lack a reliable form of transportation. Many elderly or disabled individuals who cannot drive themselves use NEMT to gain access to care.

Managing chronic conditions

As the population across the nation ages, there is an increasing number of individuals who require regular care to manage chronic diseases. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 75 percent of the population over the age of 55 have at least one chronic condition. NEMT helps these individuals by providing them with regular transportation to their appointments and treatments needed to managed their disease.

Reducing the strain on family

If you have a family member or are yourself an individual who needs help getting to the doctor, you know how difficult it can be to coordinate appointments around your family’s other commitments. NEMT helps alleviate some of that stress and burden by managing the transportation aspect for you.

Safety and reliability

You may be wondering why you should use medical transportation in Tacoma, WA instead of some other ride-share service, like Uber. For starters, non-emergency medical transportation is specifically designed to meet the needs of those seeking medical care. From having accessible vehicles to experienced staff, NEMT goes the extra mile to ensure riders receive the proper care, from pickup to drop-off and every mile in between.

If you or a loved one need a reliable form of transportation to gain access to care, let Around the Sound help. We offer expert medical transportation in Tacoma, WA that you can trust. We offer accessible transportation for wheelchairs and gurneys, as well as the expertise to transport dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. To learn more about how we can help you or your loved one, call us today or visit our contact page.

Categorised in:

This post was written by Writer

Comments are closed here.