Healthcare is a basic need and a right for everyone. Nonetheless, some patients face serious issues when they need to be transported to a facility that can treat their condition. This could be for any number of reasons ranging from the patient being in a vegetative state to the patient lacking the financial muscle or medical insurance to sort the bills. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) usually does an excellent job of filling this gap.
Who benefits from NEMT services?
It’s not just the vulnerable who can benefit from NEMT. Even someone that would typically find no problem with taking care of themselves might find themselves temporarily inhibited thanks to a last-minute surgery, like say, after a road accident. Any post-surgical patient is not allowed to get behind the wheel until they have fully recovered or until their doctor has cleared them. This is still true even if the surgery didn't involve their hands or legs. This is because surgery usually weakens the muscles in the body and that coupled with the post-procedural medication make it very unsafe for the patient to drive. Since using public means in such situations is less than desirable, NEMT is usually the best option.
By definition, NEMT can be said to be medical transportation services that are given to patients who are not too sick, but they still need some extra assistance — the kind of assistance they wouldn't get from an Uber driver. NEMT service providers are usually specially equipped for transporting riders on stretchers, in wheelchairs, or with any kind of special need.
Booking NEMT
Booking a NEMT service is usually via certified brokers, and it is typically done through a portal that locates transport providers that are closest to the requester. For instance, you just search for “medical transport services near me.” The work of the broker is to determine the eligibility of a person as per the funding rules before the trip is initiated. For the aged and disabled, the state will usually take care of the cost, but some people's medical cover has this factored in as well.
Some people argue that this is an unnecessary cost, but the truth is, it is better to spend the little money to ensure the patient is transported well rather than manhandling them and then having to spend even more money trying to fix the damage that will be caused. The booking portal also takes into account the charges that will be charged by the transport provider for the trip in question. Good software should send the trip details of the provider to allow someone to either accept the trip or broadcast the request to other providers depending on the rules of the given match. The whole idea is to provide a transparent way of transporting the patient from the hospital or from their current location to the hospital.
Conclusion
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation plays a vital role in healthcare. Just imagine trying to board a bus with one of your legs in a caste. Not only is it extraordinarily inconvenient but also not very safe for you. It is better to get a NEMT service to ensure you get home without exacerbating the situation.
