What Are the Different Modes of Medical Transportation?
Age and circumstances catch up to everyone over time. We get older. It becomes harder to drive a car, get up and downstairs. Events could leave us with injuries, regardless of our age. Some injuries may require emergency medical attention, while others may push us to get assistance for follow-up medical attention. No matter what your need is, medical transportation exists to help. There are many different modes of medical transportation. Understanding what each is and when is the right time to act is critical.
The Existence
Medical transportation exists for many reasons. Helping eliminate the trouble of driving on your own is a significant benefit. You may be in an accident where emergency care is necessary. It could also be that you have a doctor’s appointment, yet you cannot drive to your destination. In either instance, this transportation will eliminate the need for you to drive anywhere.
It could be you need a mode of emergency transport or non-emergency medical transportation(NEMT). Either way, its eliminates the risk and hassle of driving on your own.
Safety and convenience are what you get when using a medical transportation service provider. No matter your age, there may be times when you cannot make it to a hospital or another medical facility on your own. You driving a car, walking, or using any other mode of transportation may be too dangerous.
It could be that you need medical attention even while en route to the center. NEMT service providers help to keep you safe. These services provide you a convenient option to get necessary medical attention.
Should You Use Medical Transportation?
A lot of users may be hesitant to use medical transportation. You may think you can tough it out and get to that appointment. Never be too stubborn to the point where you purposefully do not use medical transportation! Anyone who needs medical care and cannot safely get to their appointment, hospital, or wherever you need to go should use medical transportation.
Emergency medical transportation is critical and can be life-saving. Professionals with qualifications can give you medical care on your way to the hospital, keeping you comfortable, eliminating pain, and addressing health concerns as the ambulance drives.
NEMT is also critical and can keep you safe. If you are in a wheelchair and cannot drive a vehicle, the NEMT service provider will get you to your appointment on time. Never skip an appointment or delay your arrival at a medical center because you do not want to use medical transportation; that is why it exists!
The two types of medical transportation services include NEMT and emergency medical transportation. You want education on when to use each service offering. The more you know, the better the decision you can make. It all comes down to the difference between an emergency and a non-emergency situation.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
The first type of medical transportation service is non-emergency medical transportation(NEMT) . A NEMT service is one you use when you need assistance getting to an appointment, but it is not an emergency.
The type of appointment you use a NEMT service for would be an annual physical check-up. A follow-up appointment is another fine example. A qualifying individual is someone who cannot drive a car on their own. The person may not even own a vehicle. You could also be someone in a wheelchair. In these instances, a provider will come to pick you up on schedule, bring you to your appointment, then bring you back to where you live.
Options as part of NEMT vary based on your needs. You could get a courier service, with a vehicle picking you up and bringing you to your appointment. Ambulatory ride in a sedan is also available. These are medical vehicles, not with the same advancement as a traditional ambulance, that will help keep you in a controlled setting on your way to your appointment.
If you have an injury or disability, medical transportation can help you get into a wheelchair or stretcher for travel to your medical provider. There may be times when you need to get on a plane, and in these instances, flight escorts are available. The options are endless and can assist you in whatever your travel needs may be.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Emergency medical transportation is different as it is critical in-the-moment transit to get you to a hospital or similar medical facility fast. It is the type of transportation service provider you connect with when calling 9-1-1. The two varieties you get as part of emergency medical transportation include a Basic Life Support Ambulance or an Advanced Life Support Ambulance.
A Basic Life Support Ambulance can assist you with emergency medical care en route to a hospital when you have primary injuries. When you do not need critical and intense care to remain alive while going to the hospital, this is the provider you will connect with. Your 9-1-1 provider and on-scene medical professionals will make the determination of the care level necessary.
Advanced Life Support Ambulance vehicles help to address critical care requirements in a flash. You may need medical attention immediately, with intensive care necessary to keep you living while on the way to the hospital. The equipment and medical professionals in these vehicles help to make that a reality.
Medical transportation providers look for ways to make things easy for patients every day. When in a crisis, emergency medical services is there to give you immediate medical attention during transport. For those unable to get to routine doctor’s appointments, NEMT exists.
Often insurance will cover both of these services; it is best to check your policy to understand coverages. In the end, understanding both types of transportation options and when to use each can help you make the right decision when the moment arises.