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SAS Non emergency transport: Identifying Good Service from the Bad
The Non-Emergency Medical Transport (NEMT) service is a growing business. As more and more people are recognizing the need for a special needs transport service, many new companies are mushrooming out to get a share of this very specific niche. Every credible and authorized NEMT service provider must have accreditation and registration from the right organizations. This means having ADA-compliant vehicles, certified drivers accreditations from medical and health care organizations like National Safety Council and the American Safety and Health Institute. Any self-respecting cabulance business owner will make sure that all the necessary papers and documents are available and all standard operating procedures and done. So what sets one cabulance service apart from the rest? Given all things equal – all the documents and clearances to get a patient from Point A to Point B, it’s the things commonly unseen and beyond what is expected! In essence, the true value of the service is not merely the service itself. It’s going beyond the expected that makes the difference. As much as 75% of the clients of such services cater to people in their advanced age – 70 to 90 years old. The rest are between 16 – 40 years of age. Can the cabulance personnel relate with these people? It’s not a matter of delivering people to and from specific places. Remember, they are not packages and parcels to be delivered. They’re human beings requiring attention. One cabulance service working in lets their drivers ride wheelchairs and stretchers as part of their training. This allows them to feel what it is like to be bound to this equipment and what it feels like to be transported. Now, that’s the commitment you’d expect from people who want to provide quality service. This cabulance service called Sam’s Ambulette Service (SAS) NEMT got consistent praise from their clients for guaranteeing their comfort during the trip no matter how far or how close it may be. Moreover, they are known to provide unparalleled bedside manners. Bedside manners, or in this case cabulance manners is very important. Some services can seem like herding cattle or just delivering parcel or mail. Of course this is business and the more clients that every vehicle gets the better. But that’s where good services become notably different from the pathetic ones. As many other cabulance service pride themselves with the number of patients they transport or the speed at which they can accomplish lift loading and unloading, patients’ comfort are given less importance. As frustrating as it may be, there are service providers that simply count how many patients they herded from one place to another instead of actually counting how much quality moments they have spent with the client. When was the last time you were treated with respect and dignity? Let’s make it simpler, when was the last time your service provider showed you patience? The need for a NEMT service allows people with medical needs and physical limitations to be with family, participate in social events or simply enjoy little pleasures of life. But would you even miss a special holiday simply driving people you don’t even know? Unfortunately, this draws the line between cabulance services that are simply in for the money from those customer-focused companies. It’s sad to know that only a few NEMT service providers can be expected to provide their transportation during the late hours of the night or during holidays. Of course some may say that they can but they will charge extra especially during holidays. Know that you have a choice for better service! How many actually brave the snow or ice, endure the long travels, and not to mention the traffic that may set back a trip for several hours? How many are willing to put their clients comfort over simply getting the job done quickly? Unfortunately not many will. In business, statistics matter a lot. How many clients this week? How fast is the turn around time? How quick do they load or unload patients? How many trips accomplished in a day? How many vehicles are available? Statistics matter. But when it boils down to providing the best service only 1 statistic matters:The Client. ...read more
By SAS NEMT Wheelchair Transportation April 15, 2011
5 Important Tips in Choosing a Wheelchair Cabulance
Though an NEMT service is a specialized service, it does not mean that every service provider is the same. You’ll be surprised when you put them side by side. Here are some tips on how to find the best cabulance service for your needs. Cost matters a lot The mere fact that you are looking into NEMT service means you know that the ambulance alternative is a costly and unnecessary one. But the even in the cabulance industry, cost varies. So it is important to know what you are paying for. Otherwise, cost can become a big issue again. Ask your service provider if they have standard rates or if they charge extra during the holidays. Likewise, see if they have the same rates for day time travel and night time travel. Moreover, know if there is any minimum number of hours that you need to cover and if there are any additional charges should you exceed the hours allotted for your travel request. Many cabulance services are more than happy to give you the information. However, there are still others that will take some arm twisting before they give you any information. A good way to canvass the industry for cost effective alternatives is to go over their website. Services that are confident of their rates usually showcase them in their sites. However, if you find a site that does not explicitly show their rates, then expect to be overwhelmed by their quotes. Remember, price is basic information required by clients. If you need to go through hoops just to get info about it, then consider twice if their service is really customer-focused. Credentials determine expertise Are they trained and certified? Are they medical trained? Are their vehicles compliant? Are they well-versed in the transport of people with special needs? These are some important questions that you need to answer. If the NEMT service provider fails to show important and relevant accreditations and certifications then you are wasting your time and money. Might as well get a rental service instead! Certifications and accreditations ensure that the personnel, the vehicle and the service itself are monitored and conform to specific standards. Without these certifications and accreditations there is no assurance of quality services from the NEMT provider. So before you sign up with a cabulance service, make sure you ask for their credentials. Remember, simply being in the industry for years does not mean they are authorized to provide NEMT service. If you want peace of mind, ask for certifications and accreditations. Satisfied customers Having satisfied customers is a hallmark of quality service. When a company gets repeat business it means they have answered the needs of their clients. Take note however that the amount of customers does not entirely mean that the company is providing outstanding service. Many cabulance services simply pack the schedule of their vehicles and personnel to get as much clients as possible. Many in fact take their daily trips as a measure of their success as a company. But allow me to enlighten you on this. Some service provides may have as much as 20 transport jobs per vehicle a day. That may seem impressive but it actually is not worth bragging about. Vehicles and personnel can only take so much transport jobs in a day. If you push the limits of the vehicle and the personnel you lower the quality of service. When you lower the quality of service you put lives at risk. Sometimes cleaning and maintaining the vehicle in between jobs have to be postponed just to keep up with the schedule. So, it does not mean that cramming more jobs in a day means satisfied clients. Rather, look at repeat business and loyal customers. This is the true indication of a job well done. Availability of service What good is a cabulance service if they don’t have anything for you? Unfortunately many NEMT service don’t have the resources to provide you transport. In fact, many even use this as a marketing spiel highlighting that they are truly in demand. Again, what good is a cabulance service if you can’t avail of it? This may sound over simplistic but, finding an NEMT service that actually can provide you their services is worth considering. The truth is if you are in need, you won’t care if the company is so great that it is overbooked. You need it and thus must have it. That is very simple and that is straightforward. How can you enjoy their service if you can’t even get it? Some of the worst times to get a service is during weird hours of the day (or night) and special holidays. If they charge you more just for these reasons, then consider looking for another NEMT service provider. Customer Service There is high premium given to quality customer service. Customer care becomes even more important when dealing with people with special needs. So check every aspect of the company’s processes from booking, to paying down to the basic interpersonal communications. Quality service goes beyond merely getting you there on time and in good shape, but what goes on from point A to point B also matters. In fact, every detail from the time you inquire to the next time you require a cabulance service must be given importance by the company. Remember, though this is a transport service, you don’t have to feel like another luggage being delivered to a new address. The need for a specialized service like that of NEMT is growing. More and more people are considering this particular service as a regular form of transportation. As such, it is important to know that there are choices. There are budding companies with exemplary services and there are large old timers in the industry. In the end, it’s not how long they’ve been in the industry or how many people they transport on a daily basis. What matters most is you and how you are treated. You are not just a statistic to be used in marketing NEMT service. You are a special person requiring special transportation needs. ...read more
By SAS NEMT Wheelchair Transportation April 15, 2011
Overcoming Difficulties of Transporting Patients
It is no joke, having some in the family who requires special care is a big responsibility and a huge commitment. Even the most basic task of going for a check up is made more difficult because of physical and medical restrictions. Such limitation not only takes a toll on the family but hinders the progress of the patient as well. Challenges at home Everything changes when you have to care for someone. One of the most basic and most demanding challenges is mobility. Everything has to be wheelchair transportation accessible or stretcher transport friendly. But the truth is not everybody has the financial capability to do that. What happens next is a downward spiral of many patients and their family. It’s frustrating to see someone cooped up in his or her room just gazing out the window which he/she can not look through. It’s downright frustrating to have someone lie at the same space without the comfort of being outside. You want to help and make things a lot better, but your hands are tied down as well. The limiting factor is mobility. Of course you can carry the person around from the bed to the sofa or a chair beside the window. Sometimes you need to do the same for basic things like going to the bathroom. If you have some at home who has limited mobility, then you know what this feels. If the person caring for the patient feels exhausted, just imagine how the patient feels. Being carried around, moved through the corridors using a wheelchair or pushed through doors on a stretcher, it can likewise be overwhelmingly frustrating. The emotional impact of being too dependent even for the simplest task of getting up and moving a few feet away is just overwhelming. Having a physical or medical limitation can be a prison in itself. We are just talking about mobility inside the home! Keeping appointments becomes harder The difficulties of transporting a patient with special needs becomes increasing more alarming when you need to go outside the home. Most public transport systems are not equipped to transport people with special needs i.e. wheelchair transportation or stretcher transport. Of course efforts are being done to accommodate them but still, public facilities are still lacking. Even if they are, would you take the chance at jostling people for a ride during rush hour? Most likely you won’t. Of course cabs are a more personal and “private” option but they are not wheelchair accessible in most cases and obviously not designed for stretchers. You’re left to struggle with either getting an ambulance service or just calling doctors for home service and visits. Either way, they are too expensive for the average person. Apart from the lack of public transport option that can accommodate people with special physical needs, the medical supervision during the trip is likewise a big concern. Anything can happen from point A to point B. From monitoring the patient’s condition to simply ensuring comfort, the medical needs of patients never stop – even during transport. A gift of freedom Emancipating the patient from the prison-like limitations is something all relatives would want for their ailing family. Giving them to freedom to go out and experience the simply joys of being with family and friends or participating in basic social engagements and event is a gift as precious as life itself. Being able to go to Sunday church service, attending a friend’s birthday party or wedding of a family is gift many people living through physical and medical limitations want. The world does not stop when a patient’s mobility is challenged. Life does not stop when patients are limited by medical conditions. Unfortunately, many feel that it has simply because of the limitations their physical and medical conditions present. Wouldn’t you want to give the gift of freedom? Going over the hurdles Physical limitations and medical conditions prove to be hurdles that test human spirit. The idea that one can do only so much is a pessimistic view of what can be done for the comfort of the patient. What ever can be done must be done. When transporting patients, one need not dig too deep into their pockets just to get an ambulance service. There are specialized non emergency medical transportation companies that provide an option for people with special physical and medical needs. Not many people know about it that’s why they resort to the usual expensive and inappropriate choices. However, NEMT is available for anyone. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Service is specifically designed for the transport of people with special needs. You need not worry about wheelchair accessibility or stretcher lifts since they provide all the necessary equipment and vehicle for such purpose. More than just a transport service, they offer medical supervision especially for people with special medical needs. The safety, the comfort and convenience are all worked out into the equation. NEMT provide you with the means to go over hurdles that would usually stop people at their tracks. It offers the opportunity for you to give the gift of freedom from the confines of a lonely world. It allows you to give back life to a patient. The difficulties of transporting people with physical and medical needs are real. Whether it is the huge cost for an inappropriate emergency service, the lack of facilities in public transportation or the lack of a medical supervision required for the patient, the difficulties of transporting patients is real. Coupled with the emotional burdens of both the family and the patient, things can turn bleak in an instant. But there is hope for everyone in need of a special needs transport service. With (SAS) Sam’s Ambulette Service (NEMT), there is no reason to miss a doctor’s appointment, a laboratory test appointment, the sermon on a Sunday service, the wedding of your family or even a special dinner at your restaurant of choice. Moreover, with this transportation option, the patient has a chance to experience and participate in life’s pleasures once more. ...read more
By SAS NEMT Wheelchair Transportation April 09, 2011
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