Staying on top of your health is more than eating right and exercising. But for many individuals, this routine task which many take for granted requires coordination with a transportation provider. This could be due to age, disabilities, or an inability to afford a vehicle. This is an especially troublesome problem for the rising senior population. For the elderly and disabled, non-emergency medical transportation is not a luxury – it’s a necessity.

There is an Increase in Outpatient Care

Most care is now being done on an outpatient basis. Unfortunately, there’s also an increase in the number of people with disabilities or chronic conditions. During the 1960s, less than two percent of the U.S. population had a chronic illness; in 2004, that number had increased to seven percent. And of course, the “baby boomers” are reaching retirement age, so the elderly population has grown rapidly. In 2014, one out of every seven Americans was elderly. That number is expected to double over the next 50 years.

Chronic conditions that require frequent care include arthritis, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney disease, and diabetes. In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that 78 percent of adults in the U.S. who are 55 or older struggle with at least one of those conditions, often more than one with treatment costs hovering around three-quarters of U.S. healthcare expenses.

Individuals with kidney disease often require multiple dialysis appointments per week. Just one missed appointment could land someone in the emergency room, leading to higher medical costs.

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Can Help

Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is a service designed for those who need care but lack other forms of transportation. The vehicle is often a commercial van specially equipped to transport the patient to the clinic safely and is usually operated by a trained health professional, such as a registered nurse or paramedic. Providers who offer these services are typically required to be certified in first aid and CPR.

Going back to the example of a patient with chronic kidney disease, non-emergency medical transportation can help them keep all those dialysis appointments, and avoid the emergency room or hospital stay (and its associated costs). This could be life-saving for the nearly 20 million adults with chronic kidney disease.

This service is also useful for patients’ families. Sometimes, we just don’t have time to drive our parent or other family members to the doctor, especially if we have other family members (such as children) to take care of. Knowing a health professional is driving them to their doctor or clinic can be very reassuring.

Worth Taking a Look at

Two factors that are likely to continue are the increase in elderly patients and the increase in patients with chronic conditions. These people need specialized services. Taxi shared rides, and public transportation services are just not enough. Non-emergency medical transportation is clearly the best option for these individuals and their families.