Most people do not realize how essential to the proper functioning of our society non-emergency medical transportation services are. However, studies have found that the market for non-emergency medical transportation is worth more than $15 billion every year! On top of that, experts believe that this industry will continue to grow by about 9% per year for at least the next several years.
Accounting for these numbers, it should be obvious that there are going to be a lot of NEMT options for you to choose between. As someone who is not an expert in the industry, how are you supposed to assess which of these options is the right choice for you?
Many people are reluctant to go through a proper consideration process before choosing their NEMT service provider. However, you can account for the most important things while choosing your NEMT service provider without having to spend too much time on it. Read on to learn all about the most important things to prioritize when you are making a choice about your NEMT service!
Consider Different Non-emergency Medical Transportation Service Options
The first thing to keep in mind is that you are going to want to consider a variety of options. We go over a number of things to look for in your desired NEMT service. However, even if the first option you come across has everything you are looking for, it is a good idea to look at some other options.
Done the right way, looking at a few other options does not have to take very long. For one thing, you can use a search engine to find more options than you need to consider with just a few minutes of work.
On the other hand, it is often better if you can receive specific recommendations from people you trust. They will know more about your situation, so they can customize their recommendations to what you need.
It can also be helpful to look at online ratings and reviews for a few of the top candidates you are considering. This way, you greatly increase the probability that you end up with a service that works for you.
If you choose the first company you come across instead, it is a little bit like rolling the dice. Things might go well, or they might not. It is impossible to make things certain, but putting in a little extra work today can maximize the chance that you find the best NEMT service for you.
The payoff for doing so is something you can enjoy over and over again for months or even years to come.
Find Accredited Non-emergency Medical Transportation
It is often a good idea to first assess companies on the basics. There are a few reasons for this.
First of all, it is often fast to check for certain basic things. Second, if a company fails to reach your standards on basic points, you can save time by not even investigating them with regard to other matters.
After all, if a company lacks something as essential as accreditation, you probably don’t want to choose them even if they score well in other areas.
As a result, we recommend checking for accreditation before anything else. If you find an NEMT service that is not accredited, keep in mind that they may be cutting corners in other regards as well. If they try to make up for these deficiencies by offering an amazingly good deal, it is good to remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Choose an NEMT Provider That Prioritizes Safety
Once you have checked for accreditation, you can start assessing how each company prioritizes safety.
There are different ways you can check on this without letting the candidate you are considering know what you are trying to figure out. If you are speaking with someone at a company, it is sometimes a good idea not to tell them that you are trying to decide if they are a safe service provider or not. After all, if they know that, they may try to give the answers you want to hear rather than the true ones.
So what can you ask people to get a sense of the safety prioritization of each company? First, you can ask about their hiring practices. What are their requirements for the employees they hire?
Ideally, you will find a company that requires all of its employees to have safety training and similar qualifications. You can ask about specifics like CPR certification and background checks.
You can ask about whether or not a given company looks into the driving record of its employees. If it does not, it may not know if it is hiring safe drivers or not.
Find NEMT Services Near Me With the Right Vehicles
Before you pull the trigger on any company, check what kind of vehicles they have. Some companies have a variety of vehicles to manage the special needs of different people.
If a company doesn’t have the kind of vehicle you need, you don’t need to spend time investigating them further.
Consider Emergency Responsiveness
You may also want to ask how each company handles emergencies that occurred during transportation. It is good to know that if the worst happens, you will be taken care of by trained people who are ready for anything.
Before making a final decision, ask your candidates what would happen if someone suffered a health problem during transportation. Prepared companies should have exact policies ready in advance for these situations.
Decide if You Care About Front Door Service
If front door service matters to you, make sure to check if your candidate services offer it. Not every NEMT service does.
If you haven’t enjoyed front door service before, you might want to consider prioritizing it. Many people struggle to make it from their front door to the street. Even if it is possible to manage this, it can be more convenient to work with a company that will come to your door to help.
Understand How to Choose the Right NEMT for You
Taking the time to better understand what you should prioritize when you are choosing an NEMT service is an investment. Many people end up going with the first service they come across rather than vetting their options. Taking a little extra time when you are first choosing your NEMT service can provide you with better outcomes for months and even years to come!
To learn more about how to find the right NEMT for your situation, reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!