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We Need Transport, Now What?

Posted on Jan 16, 2010 by MMT   |  

Often we are the first phone call that one makes once they’ve determined that their family member needs to be moved from one part of the country to another. In fact, we are often told that we were the easiest part of the whole ordeal. Obviously, all situations are different but there are some basic guidelines that we can offer to steer you in the right direction.

FIRST- Determine that the patient is medically stable to transport.
If the patient is in a hospital, most physicians won’t write orders for a transfer until the patient is medically stable. If they’re in a nursing home, rehabilitation facility or residence then they are more than likely stable enough for transport.

SECOND- Determine where you would like to move the patient. Are you transferring them to a different house, a nursing home closer to you, an assisted living facility or another hospital?

THIRD- If it’s a private residence that you wish to move them to, determine what the patient’s needs are and how you will be able to address them. Will you want to set up a Home health agency to come in a few times a week to assist with bathing? Will the patient need 24 hour nursing aid or sitter care? Will you need to have any medical equipment delivered (special bed, oxygen, walkers, wheelchairs, etc…) If it’s a nursing home, rehabilitation facility or assisted living what paperwork will they need for the admission process? Will the new facility assist you in transferring the patient’s benefits to that new state (Medicare/Medicaid/Insurance)? What are their rules for admissions? (Will they accept new patients any time of day or night? Weekends? Holidays?)

FOURTH- Once you have found a location that will accept the patient and determined the date that you would like to move them, it’s time to call us. We will travel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays. So if the new facility wants the patient only between the hours of 9am and 12 noon for instance and the transport will be 14 hours, we would suggest scheduling our pickup time to be about 8pm the evening before and travel through the night. Keep in mind that some patients prefer evening travel and some prefer to travel during daylight hours. The choice is yours. Do check with the receiving facility to make special arrangements if the hours that you prefer to travel will result in after hour’s arrival at the new facility.

FIFTH- There are additional details that we will discuss with you once the transport is scheduled that will help us meet the needs of the individual person. Their preferences including temperature, pillows, blankets, snacks, music, movies, etc… will be obtained so that we can offer the most comfortable transport possible.

Tagged: medical transportation, stretcher transportation, non emergency medical transport, long distance stretcher, patient transport, stretcher transport, gurney transport