Long Distance Medical Transport Services have become an important part of the healthcare system. While catering to emergency and non-emergency needs, the service has helped saved lives and improve access to healthcare solutions.
With the growing demand for long-distance medical transportation services, there are a few quality and safety requirements from patients. More patients expect to enjoy the highest quality care and attention during transportation, irrespective of their health condition. Medical transportation service providers need to consider these needs while observing necessary precautions to ensure patient safety and satisfaction.
As a medical transportation service provider, a few key things remain important. They include the quality of medical transportation vehicles, drivers and driver training, medical staff aboard the transport, and the medical equipment available for emergencies.
While patients will be looking for more value for their money, here are some of the most important safety considerations they deem necessary. These safety considerations could help service providers glean what patients want and how to optimize their services for improved customer service.
As a patient or long-distance transport service provider, these safety tips are most important.
Onboard medical assistance
Patients understand they are paying a premium to access long-distance medical transport services. With such a premium comes the need to enjoy value for money. In addition to this, patients want to feel safe knowing they are in good and capable hands. The presence of onboard medical assistance offers this reassurance.
Medical transportation vehicles should be equipped with the right emergency medical equipment to address passenger health needs. The equipment should be coupled with trained and experienced staff capable of providing immediate medical assistance when needed.
Onboard medical staff should at least have access to basic-life support training to keep patients alive and well until they reach their destination.
The number of onboard medical staff
Short and long distance medical transport services are different in many ways. With long distance medical transport, a lot can happen within the travel time. Service providers must cater to possible eventualities by providing patients with the right support in the form of an adequate number of medical staff.
The number of medical staff required for each trip can be evaluated based on the patient’s health status, condition, and distance to be traveled. However, medical transport service providers should provide extra staff and medical equipment on long distance travel to cater to eventualities or emergencies.
Experience in the long distance medical transportation
Patients are more interested in experienced service providers. Experienced service providers offer a higher level of confidence and reassurance. Choosing an experienced medical transport service provider often means getting the right level of care, attention, and tailored services – based on the company’s extensive experience dealing with other patients.
Choosing an experienced company may be the major difference between a successful medical transport service and an unsatisfactory service. With experience, the company can be expected to have selected the right drivers with the right training for the trip, the right team with in-depth knowledge of basic resuscitative or life-support skills, and the right onboard equipment and staff for the journey.
A valid and verified transportation medium
Vehicle quality is one of the most important parts of choosing a short or long distance medical transportation service provider. Patients want value for their money, and one of the best expressions of the value they crave is the quality of medical transportation vehicles offered by the service provider.
Whether a senior or not, it is important to choose medical transport service providers with verified transportation mediums. The verification process may include an inquiry into the vehicle’s type and condition, the cabin size and whether it will cater to the onboard medical team and family, the driver’s experience, onboard equipment, and support, etc.
Patients cannot afford to do trial and error with their medical transportation needs. This means that service providers need to show commitment to the highest level of comfort and customer service to win patients over.
As a patient, you stand a better chance of enjoying improved quality services when you research each medical transport service provider deeply, read reviews, explore their medical transport fleet, and gauge their reputation.
Emergency readiness
Long distance medical transports are often unpredictable. Non-emergency situations may turn around in status and require immediate emergency help to keep the patient alive and stable. Patients consider this as part of their selection criteria to improve safety and satisfaction.
As a patient, choosing an emergency-ready medical transport service provider can make all the difference when it matters the most. As service providers, being emergency ready can also improve customer satisfaction, help build a strong and solid reputation, and overall improve business.
