Part of running a medical facility is ensuring patients have access to the care they need. Medical offices should ensure patients have access to reliable transportation services for appointments that cannot take place via telehealth. Some patients use specialized medical equipment, like wheelchairs, or constantly worry about how they are getting to their appointments. Medical professionals should want to ensure their appointments go smoothly and their health comes first, so this extra step is worth it to reduce their stress.
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Increase Patient Numbers
A reliable transportation service gets patients to their appointments safely and on time. This means there are fewer missed appointments, from same-day cancellations to no-shows. This is especially helpful for low-income patients who cannot afford to pay a fee for missed appointments. Plus, it’s essential for patients to show up so they can be properly diagnosed and treated for their conditions.
Transports Medical Equipment
While some patients have access to transportation through family and friends, their vehicles are not always walker or wheelchair accessible. This is why it’s important to use ADA-compliant transportation services to move patients and their essential medical equipment. Creating a safe, comfortable ride for patients builds trust because they know the medical practice will take care of them. They are more likely to schedule additional appointments at a medical facility as needed.
Patient Satisfaction
One of the biggest reasons to offer transportation is patient satisfaction. Medical practices should take this extra step to reduce their stress and anxiety with door-to-door services. Patients no longer need to worry about using public transportation or finding a friend or family member to drive them to appointments. Medical offices should focus on getting their patients to and from their appointments, so the patients can focus on getting the care they need and maintaining their health.
Improved Staff Productivity
It is not uncommon for medical staff, like nurses, to transport patients. However, there are times when the medical staff needs all hands on deck at the medical facility. When the staff-to-patient ratio is high, nurses and doctors must take on a bigger workload. Now that medical offices can use transportation services, professional drivers take care of getting patients to and from appointments. Then, medical personnel can focus directly on patient care, which improves productivity and reduces staff burnout.
Potential Referral Service
Few things are more worrisome than receiving a much-needed referral and realizing you cannot get to the facility. Medical practices do not want their patients to miss out on important medical care, so transportation service extends to those with a referral. Additionally, it’s important to try to refer patients to specialists who also offer reputable transportation services. This allows medical offices to receive more patients with referrals while helping regular patients receive necessary care.
Providing transportation services ensures patients do not miss appointments, from routine check-ups to pre-operative exams. Patients may already feel nervous about their appointment, so this is a way of reducing their worries. Plus, the staff can focus on caring for patients rather than transporting patients, allowing nurses and doctors to offer the healthcare that patients deserve.