Limitations to Transportation: An Alternative Solution for Ambulance Usage and Increase Healthcare Accessibility

McLean, VA, October 18, 2015 (Newswire.com) - By: Ayse Kurtoglu, MT (ASCP), MHA

Transportation is not a traditional discussed health policy, but it is a key determinant of health outcomes especially for individuals dealing with chronic health disorders or has disabilities. Communities that lack good transportation system face many barriers to good health and access to healthcare. Also, low income and rural communities are disproportionately harmed when transportation systems are underfunded, don’t operate effectively, or can’t address the needs. This can contribute to health disparities, decrease the community health, and increase the long-term health cost.

The U.S. population age 65 and older increased by more than 12.4% from 1999 to 2009 (1). More than one in five Americans age 65+ do not drive because of poor health or eyesight, limited physical or mental abilities, concerns about safety, or because they have no car. More than half of non-drivers, or about 54% Americans, stay home on any given day and about 19 million have disabilities. For those over the age of 65, this equates to roughly 22% fewer trips per year less than non-senior individuals or, 15% fewer trips to the doctor, 59% fewer trips to shops and restaurants; and 65% fewer trips for family, social, and religious activities (2). Isolation is especially acute with these individuals whom accessing proper transport can be problematic.

Generally, the elderly and disabled have most conditions requiring transportation for chronic illnesses. Majority, about 80%, of individuals over the age of 55+ chooses to travel independently in comfort and with an enhanced quality of life with a qualified transportation. In fact, only 5% of seniors change residences, and majority try to have their impendence in their homes. About 8 million of the elderly population have some form of a daily requiring assistance and often have some medical requirement that requires wheelchair-assisted transportation. With a qualified professional transportation help many elderly and disabled can have quality of life, such as safe traveling, get in and out of bed, have less pain when moving around, and need less urgent unplanned medical care.

Each year, millions of Americans miss or delay preventative medical care due to their inability to access proper transportation. Research shows that transportation is one the most common barriers faced in accessing timely and necessary medical care because many of these recipients simply lack the accessibility to a car, have physical conditions, and inability of family members to help which limits the access to get to or from medical services. There is an increase number of patients need continuing professional transportation services when they need health visits and/or general personal traveling.

What is Nonemergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)?

Nonemergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Services provide a professional transportation including a broad range of transport and support services for those who are recovering from chronic illnesses, which are disabled, chronically or terminally ill, and need assistance with the essential transportation. About 70% of those using NEMT services are age 65 and older, and/or disabled.

These populations with limited access to transportation can resort to dialing 911 for non-emergency medical transportation placing an undue burden on city and county emergency response systems. NEMT is the preferred form of medical transportation in non-emergency situations for transport and in situations in which family members are unavailable or cannot assist. The cost for NEMT services tends to be significantly lower than that for emergency transportation and is a more assistance than taxi service providers. Many healthcare providers including physicians, and other healthcare facilities can use NEMT as a source of transport since it reduces the missed medical appointments, and provides safe-on time travel. An NEMT can offer many solutions to the growing challenges of treating chronic conditions by providing a cost-effective ways to manage transportation between patient and medical settings on an ongoing basis.

NEMT provides consistent, efficient access to early intervention/preventive medical care for disadvantaged recipients who would otherwise have no means of accessing healthcare services. As a result, providing access to preventative treatment prior to escalating healthcare needs has proven to be a less costly and more effective means of keeping low income, elderly, and disabled recipients out of hospitals and nursing homes; allowing such a individuals to remain available members of the community and live healthier independent lives while lowering overall health care costs.

References:

1.      U.S. Administration on Aging, “A Profile of older Americans: 2010”

2.      DeGood, Kevin. "Aging in Place; Stuck without Options: Fixing the Mobility Crisis Threating the Baby Boom Generation." Transportation for America (2009): 1-56. Print.