Introduction to Local Medical Transportation
“Health is wealth” is a common phrase for promoting general well-being. While nobody wishes to be in an accident or experience severe illness, they are unavoidable. The difference between saving a life and losing it often boils down to how quickly they get help. For the longest time, local medical transportation has been the difference when it comes to saving a sick or injured person.
What is Local Medical Transportation?
Local Medical Transportation can be described as a way of transporting a person/patient from one point to another so that they can receive medical attention. The industry of medical transportation isn’t a formal sector yet, but there are signs of growth and specialization.
When it comes to transporting injured and sick people, the military has always been at the forefront of medical transportation. Examples dating back to the Roman Empire, where soldiers inflicted with battle wounds were removed from the battlefield using chariots. Similarly, the French Revolution gave rise to local health care with the development of the ambulancian (A local tent for treating wounds). In recent times, the military helped introduce air ambulances to rescue wounded soldiers.
The benefits of moving a patient quickly and efficiently are undeniable, especially in an emergency. With human lives at stake, it is crucial that local medical transportation continues to innovate.
Types of Medical Transportation
Local medical transportation can broadly be categorized into two namely;
- Emergency Medical Transportation (EMT)
- Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
Emergency Medical Transportation (EMT)
EMT includes two significant services;
- Basic Life Support Ambulance (BLS): The BLS ambulance is designed for patients that require medical assistance during transit. In this modern medical vehicle, Emergency Medical Technicians can administer Epipens, bandages, monitor cardio activity, set up oxygen tanks, and offer other essential medical services.
- Advanced Life Support Ambulance (ALS): Similar to the BLS, there are slight differences in the type of service that the Medical personnel onboard can offer. The paramedic on an Advanced Life Support Ambulance can stabilize a critical patient, monitor vitals, administer shots as well as other emergency medical services.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
NEMT is a service used for transporting patients whose illness, injuries, or sickness are not immediate threats to their lives. The NEMT services extend to patients too sick to travel and people with other forms of mobility issues. The non-emergency medical transportation service includes the following;
- Ambulatory Transportation: It is one of the most popular types of local medical transportation. This service is used for people that do not require any medical equipment and can still walk on their own. The patient usually only needs basic medical assistance.
- Wheelchairs: This service is ideal for patients with mobility issues. They are often escorted by medical personnel trained to give CPR and other essential emergency medical services.
- Stretchers: Patients with back issues will often require a stretcher to be moved. It is also a common form of local medical transportation.
- Courier Services: It is an aspect of medical transportation where medics deliver blood and other vital medical organs to patients in various medical facilities.
- Flight Escorts: Flight Escorts are medical personnel that will help care for patients that require medical supervision despite being well enough to travel by air.
In conclusion, local medical transportation plays a huge role in ensuring that patients get prompt medical attention when they need it. The quality and effectiveness of a local medical transport system could be the difference in both emergency and non-emergency cases regarding patient health.
