Medical Transport Services: Its Types and Benefits in the Healthcare Industry

In recent times, medical transport services have been instrumental in helping patients get medical care on time. During emergencies, medical transport services play a huge role in saving lives as accident casualties can access medical services immediately.

These transport services also bridge the distance barrier between a health facility and the patient. For example, patients who need to travel long distances for medical appointments usually find it difficult. But, with long-distance ambulances, patients can get better access to medical care.

In clear terms, Medical Transport Services provides a patient with professional medical care while in transit. They aim to keep the patient stable while they get transferred to a health facility for more specialized care. Services rendered to patients while using medical transport include basic life support and advanced life support.

There are different types of Medical Transport Services:

• Emergency Medical Transport Services (EMTs) : This transport service is crucial during emergencies. Here, the transport system is fitted with lifesaving equipment needed to manage the condition of the patient while in transit. There are two basic types of emergency medical transport services;

• Advanced Life Support Ambulance – also referred to as ALS, advanced life support ambulance provides patients or accident casualties with advanced medical care. The ambulance is equipped with professionally trained paramedics, heart paddles, IV units, etc.

• Basic Life Support Ambulance – Here, the patient is kept under the care of certified paramedics who administer shots and other medical services such as cardiac monitoring, bandages, and splints while on board. Basic Life Support Ambulance is also known as BLS.

• Non-emergency Medical Transport Services (NEMT’s): Unlike the EMTs, non-emergency medical transport is employed during non-emergency situations. They are used to convey patients whose medical condition doesn’t pose an immediate risk. The most common type of NEMT is Ambulatory Transport.

Ambulatory Transport conveys patients who can walk or those who only need basic help to and from a health facility. Patients who have critical conditions cannot use this service. Depending on the distance of travel for a medical appointment, a patient can use any of the below listed ambulatory services;

• Long Distance Ambulance – This type of ambulatory service covers long-distance medical journeys. Patients can travel from across states either through the air or ground-based transport such as a vehicle. Patients who can use this ambulatory service include the elderly, patients recovering from a cancer procedure, or people injured during a vacation.
• Short Distance Ambulance – The short distance ambulance covers medical travel appointments within a state or region. This type of ambulatory service is for people recovering from a non-critical ailment; who might need to visit the health facility from time to time.

Benefits of Medical Transport Services

Medical transport is essential to patients in a lot of ways;

1. Patients have access to medical care 24/7
2. Recovering patients who cannot walk can avail transport services for their mobility
3. Patients scheduled for medical appointments in another state can use the long-distance ambulance

Final Words

Depending on what medical needs a patient has, there are different medical transport services available. During emergencies, patients can leverage the EMTs – while non-emergency conditions are better managed by NEMT’s.