Patients face many barriers, and transportation should not be one of them.  Since its inception, Emergency Mobile Health Care (EMHC) has focused on seamlessly meeting patient transportation needs, bridging the gap in healthcare between the patient’s home and the doctor’s office or the office and hospital. 

Since the late 1980’s as a volunteer at the old St. Joseph Hospital downtown, I have seen the world of healthcare change.  Patients seem to wait longer before being seen, and many go online for healthcare answers rather than discussing with their doctors.  However, the importance of open communication between patient and doctor remains vital.  Physicians can educate patients not only on when to be seen, but also concerning transportation options to get to those appointments.

Some patients do not use the most appropriate transportation to a physician’s office, despite the fact that many health plans will cover the transportation cost for patients.  For example, if a patient has TennCare, this managed care organization has a benefit for non-emergency transportation to a physician appointment, diagnostic testing, and even to a pharmacy for prescriptions.  Unfortunately, Medicare will not pay for any transportation to a physician’s office.  If the patient is dual eligible for TennCare and Medicare, the TennCare benefit will cover patient transportation to his or her appointments.

Once a physician has seen the patient in the office and if the patient requires admission to the hospital, do you send that patient in his or her private vehicle?  If so, that could present a health risk to the patient and a liability to the physician responsible for that patient’s care.  Patients seen in the office and allowed to travel by personal vehicle are at risk for medical compromise en route.  The continuum of care from the doctor’s office to the hospital is important for a patient’s well being.  An ambulance service for such admissions should be considered to reduce the risk of liability en route and to ensure that patients receive proper care.  I always ask the questions: if patients need to be admitted to the hospital, why are they driving themselves or having family take them?  What happens if they become short of breath, have chest pain, etc. on their way to the hospital?

It is important for patients to be aware of their transportation options in such a situation.  Insurance carriers will cover this transportation for medically necessary admissions.  Although Medicare will not pay for transportation to a physician office or for wheelchair transportation, Medicare will pay for transportation from a patient’s residence to a hospital and back for medically necessary trips.

EMHC is the premier ambulance and medical transportation provider in the Midsouth.  EMHC offers a variety of transportation services: emergency and non-emergency ambulance transportation, psychiatric ambulance care, dialysis ambulance care, hospice care, and critical care.  In addition, our fleet includes specially equipped pediatric and bariatric units to best serve the unique needs of those patients.  Wherever the need may be, EMHC strives to provide quality healthcare transportation.  Our customer service staff will answer your questions and provide your patients with the necessary answers about transportation. 

Our high level of service is a goal achieved through both outstanding personnel and advanced technology.  EMHC employs paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to carry out all aspects of patient care.  Our Medical Director, Dr. Jack P. Bandura, is a cardiologist and emergency room physician in the Memphis area.  EMHC uses electronic medical records to maintain the most current patient records possible as well as to insure the highest level of security for patient data.  Our in-house dispatch center is equipped with the ability to view fleet location and status in real time, allowing us to operate more efficiently.  In addition, EMHC vehicles feature a navigation system, which provides directions and response information, further increasing the efficiency of fleet crew and dispatcher interaction.

For more information about EMHC or to discuss your medical transportation needs, please visit our website at www.emhcambulance.com or call 901.818.0911.

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