Medical Transportation Services You May Not Be Aware Of

When you need to get someone to the hospital in an emergency situation, you know to call 911 and have an ambulance or another emergency vehicle come to help. However, not all medical transportation issues involve emergencies. You may need to get a loved one to dialysis appointments or have a loved one that wants to travel far to visit relatives but has issues that require special help. Here are a few medical transportation options you can use to make sure that everyone gets where they need to be:

Ambulatory Sedans and Vans

If you need to get to a doctor's appointment or have routine care done but cannot drive yourself, there are ambulatory sedans and vans that can take you. Some medical centers or senior centers offer these services to ensure you get the treatments you need. If you are not sure of how to arrange for one, contact the place you will be going and ask about different services available.

Stretcher Services

When you are at home or in the hospital and cannot walk or sit up, and need to go to a different facility, you need to arrange for stretcher service. If you are in the hospital, your doctor will have the arrangements made for you. If you are at home, you will need to contact the facility you need to get to for them to make the arrangements for you.

Wheelchair and Escort

Sometimes, you are not going to a medical facility or appointment but still, need medical transportation services. This is often the situation when you are going on an airplane. Contact the airport to make sure that someone will be at the front door with a wheelchair to help you get your belongings onto the plane and take you through to the gate. If you may need help while on the plane, you can arrange to have a flight attendant act as your escort.

Ideally, you will be able to find medical transportation that will not cost you any additional money or will be paid for by your insurance company. Anytime you are making arrangements, be sure to ask if they will bill your insurance. When there is a charge, you can contact local senior centers or support groups for your condition to get help. If not, you will need to find out how much the services will cost and be prepared to pay for them.