Everyone is familiar with standard emergency vehicles like an ambulance, but now there is another segment in the emergency vehicle realm that isn’t quite so urgent—non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). But what is long-distance emergency medical transportation?
Sometimes a patient’s current medical facility doesn’t have the personnel or resources to treat them, or they wish to be closer to home, so they transfer to a different hospital. However, getting about while hospitalized is challenging. Thanks to long-distance medical transportation, folks can travel long distances to get the treatment they need. Learning the criteria for selecting the best NEMT vehicles helps you make the best decision for yourself and those in need.
Earning ADA Certification
Your vehicle fleet doesn’t necessarily need to be brand new as long as they conform to accessibility regulations. Before researching the various options, have a clear goal in mind. Patients at assisted living facilities, hospitals, and group homes are a prime demographic for the NEMT industry.
Choose a vehicle that can accommodate a wide variety of patient demands according to the area in which you operate. When selecting, remember that the safety of your passengers and drivers is of utmost importance.
Criteria To Follow
Choosing a narrower set of services or going all out and getting them all will determine the kind of transportation you need. Minivans, full-sized vans, and buses are the best transportation options. Once again, choosing the appropriate model will be up to you and your goals.
Capacity, accessibility (including for wheelchairs), occupancy, accessibility (including for wheelchairs), and wheelbase are essential features of NEMT vehicles. You must also verify ADA compliance for your manufactured or accessibility-modified mode of transportation.
If you’re dealing with a modified vehicle, you may want to look at the accessibility options for mobility aids. For example, vehicles over 22 feet must have doors at least 68 inches tall to comply with the rules. The alternative is to buy a car that satisfies ADA standards. Maintaining a compliant fleet is essential since non-compliance fines can quickly increase.
Picking the Vehicle
The Ford Transit is a full-size vehicle that can accommodate wheelchair or wheelchair passengers. There’s enough for eight people plus one or two wheelchairs. The maximum weight that a Ram ProMaster can haul is 800 pounds. Available in two lengths and two roof heights. The modern flooring technology also allows for easily interchangeable seating arrangements.
Two wheelchairs and up to seven people may fit in this Dodge Grand Caravan Legend II. The kneel mechanism included in the Legend II model enables the driver to modify the van’s lowering height. The wheelchair-friendly features include a retractable passenger seat and wider door openings.
The inside of the Ford Transit Connect can accommodate five people and one in a wheelchair. This is the ideal vehicle for hospitals and retirement communities.
With its 36-inch-wide ramps and 1,000-pound capacity, the Toyota Sienna is the most practical minivan on the market. The Americans with Disabilities Act specifies that ramps must be at least 30 inches wide to accommodate a weight of 300 pounds. The minivan can accommodate six people, including two in wheelchairs. The amazing benefit of the ramp in this minivan is that it doesn’t require any electronics to keep up.
Abiding by the criteria for selecting the best NEMT vehicles will make you a popular choice for those needing exceptional services. Anything that limits their headaches of getting in and out of a vehicle is the best for everyone.