Managing Mass Transportation During Emergencies with NEMT

Public emergencies come in all shapes and sizes and make life very complicated. After living through 2020, we can all agree they have some serious power to alter our lives.

Whether there is a declared state of emergency or not, healthcare access will always be a top concern for all.

Non-emergency medical transport providers typically help patients get to regular medical appointments. But these fleets can also help handle transportation when emergencies pop up. 

In this article, we will examine how NEMT services can be an advantage even in urgent scenarios.

Contents:

• Public Emergencies: When Rapid Response and Coordination Matter Most
• Why Swift Mobilization is the Need of the Hour in Emergencies
• How NEMT Software Helps Coordinate Mass Transportations
• The Key to Efficient Patient Movement and Tracking in Emergencies
• Be Prepared for Emergencies with NEMT Software

Public Emergencies: When Rapid Response and Coordination Matter Most

Depending on the emergency situation—from natural disasters to man-made crises—public transport always takes some of the biggest hits. 

In some cases, like an earthquake or national emergency, mass evacuation may be needed fast. The coronavirus pandemic showed the opposite, where people had to stay home and only travel if absolutely necessary.

Emergencies make getting around even harder for groups that already struggle with transportation, like those with chronic health issues, seniors, disabled veterans, or patients who need medical care regularly.

The public transportation system must be able to accommodate their needs during an emergency. To make it so, government agencies and private transport companies should coordinate.

Why Swift Mobilization is the Need of the Hour in Emergencies

Even when there is no public emergency, data from the Transportation Research Board (TRB) estimates that over 3.6 million Americans delay or miss their medical appointments because of transportation barriers. 

In a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, 21.1% of 4,855 clinic patients cited transportation problems as their chief barrier to accessing healthcare.

This shows that many Americans are at risk of being left without transport options in an emergency. To make sure they get what they need, government agencies can deploy NEMT services for mass transit. 

If NEMT services can be mobilized quickly, more citizens will be served, ensuring a better outcome for all.

Public transport systems can take advantage of NEMT benefits. They can deliver unique and valuable assistance in an emergency in several ways:

Identifying special-needs patients

NEMT service providers already have lists of patients with details on where they live and what kind of vehicles they need help getting around. These patients can opt to be listed on a registry of those who require transportation assistance in an emergency.

Advance planning

NEMT providers can also work with public transport groups as consultants. Their know-how and history of giving rides to populations with special needs can help public transit companies make their own checklists and game plans for moving vulnerable groups during crises.

Transportation assistance

NEMT providers can bolster transit resources during emergencies. They already have trained and insured drivers, qualified healthcare professionals, a fleet of accessible vehicles, and appropriate equipment. These resources can be used to evacuate affected groups out of emergency areas.

How NEMT Software Helps Coordinate Mass Transportations

We’ve covered how NEMT providers can make positive contributions to transit networks during an crisis. But if NEMT providers want to maximize their impact, the use of NEMT software is key. These solutions help coordinate mass transportation in many helpful ways:

• Fleet management software optimizes route planning and carrying capacity, which increases the number of completed trips with the same number of drivers and vehicles.
• NEMT software’s dispatch features can help match patients to the right medical vehicles during emergencies.
• Automated scheduling features in NEMT software can handle many ride requests when disasters hit. 

The Key to Efficient Patient Movement and Tracking in Emergencies

NEMT software can be very useful even for emergency transport services because it is vital in improving a transport network’s operational efficiency. 

Used correctly, medical transportation software and services help mass transportation by:

• Safely transporting high volumes of special-needs patients
• Tracking vehicles' locations and capacities in real time
• Prioritizing the most urgent cases

Be Prepared for Emergencies with NEMT Software

NEMT providers can best assist patients during an emergency by leveraging robust NEMT software. Thanks to NEMT services, patients can access medical services, even when public transportation systems are compromised, and enjoy a better quality of life.