5 Ways To Help Transport A Senior Adult To & From Medical Appointments

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5 Ways To Help Transport A Senior Adult To & From Medical Appointments

When a senior adult in your life finds it difficult to travel, the added stress and anxiety can take a toll on everyone in your family. What would you do if there was a sudden medical emergency, and you aren’t there to provide help? If mom or dad suddenly need weekly visits to a doctor or specialist, how will you ensure that they can reach where they need to go with ease and peace of mind?

For many, there is a false belief that your options for senior adult travel are limited to hired home healthcare workers and ambulance services. Fortunately, there are several other methods that will help seniors travel in safety and won’t charge a fortune.

If you are concerned that a senior adult in your life won’t have access to the transportation services they need, knowing the options available can give both you and them the comfort and wisdom to make the right decision.

Read below to learn five options for helping senior adults access medical transportation needs.

5 Ways To Help A Senior Adult Travel With Ease

Hire A Medical Transport Company

One of the most trusted methods for helping senior adults travel is a medical transport company. This option is ideal for senior adults who are still mobile but need assistance traveling long distances that require a vehicle.

A medical transport company can provide trusted and trained staff who will help senior adults travel from their home to the transport vehicle, and then aid them in getting into the building they are traveling to.

Medical transport vehicles often offer wheelchair access for individuals who need to travel with their wheelchair. With careful and caring help from beginning to end, a friendly medical transport company may be the best method for aiding senior adults in transportation.

Public Transportation

If you live in a city with accessible public transport, senior adults can often utilize these services at a reduced fare. In some areas, short trips are even offered for free.

While public transport is designed to help all individuals access travel, those who are limited in their mobility may find this method difficult to reach and navigate. Contact your local public transportation company to learn about any potential reduced or free rates for senior adults.

Utilize Rideshare Services

One of the fastest-growing private transportation methods is known as Ridesharing. You have likely seen a vehicle traveling around your city with a Lyft, Uber, or other private transportation service.

Rideshares are a fast and affordable way to travel from one place to another, but most require the use of a smartphone and applications to locate, hire, and communicate with drivers. If the individual needing transport is not comfortable with using this technology, you may need to help them learn how to navigate the application.

Contact Religious Organizations & Civic Centers

You may be surprised to learn that many churches, religious centers, and civic centers offer rideshare programs or transportation resources for senior adults in their community. Even if the organization doesn’t advertise these services, a simple phone call may be all it takes to schedule a safe ride with a caring local clergyman or city member!

Research Your Region’s Senior Services or Department of Aging Resources

In nearly every county and community there is a dedicated team of experts who focus on serving seniors. By contacting your local Department of Aging or Senior Services center, you can discover the various resources available to help senior adults travel to and from important appointments, as well as find out more helpful information that will make their daily lives easier to manage.

Travel With Ease With Integrity Medical Transportation

When it comes to transporting a loved one, you want to know that the service or method you use is trustworthy, safe, and delivers on time. If you want the comfort that comes from a team with experience and proven results, a medical transport service can help you get from A to Z with peace of mind.

At Integrity Medical Transportation, our team is proud to offer high quality ambulatory services for those in need of non-emergency transport. With trained and caring staff as well as the latest in transport technology, you can trust that your loved one is being driven with the utmost care. Contact Integrity Medical Transportation today to learn more about our full suite of medical transportation services.

Discover The World of Opportunity In A Career As An Ambulance Vehicle Operator

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Discover The World of Opportunity In A Career As An Ambulance Vehicle Operator

With the rise in need across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many states are signing executive orders to allow for the creation of easier pathways to Ambulance Vehicle Operator (AVO) positions. In an effort to help cities and rural areas meet the increased need for travel between hospitals and healthcare facilities, AVO professionals are more essential than ever. If you have ever thought about putting your driving skills and medical passion to work for those in need, now is the time to help a world in need.

Typically, the standard for ambulatory services requires that two Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are present when an ambulance is transporting a patient. One drives the ambulance while the other monitors the patient and helps administer emergency care as necessary. With new standards in many states, the requirement has been loosened to allow an EMT and an AVO to be present when traveling between locations with a patient.

With these new standards, individuals who have considered getting into the healthcare field through ambulatory or emergency services now have an open door to fulfilling their dreams.

At Integrity Medical Transport, we field many questions from individuals interested in getting their foot in the door with emergency services – especially due to the recent pandemic. Here are some of the most common questions we receive about the AVO position:

We Are One, But Don’t Take My Spot.

One level below the role of an EMT, an AVO’s education and skill is certified through a registry known as the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). Typically, the process to becoming an AVO requires a 45 hour education and skills course, and a certification for validation of your AVO license. Passing a background check and having a legal driver’s license is also required.

The process to become an EMT is longer and requires more education – potentially up to a collegiate level of courses at 190 hours. Many AVOs will not be trained or qualified to handle some of the more intensive responsibilities of an EMT, but can often aid them in their work. To help you learn more, visit your local state or city’s EMT and AVO requirements.

What Does An AVO Role Entail?

For an average AVO, the primary job they will fulfill is transporting patients from one location to another via an ambulance. This may include both emergency and non-emergency situations, and will potentially require the AVO to step in with life-saving medical care as necessary. For example, AVOs may be required to jump in and provide CPR, attend to wounds or lacerations, stabilize individuals in severe health conditions for transportation, and more.

An AVO is also responsible for maintaining communication with dispatch for processing information regarding patient care and situation updates. As an AVO, a keen eye for detail and a preparedness for the unexpected can help you step into every situation ready to handle anything that may arise. AVOs will also be tasked with ensuring that the vehicle is ready for every trip, and will be called upon to process any repair or maintenance requests as necessary.

Is An AVO Career A Good Step Toward EMT?

While EMT training requires more than an AVO certification, the experience that you will gain as an AVO will be invaluable for helping you learn if the life of an EMT is right for you. In your time as an AVO, you will have the unique opportunity to engage with EMTs and learn about their daily life and work.

Working as an AVO while you pursue your EMT certification and education is a great way to supplement your education with real-world experience. Working as an AVO will pay huge dividends toward both your education in EMT as well as helping you get a taste of what to expect in the daily work-life balance of that career path. Also, your time as an AVO will reduce the number of field hours required for EMT certification.

Learn More About The EMT & Transportation Career With Integrity Medical Transportation LLC

While EMT training requires more than an AVO certification, the experience that you will gain as an AVO will be invaluable for helping you learn if the life of an EMT is right for you. In your time as an AVO, you will have the unique opportunity to engage with EMTs and learn about their daily life and work.

Working as an AVO while you pursue your EMT certification and education is a great way to supplement your education with real-world experience. Working as an AVO will pay huge dividends toward both your education in EMT as well as helping you get a taste of what to expect in the daily work-life balance of that career path. Also, your time as an AVO will reduce the number of field hours required for EMT certification.