Med-Express Transportation

Guidelines for Utilization

 

• GENERAL GUIDELINES -  Revised 3/27/13

 

• Med-Express (METI) may only be used for non-emergent transportation.

• Transportation will only be provided for patients in wheelchairs, reclining wheelchairs, and ambulatory patients (including shuttle service when arranged).  One family member may accompany the patient if it is safe to do so.  Med-Express does not provide stretcher services pursuant to Washoe County regulations.

• Requests for transportation should be made with as much notice as possible.  Pre-scheduling transports is always preferred and helps assure availability.

• All requests for transportation must have confirmed destinations in order to be scheduled.  Transports scheduled times cannot be guaranteed pending confirmation of the destination.

• Patients may be transported by Med-Express under the following conditions:

  Patient must be able to maintain their own airway if they are receiving self-administered low flow oxygen (i.e. <6 LPM);

  Patients receiving intravenous medications through self-controlled pumps or who are receiving intravenous fluids may be transported as long as a qualified staff member accompanies the patient;

  Up to two patients may be transported to the same destination at one time as long as the person arranging the transport ensures facility staff is available at both ends of the transport to assist the Med-Express transportation Specialist;

  Patients who require suctioning cannot be transported by Med-Express;

  Mental Health patients may be transported as long as a security officer or staff member from the sending facility accompanies them.

• Requests for transportation will be prioritized as follows:

  Scheduled appointments and procedures; 

  Discharges;

  Patient outings;

  Miscellaneous (may include, but not limited to, film runs, equipment deliveries, etc.)

• In an effort to remain on schedule and to ensure our patients arrive at their appointments on time; drivers will only be permitted to wait up to 15 minutes after the scheduled pick-up time before being reassigned to another call.  If the patient is not ready at this time, the requesting party will be notified that the driver is being reassigned and the transport will need to be rescheduled.  This applies to all requests for service.

• All passengers are required to wear seat belts at all times.

• When transporting a patient to a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), the SNF may request a retail Med-Express unit to provide service on a fee for service basis.  In this case, the SNF will be responsible for payment.

• When transporting a patient to their home, the patient or the patient’s family may request a retail Med-Express unit to provide service on a fee for service basis.  In this case, the patient will be responsible for the payment.

• Dedicated unit (Wholesale) service may also be purchased from Med-Express for those who will require a full time dedicated unit on an ongoing basis.  In this case, the dedicated unit would be staffed (hours of operation) as agreed upon and all services provided by dedicated unit would be paid for through simply purchasing the dedicated unit hours of operation from Med-Express.

 

• DENIAL OF SERVICE

 

Med-Express may refuse to transport patients under the following conditions:

 

• Severe Weather (i.e., heavy snow fall requiring the use of chains);

• Combative or physically/verbally abusive patients;

• Patients weighing over 250 lbs, or unable to fit in the 20” wheelchair;        

• Patients that need reclining great than 45°;

• Patients who require high flow oxygen  (>6 LPM) or suctioning;

• Any patient the Med-Express Transport Specialist and Med-Express Manager, after consultation with the nurse/physician in charge of the patient’s care, feels is in a high-risk situation and not suitable to be transported by Med-Express.

In these instances, every effort will be made by Med-Express staff to assist in coordinating alternative transportation.

 

• HOURS OF OPERATION

 

• Med-Express hours of operation for the non-dedicated retail units are Monday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

• Request for same day transportation can be made up to 30 minutes prior to the end of that service day (i.e. 4:30 p.m.)

• Arrangements for long distance wheelchair transportation out of Washoe County should be scheduled 48 hours in advance.

• Limited retail service is provided on major holidays.  Facilities are urged to pre-schedule 48 hours in advance.

• Alternative service hours are available on a contracted basis.  Additional charges will apply for transports that occur outside the contracted hours.

 

• RATES

  All retail rates are regulated through the Transportation Service Authority and are subject to change without notice.  See current Med-Express rate schedule for rates.  (Zones are no longer used to determine rates).

  Dedicated unit service rates are based on price per hour of operation.  The exact per hour price based on many factors including: the number of hours per week being purchased, the hours of operation per day, the number of units required, the distance from Med-Express base area of operation, etc.  Organizations interested in purchasing dedicated service should ask for Med-Express Manager or Vice President over Med-Express for dedicated service pricing.

  Attached current fee schedule.