Transportation – the critical link to health care…
It is well known that the finest health care is of little value to individuals who cannot access them.
A lack of mobility and access to health services results in:
- A delay receiving medical attention and/or obtaining necessary medications. This results in: illness which is more serious, reduced quality of life; and increased cost of care to the patient, medical providers, and the taxpayer.
- A significant use of the emergency room for non-emergency care, resulting in increased cost and less efficient use of emergency medical services.
- An increased dependence on ambulances for simple conveyance resulting in increased costs and less availability for true emergencies.
- Decreased use of preventative care opportunities, health improvement programs, and public and private human services.
- Isolation from the community, particularly for those who are economically disadvantaged, on fixed incomes, or who are part of the growing population of elderly.
Appropriate transportation helps surmount the barriers to opportunity. In the case of access to health services, responsible medical transportation helps to achieve longer lives of higher quality.
It also introduces tremendous cost savings to the health care system as the cost of non-emergency medical transportation is significantly less expensive when compared to the hospitalization and emergency care that too often becomes necessary when someone can’t make regular physician appointments or ongoing care like dialysis, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging and/or health maintenance/surveillance programs.
Mobility is one of the benchmarks of North American culture. By definition, mobility means being able to travel where and when a person wants. Mobility is an essential element of healthy aging. Our vision is of an active old age in which retirement, ill health, or diminished independence does not signify a cessation of full participation in life.
Research and anecdotal evidence have shown that people routinely view the ability to travel as synonymous with person freedom and independence. Many older people see mobility linked to personal image, dignity, and well-being. The ability to stay connected to friends, community, and health/support services is an essential element to physical and mental health. For many, losing the ability to drive is a handicap itself which results in, at best, a change in lifestyle and, at worst, the end of life as they know it.
“Because of the lack of mobility, there is an unequal quality of life for the disabled. Transportation is a right, not a privilege, and last moment needs are certainly not accommodated. Persons with disabilities have a hard time getting around and can’t drive. They are often dependent on others. They miss out on opportunities often as they don’t have the same services available to everyone else.” Linnie Tse, Access
More recently, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and end-stage renal disease/kidney failure is changing the very nature of healthcare. Coupled with both an aging and growing population that has become increasing dependent on outpatient care in the midst of a labor shortage, the effect on our health and transportation infrastructure has been profound.
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Continuing Care Transportation takes great comfort in the fact our company allows more ambulances to remain in their respective communities available for true emergencies. We believe this will ultimately save lives and most certainly deliver a much more cost effective alternative to the taxpayer and our valued passengers.
Dispatch: (403) 873-2224
6am - 8pm 7 days/week
