Chronic Care Management and Reliable Transportation

Zack Worsham
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According to the CDC, chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability among Americans. More than half of all adults in the US have a chronic disease (6 in 10), and 4 in 10 American adults have two or more. They are also responsible for the lion’s share of our nation’s $3.3 trillion annual health care bill. Chronic diseases are a huge problem that affects more than just someone’s health — they also introduce financial and social challenges. As a result, managing chronic diseases effectively comes with a host of responsibilities, appointments, and logistical demands.

The plain truth is that when someone is diagnosed with a chronic disease, in some capacity, there will be recurring follow-up appointments. One of the most notable challenges in chronic care management is the ongoing need for access to treatment, therapies, the pharmacy, medical appointments, and beyond. In a healthcare landscape where 1 in 5 patients miss or delay medical treatment due to a transportation barrier, giving patients a reliable source of transportation is critical. Failure to attend necessary appointments may mean that cancer patients miss a round of chemotherapy, or kidney disease patients miss a dialysis appointment. 

As a result of the symptoms that come from having a specific disease, people usually experience the onset of pain and fatigue. These new realities may mean that getting to and from appointments becomes a difficult task. This is especially true for chronic disease diagnoses such as Dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, which make driving an impossibility.

Reliable transportation to care is a necessity, and can influence health outcomes across the entire care continuum:

 

By providing a simple, comprehensive patient ride ordering software, Roundtrip is leading the industry in reducing patient no-shows, expanding access to care, and driving better health outcomes.

Our software platform is built for healthcare professionals — care coordinators, social workers, nurses, and other transport requestors — and offers easy-to-use online and mobile platforms that connect patients with non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). We provide a complete solution that supports all levels of transport: medical cars, wheelchair vans, stretcher vehicles, ALS/BLS, all payors, and all trips delivered when and where they are needed.

Expanding access to care is only a small part of what we do; we are changing how people manage their health in their everyday lives. For patients who are living with chronic diseases, we are a part of the solution for better chronic care management, better care, and better quality of life.