Your NEMT ride is coming at 9:30. It is 9:15, and suddenly you cannot find the doctor's letter. The prescription is somewhere in the bedroom. Your glasses are on the kitchen counter. Your phone needs charging. And you thought your daughter had packed the medicines. Nothing serious, right? But why make all the preparations in a hurry just before the ride? Why don't you prepare the day before and stay calm in the morning? So, how do you prepare? It's quite easy. Imagine your trip. Before the ride arrives, ask yourself a few simple things. What are you going for? What might you need once you get there? A little preparation helps a lot.
A medication list, recent reports, insurance details, appointment information — these are easy to forget when you are getting ready in a hurry. If the doctor has asked you to bring a particular report or prescription, check for it now rather than looking for it at the last minute. Then there are the everyday things you may not even think about until you need them. Your glasses, hearing aids, cane, walker, whatever you normally use. Keep them somewhere you can easily reach. If you need a wheelchair or other assistance during the ride, mention it when you book. It is better to have it sorted beforehand than try to arrange it when the vehicle is already outside.
A simple check before leaving can help:
• Medication list and medicines you need to bring
• Doctor's notes, reports or test results
• Insurance and appointment information
• Glasses, hearing aids or mobility aids
• Phone and charger
• Water or a light snack, if allowed
• Any special transportation or assistance needs
And don't leave everything until the last ten minutes. Give yourself enough time to get dressed, take any medicine you have been instructed to take before leaving, use the restroom, and do one last check of your bag. Also think about the return trip. Will someone be home when you get back? Could the appointment take longer than expected? If you are having a procedure, will you need someone with you afterward?
It is 9:20. The ride is almost here, and you suddenly remember there is one more thing — the hospital asked you to bring your previous scan report. This time, you know exactly where it is. That is what a little preparation can do. It saves you from searching the house when the vehicle is already waiting outside.
Safe Care Medical Transportation provides non-emergency medical transportation across the Houston Metro region. For patients and caregivers, getting a few important things ready before the ride arrives can make the whole trip feel a little easier.