Yes. MMT was the first dedicated non-emergency service to insist that our vehicles have medically trained personnel. We’ve had this requirement since our inception in 1997.
Our staff have backgrounds as CNA’s, EMT’s, Paramedics, and in various levels of nursing. Because we are not licensed as or functioning as an ambulance, we do not have the equipment on board like cardiac monitors, drug boxes, etc.., and are not licensed to practice in these non emergency vans. Medical personnel are used by us because of their expertise in addressing patients with a wide variety of conditions from dementia to fractured hips to Parkinson’s and strokes. We also use trained medical staff because they understand how to navigate the hospitals and nursing facilities that we frequent, and recognize when a patients condition may warrant emergency intervention while in our care. We understand that other services hire a “driver” to drive and a “medical person” to care for the patient because that is all that the non emergency industry requires. MMT does not staff any vehicle with anyone except medically trained personnel who can also take over the driving. It’s a higher bar that we set years ago and will not compromise on this.
We strive to keep our standards more strict than what the industry requires. EMT’s, Paramedics and patient care technicians can recognize if something isn’t right with the patient. They are trained to lift, turn and transfer them, accommodate feeding and changing them while in the back of a vehicle on a stretcher. Even though their presence is not a requirement as an industry standard, we recognize the importance of their knowledge and ability to make the ride for your relative as safe and comfortable as possible. In addition, our staff has extensive experience with patients who fall under the umbrella of Dementia and have cognitive and memory issues. This is a common diagnosis and knowing how to work with these patients is more important then ever when you are caring for them for hours at a time in a mobile setting, especially when you take them out of their familiar surroundings.