What Is Uber Health & How Does It Work?

What Is Uber Health?

Uber Health is a revolutionary service that has significantly improved access to non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) in the healthcare industry.

It’s a service that allows health professionals and organizations to schedule, manage, and pay for rides for their patients, caregivers, and staff to and from medical facilities.

The platform also gives you the option to order medications and certain over-the-counter items from your surrounding pharmacies, catering to more healthcare customers.

While traditional forms of NEMT exist, they have their limitations. Sadly, services like taxis and other modes of public transportation can be inconsistent and cumbersome to use.

That’s what makes Uber Health special. With a few clicks of a button, you can order a car that arrives at your doorstep and takes you right to your healthcare provider.

As you can imagine, this service comes with many benefits, like improving access to medical care. It’s also particularly handy if you live in a secluded area away from healthcare services because it’ll give you a ride, no matter how far.

How Uber Health Works

Uber Health can make life easier for both patients and clinics. Here’s a quick look at how the service works.

For Riders (Patients)

The process of using Uber Health for riders is simple and hassle-free. All they have to do is provide their pickup and drop-off locations.

Then, the healthcare organization can schedule a ride on the patient’s behalf through a centralized dashboard.

After that, patients and caregivers can sit back and wait for a text message or phone call to notify them about the upcoming ride, including details like driver information and estimated time of arrival.

As a patient, you won’t even need the Uber app or a smartphone to use the service. You only have to give your healthcare provider the details of your desired pickup and drop-off spots, and they’ll handle the rest.  

Patients can also choose to add a stop if necessary.

For Clinics (Healthcare Providers)

As a healthcare provider, you can sign up for Uber Health to streamline your healthcare ecosystem. The service gives clinics an easy way to integrate patient transportation into their existing systems.

Using the centralized dashboard, you can learn about specific patient pickup and drop-off points. This will allow you to schedule rides for patients to ensure they make it on time to medical visits and follow-up appointments.

On top of that, with Uber Health, healthcare providers can manage billing through the centralized dashboard. You can enter your banking information and choose when to pay for rides.

Getting Started With Uber Health

Even though Uber Health may seem complicated, the service is incredibly simple to use. To make your life easier, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get the most out of Uber Health.

For Riders (Patients)

Uber Health wants to ensure that all patients can use the service. So, it doesn’t rely on smartphones or other devices that may pose an issue to the technologically challenged.

As a patient, signing up for the service is a walk in the park.

All you have to do is reach out to your healthcare provider. Then, inform them that you need access to non-medical emergency transportation (NEMT).

Your healthcare provider will ask you to submit a few details, including specific pickup and drop-off locations and caregiver contact information.

At this point, your work is done. You’ll wait for a confirmation text or call and you’ll call it a day.

You can use this exact process to order home delivery for groceries and other over-the-counter items.

If you don’t have a smartphone, you don’t have to worry. Uber Health can notify you or your caregiver when your ride is ready using a landline.

This means all you have to worry about is getting ready for your appointment. Plus, the trip should come at no cost to the patients.

You can always choose to tip your driver, but that’s the only cost you’ll handle.

For Clinics (Healthcare Providers)

Healthcare providers will take on most of the responsibility of scheduling and paying for rides. As you can imagine, this means using the service requires some more steps:

Step 1: Sign Up for Uber Health

You can sign up for the service using the Uber website or by contacting the Uber sales team. While both methods are effective, we recommend that you use the latter to get in touch with an agent who can guide you on the best health plan for your business.

Once that’s out of the way, you’ll have to provide a few details about your organization. This includes a valid email address, company name, and payment method.

Lastly, the agent will prompt you to create an account and password and to agree to the Uber Terms and Conditions.

Step 2: Enter Patient Information on the Centralized Dashboard

After creating an account, healthcare organizations will gain access to a user-friendly centralized dashboard. This interface is where all the magic happens.

Using this database, you can enter patient information like their residence, the attending physician, and the next check-up appointment.

Step 3: Schedule Rides for Patients

The centralized dashboard is much more than a patient database and will give you access to several services.

For instance, it can help you schedule rides for patients. Healthcare providers have the option to request rides on-demand or schedule them for later.

Not only will this streamline transportation, but it also enhances operational efficiency and reduces no-shows.

Step 4: Manage Billing

Paying for rides is completely hassle-free with Uber Health. Using the centralized dashboard, you can enter your banking information and choose your preferred billing system.

Healthcare providers can opt to pay by trip or on a monthly basis, which is often preferred because it gives them control over their expenses.

On a side note, you should know that Uber Health prices are similar to the cost of an Uber ride. The company uses a dynamic pricing model that relies on factors such as the distance and duration of the trip.

Safety Measures and Compliance

There are several safety measures that Uber Health put in place to ensure patient security. First up, there’s the 2-factor authentication code system.

Before a patient starts a trip with Uber Health, they’ll receive a four-digit security code. They can use this to guarantee that the driver is who they say they are.

Another excellent security measure is the Uber ranking system. Drivers get rated after every trip, which means they’ll try their hardest to make every ride a pleasant experience. On top of that, as a healthcare provider, you can request credentialed drivers who can provide higher levels of assistance.

Uber Health also improves accessibility by supplying mobility solutions. The ride-sharing business can provide facilities to ambulatory riders or those who use wheelchairs.

Plus, if you ever run into any issues while on a trip, you can contact Uber for help. The customer service department operates on a 24/7 cycle, so you can call at any time.

Finally, Uber Health complies with healthcare regulations like HIPAA to ensure patient privacy and data protection, and it has strict guidelines about cleanliness protocols and vehicle standards.

Conclusion: The Impact of Uber Health

Uber Health is a service that allows healthcare providers to schedule rides for patients to and from doctor appointments. This has the potential to transform the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) industry.

The platform also allows patients to get groceries and over-the-counter medications right to their doorstep.

So, whether you’re a patient or a healthcare provider, consider how Uber Health can benefit you or your organization.

Frequently Asked Questions