"Uber Health" service aims to remove transportation barrier in America
The ride-hailing app Uber today announced its latest initiative in the US; Uber Health.
Uber see this new feature as a way to partner with healthcare organisations to provide reliable, comfortable transportation for patients. The dashboard created allows healthcare professionals to order rides for patients going to and from the care they need. The controversial company are also launching an Uber Health API to enable easy integrations into existing healthcare products. Developed with healthcare in mind, new features include:
Flexible ride scheduling for patients, caregivers and staff. Coordinators can schedule rides on behalf of patients, caregivers and staff to take place immediately, within a few hours, or up to 30 days in advance. This allows for transportation to be scheduled for follow-up appointments while still at the healthcare facility. Multiple rides can be scheduled and managed at the same time, all from a single dashboard.
Access for patients without a smartphone. Riders don’t need the Uber app, or even a smartphone, to get a ride with Uber Health because it’s all done through text message. We’re even going to be introducing the option for riders to receive a call with trip details to their mobile phone or landline instead. For many, their first ever Uber ride will be through Uber Health, so we’re committed to providing the necessary education tools that ensure every patient feels comfortable and at ease during their journey.
Simple billing, reporting, and management. Organisations can easily keep track of what they’re spending on rides. Reporting on requested rides and viewing monthly billing statements, appointments, and scheduling reports is simple.
According to Uber 3.6 million Americans miss doctor appointments due to a lack of reliable transportation every year. No-show rates are as high as 30% nationwide. And while transportation barriers are common across the general population, these barriers are greatest for vulnerable populations, including patients with the highest burden of chronic disease.
