Uber on Thursday introduced Uber Health, a new service designed to provide reliable transportation specifically for healthcare-related needs.
The program, which is currently in beta, will offer healthcare providers a way to order rides for their patients to help them keep their appointments.
Uber Health addresses a growing problem, especially with seniors and others who lack good transportation options for visits to doctors or clinics.
As many as 3.6 million Americans miss doctor appointments due to lack of reliable transportation, suggests data from the Community Transport Association. This problem is especially troublesome for those with chronic illnesses.
The new Uber service is designed to provide a flexible ride schedule for both patients and caregivers.
Rides can be scheduled immediately when needed much like the traditional Uber service but they also can be ordered up to 30 days in advance and scheduled along with follow-up healthcare appointments. There will be an option for providers to schedule multiple rides using a single dashboard.
The service meets HIPAA standards, according to Uber.
Uber Health gets around the technology gap for low-income patients and seniors who do not own a smartphone, which typically is required to order a ride from Uber or a competing service. Uber Health rides can be ordered via text message instead of using an app, and patients also can receive ride information via a landline.
Uber Health currently is undergoing a beta test with more than 100 healthcare organizations in the United States.
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Early testers include hospitals, clinics, rehab centers, senior care facilities, home care centers and physical therapy providers. Adams Clinical, Manhattan Women's Health, NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center and Yale New Haven Health are among those participating in the test.
Source:technewsworld.com