Money

Doctors can now call Uber for patients, ditching taxi vouchers

March 02, 2018 04:22·
Uber Health Will Drive You To Doctor's Appointments

Uber Health Will Drive You To Doctor's Appointments

The ride-hailing service Uber has a new destination in mind for you: the doctor's office. Since then, trial participation has grown and patients have started staying in the studies longer, CEO Nelson Rutrick said.

While all existing drivers in Uber's United States fleet may be assigned passengers via Uber Health, Uber says it shouldn't place additional demands on them.

Ultimately, the goal with Uber Health is to hopefully reduce the number of no-show appointments - something that's exacerbated by people who can't get a ride to the doctor, the firm says.

Uber lets health care workers book the ride for you because it wants to keep the service accessible to people who don't own a smartphone or who aren't familiar with Uber.

The cost of the rides will be covered by healthcare providers.

Uber Health is created to do that, by allowing clinics and other medical facilities to book rides on their clients' behalf, using a simple web dashboard where you input the client name, number and pick-up and top-off location, then select from Uber's range of ride hailing vehicle type options. Now, Uber, which held 84 percent of the US market in 2017, plans to help patients and providers arrange rides.

While Uber Health seems like a positive service in several aspects, privacy experts were quick to point out that Uber's past data breaches might present some concerns in the near term.

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Transportation is, indeed, a barrier to good health care. "Our patients have been very receptive and enjoy this wonderful service Uber and Pro Staff Physical Therapy offers". "This is not an unsolvable problem".

Cities are just starting to understand their impact.

Organizations that partner with Uber Health will be given access to track billing, appointments, and schedule multiple follow-up appointments simultaneously. The low price of a ride on the rivals can mean consumers opt for a short Uber or Lyft ride instead of walking or taking the bus, thereby clogging urban streets with cars and cutting into public transportation use.

It's been previously reported that some people often use Uber as a replacement for calling an ambulance, perhaps because they're cheaper than emergency transport. "Many transportation companies that specifically serve disabled people don't allow for spontaneity when planning trips, and disabled and chronically ill riders deserve the same pleasant experience as other ride share customers".

Renown Health's Needham estimates that fewer than 10% of patients meet the criteria for a free ride.

Down the line, Uber is hopeful that other payers may take notice of the service and its potential to save providers on missed appointments and earlier care interventions.

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