People Enduring Serious Illness Need a Lift
By Crystal Ross
Non-Emergent Medical Transportation drivers have clicked off more than 3.8 million miles as they have helped rural residents get to their healthcare appointments. Additional drivers are currently needed.
Ten trips to the moon and back. That’s not a NASA shuttle travel log -- that’s how many miles our Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) program clocked in a recent year.
Transportation is a crucial part of overall health and life in the Columbia Gorge and Eastern Oregon, where vast distances stretch between communities, and access to public transportation varies greatly depending on where you live. People call 9-1-1 for emergency medical transportation needs. But one of the most overlooked aspects of accessing non-emergency medical care relates to how people get to their various healthcare appointments -- especially critical in our rural setting.
That’s where NEMT comes in with solutions in partnership with caring community volunteers.
At first glance, people usually have a list of questions.
Who runs the program? NEMT is part of Greater Oregon Behavioral Health Inc. (GOBHI). GOBHI administers this ride service program on behalf of the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization.
Who is eligible for NEMT rides? NEMT program connects Oregon Health Plan members to physical, behavioral, and oral healthcare services. It serves members in 14 counties, including Wasco and Hood River, as well as 12 Eastern Oregon counties.
How does it work? For Oregon Health Plan members who are seeking a ride, please call GOBHI during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1-877-875-4657. For TTY users, 711 or 1-800-735-2900. Please call to schedule at least two business days before your healthcare appointment, if possible. Those who don’t know if they qualify for this program can call 1-877-875-4657, and our staff will help with eligibility questions.
What does it cost? There is no cost to Oregon Health Plan members, as NEMT is a covered benefit. NEMT partners with local transportation companies and volunteer drivers to provide free rides for these members to and from scheduled medical appointments.
The impact the volunteer drivers can be called “astronomical,” and that’s part of why we measure it in miles to the moon. Community members help others get to medical appointments. In 2019, GOBHI NEMT transported 5,571 individuals. They provided 121,283 trips for a total of 4.5 million miles – equaling roughly ten trips to the moon and back.
We need your support. Volunteer drivers receive training, support, and reimbursement at the federal rate. Drivers come from many backgrounds, but share their love to drive, giving back to others, and eagerness to help their neighbors.
One example is Garry Cassidy, a GOBHI NEMT volunteer driver from Baker City with family connections in the Gorge, who shared these words about his experience:
“As a journal writer, I'm always looking for new material. When this began two years ago, I had no idea what was involved, who I would meet, nor the experiences we would have together. One thing I discovered was: the people we serve are in serious need of help. By the time we see them, they have gone through numerous challenges in medical treatment and are seeing specialists for, in many cases, difficult diagnoses.”
“I’m acutely aware of how blessed my life has been: no serious injuries, still ambulatory and moderately cognitive. This job requires compassion, being a good listener -- and trying to introduce a little humor now and then helps. Kindness goes a long way. Looking back at the 100 or so strangers I encountered, more than a few have become real friends.”
“Last, I like the job because you know you will hear stories you could have never dreamed up yourself. Plus, it gets you out of the house and on the road in a beautiful country. You might even have the adventure of meeting a herd of black Angus cattle at 4:30 in the morning. They caused us a lot of trouble, but the passenger and I won't forget that morning.”
NEMT appreciates Garry and all of our drivers. The need for volunteer drivers is continuous in many of our communities. If you are interested in becoming an NEMT driver, or have questions, please contact me at: 541-288-9303 or cross@gobhi.org.
Please help us spread the word. Together, we help people get to the medical treatments they need. While we can measure the miles traveled as compared to lunar trips, we know the impact on individual lives is far beyond that in positive health outcomes and quality of life. We’re honored to partner with drivers and everyone who contributes to this program.
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Crystal Ross is the Non-Emergent Medical Transportation operations supervisor at GOBHI. Patrick Mulvihill, GOBHI communications coordinator, also contributed to this article.
