As a brain cancer survivor, I am no longer driving, so I depend on Uber or Lyft to get to appointments and places I need to go. Ridesharing is a new mode of transportation that many people take advantage of to get them to the places they need to go instead of driving themselves. I have found using one of the rideshare companies convenient and efficient.
Not driving allows me to do things on the ride, such as check email, return calls, make notes on what I need to do, or relax. I don’t have to worry about parking or driving in traffic. I have no more car payments, which is also a nice perk. I admit that it took me some time to get over not driving, but I know it is for the best, and I am learning to accept my new normal.
I also found another way to use the rideshare companies as a nurse advocate. If I have a patient who does not drive, I can use one of the rideshare companies to pick the person up, take them to the office, and bring them home when done. If the patient is able, I show them home to download the app and enter their credit card to the app, which takes care of the payment. Once they use the service a few times, they are comfortable and like the convenience of using the service.
I have a patient I am working with who is no longer safe to drive. His son lives out of town, and they have no other family to take the patient to his appointments. I talked to the son about using one of the rideshare companies, and he thought it was a good idea, so he gave me his credit card, and I was able to set up an account so that the fee goes to the son’s email.
The patient cannot grasp how to order a ride, so I schedule his rides when he has a doctor’s appointment. I usually go to the medical meetings with the patient, so I send him home via Lyft. If he goes to an appointment that I do not have to attend, I ask the doctor’s staff to call me when he is ready to leave. Once I get their call, I enter the addresses into the app, and he is picked up within a few minutes and taken home. The app on my phone allows me to see the driver’s route and when he is home. The patient and his family are happy with this setup as they know he is safe and gets to his appointments on time.
Have you used UBER or LYFT? What creative ways have you used this new means of transportation? I would love to know!
Thanks for reading, and stay safe!
Thanks, Anne,
I had never heard of Rideshare and will check into it. My husband cannot drive now, and I know that eventually, I will need to use alternative forms of transportation, too. I will check into it. What a wonderful tool for the nurse case manager to use, also.
I have used ride share when I am out of town. So much more efficient than renting a car. I do have to find my way allowing a safe transportation mode.
Thanks for the sharing Anne.
Hello Anne!
Happy and Healthy 2022!
Thank you for sharing. Rideshare, Lyft, and even some companies that work with insurances, are for sure what has helped so many of my clients, as well as my son.
Yes, Robin. I have a doctors office that offers a ride with Lyft if patients want it. The office staff set it up and there is no extra cost. Very nice incentive for their patients who are seniors.
Thanks for sharing and the recommendation.
To date, I have had no need to use rideshare; do know it will be in my future.
Barbara, as long as you feel safe to drive….that is what matters. We have a neighbor who gave up driving at 90……she did not want to take the risk anylonger.It was hard for her, but she did what was best for her.
Anne, this is an excellent way to help patients get to their appointments. I work with heart failure patients and although I can drive, the cost of the insurance to use my personal vehicle in my state is extremely expensive. Rideshare services to the rescue! They are convenient, inexpensive and very reliable.
Uber, Lyft and Access-a-Ride among others are great options for patients who no longer drive. However, arriving at the decision to no longer drive is often the greater challenge. For many patients, the loss of the independence gained from driving can be confining, depressing and life altering especially if they do not have support mechanisms in place. Support in making the transition to a changing role is crucial to enhanced patient safety, pedestrian safety and in the long term may reduce the overall stress associated with “being behind the wheel”. Case Managers can play a vital role in supporting this transition.
Brilliant!!! Anne, as usual. I have used these firms for a lot of my transportation needs. Haven’t yet had a need for a client to use but they can be most helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Although I am still able to drive, I realize there will be a time that for the safety of others as well as myself, I will need these services . How fortunate we are to live in a time where we can be a little more independent because of access to this type of transportation.
I have used Lyft and Uber on many occasions when traveling when I did not want to rent a car and they are much more affordable than taxis are. I am trying to set up an account with Lyft to assist with our discharged patients who are unfunded and have no family available. Some of the companies do not allow a long enough wait time to allow for the patients to get to the front Lobby and have left without our patients. I have some other options and I am hopefully that if we can execute a facility contract we can get them to wait.
Great information, Anne. Thanks for sharing.