Ford is launching its GoRide nonemergency medical transportation service in southeast Michigan, covering more than 200 facilities within Southfield, Mich.-based Beaumont Health's network.
Under the agreement with Beaumont, Ford will use Transit vans to transport patients to medical appointments and then back to their homes. Ford currently has 15 vans serving Beaumont facilities as part of a pilot program that began late last year, and the company plans to deploy up to 60 vans by the end of 2018.
With GoRide, Beaumont can schedule transportation for patients up to 30 days in advance.
"This is precisely what we needed to improve access to medical care at Beaumont's facilities for our patients who are elderly, in wheelchairs or have mobility challenges," said Paul E. LaCasse, DO, executive vice president of the post-acute care division and diversified business operations at Beaumont Health.
GoRide drivers go through a full training regimen, and they can assist patients to and from their doorstep at private residences, entering and exiting the vehicle, and making their way to and from appointments. The drivers are also trained to provide bedside-to-bedside services for skilled nursing facility patients.
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