Serra Medical Transportation Burlingame

The festive season is around the corner and families all over the country are planning outings, shopping trips and all the other activities that the season demands and offers. It is a time for togetherness and letting go of solo pleasure in favor of activities with others. But not everyone can participate in them. Spare a thought for those who are dear to you who find it difficult to leave the home to be part of the fun. The reason may be old age, physical infirmities and disabilities, recovery from a major illness or surgery and so on. It is depressing for them to be stuck at home while others are out having fun. Image Courtesy : https://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/07/2000301727/670/394/0/101204-F-9744C-001.JPG The Season for Companionship If you have family members or friends who are stuck in the house, you probably make it a point to go and see them at this time of the year. While that is thoughtful and considerate and helps to fill the void that mobility li

Recovering from a spinal cord injury (SCI) can be long and tedious. There will be pain and discomfort, worry and frustration about the lack of mobility and fear about the long term recovery prospects. On top of that there are the side effects of the medication that may be prescribed and the physiotherapy that has to be done. All in all, recovering from SCI is not a good time in a person’s life. A positive attitude and finding ways to relieve the stress can relieve the tension and worry and even help to facilitate the recovery. One of the best ways to do this is to travel. That does not mean hopping on a plane and flying off to distant places. All you need to do is move out of the home to get away for a day or two. It is not as difficult as you may think. Check with Your Doctor Being spontaneous is fine when you are well, but with an SCI, you need to be sure of what you can and cannot do. The first step is to consult your doctor and get clearance to travel. Tell him ab

Advances in medicine have resulted in the sick and injured having to spend less time in the hospital than in the past. This coupled with the increasing cost of in-hospital care means that patients and their families have 2 reasons to be happy about an early return home – the patient can continue his recovery in comfortable familiar surroundings and the burden on the wallet is reduced. However, the change from being an in-patient to an out-patient presents some problems of its own. One of the biggest of these is the issue of transporting the patient to the hospital or clinic for checkups to monitor the pace of recovery and follow up treatment. https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7001/6751574999_bc9a9667d6_b.jpg The Problem of Transport Traveling by car for checkups may be all right for those with minor injuries or sickness, but it can be a major problem for those who are not mobile or unable to get in and out of a car. The issue is not just one of discomfort. The act of gettin

If you are a caregiver for someone who has permanent or temporary mobility problems, you know how important a change of scenery is for them and how it can boost their spirits. It is also a nice change for you and gives you a break from the monotony of doing the same thing every day. An occasional day trip is a great way to stimulate the mind and body and it makes coping with the condition easier for the patient. However, these types of trips require careful planning to ensure that they go off smoothly and do not cause any physical or mental stress to the patient. Here are some key issues to check out before planning the trip. Planning the Trip Get the doctor’s approval. Obviously, you will not go on a trip if the doctor says no. At times the answer is not so clear cut. You may be told that it is okay, but with a lot of special precautions to be taken. It is up to you to decide if you, as the caregiver, can manage or not. If in doubt, arrange for additional help to t

Modern lifestyles have caused the incidence of cardiac problems to rise across the globe. Luckily, an advance in medicine has resulted in effective treatments for these problems. Often surgery is the best course of action. A major issue for those who have undergone cardiac surgery is that of traveling during the recovery period, which can, is some cases, be an extended period of time. While rest and relaxation are important, the patient will have to travel for regular checkups. Also, with a doctor’s approval, outings and social visits may help in the recovery process. Traveling Safely ·          Do not travel alone, no matter how well you feel. A sudden attack of fatigue, dizziness or any of the common after effects of surgery could put you in danger. Always have someone with you who knows how to deal with these situations. ·          Do not carry anything even slightly heavy. Ask the driver of the vehicle you are traveling to do the carrying. ·          If you ar

After suffering a fracture, it’s tempting to take the easy path and lie on a couch all day, waiting for the cast to come off. That could be a big mistake. If your doctor has told you to stay as active as possible, that is exactly what you should do. There are 2 aspects to this. The first is to be active at home and the second is to go out and resume your normal activities as far as possible. Of course, everything must be done with your doctor’s approval. Staying Active At Home Make your home compatible with your mobility restrictions. Get your friends and family to help you. Rearrange furniture to create comfortable pathways and movement spaces throughout the house. All homes have clutter. Clear away all the non-essentials, especially things that can cause a fall. Remove rugs and carpets and if that is not possible, tape down the edges so you do not trip on them. Add lighting to any dimly lit places in the house and keep nightlights on at night. Install handrails on st

Being immobile after sickness, surgery or injury can be very depressing. Being stuck in the same place, often in the same room, day after day can suck the strength out of a person as much as the reason for being immobile in the first place. There is a reason behind the old saying “variety is the spice of life.” The mind and body both need the stimulus of change to stay alert and gain strength. Without this “spice” life can be bland and dull which could cause the patient to become withdrawn and inward looking. As any doctor will say, a positive attitude is an essential part of any recovery, from any kind of sickness or injury. A change of scene can be the stimulus that hastens recovery or, if the condition is a permanent one, makes life happier. Transportation can be a Problem There are two factors that limit mobility and the ability to travel. The first, of course, is the physical condition of the patient. Some conditions may not allow for excessive movement or traveli

Medical checkups and regular visits to the doctor become increasingly important as a person ages. Taking an elderly relative with mobility limitations to a doctor or other medical appointment can be a problem for family members and caregivers. Since they cannot drive themselves, someone has to take them and then bring them home. This responsibility typically falls on a family member. However, in an increasingly time strapped world, dropping a long standing commitment to transport Grandpa can be a major problem. In addition, there are the special needs. For example, if Grandpa is wheelchair bound, using a family car can be a huge challenge, not to mention the discomfort to him, the tension for you and the safe transportation issues. It’s not really a good idea to do it yourself. The Transportation Options Driving Grandpa yourself is not, for the reasons mentioned, the best option. You could use the standard yellow cab. But cab drivers are not trained in dealing wit

In 2015 the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) released a report on the importance of Non-Emergency Medical Transport (NEMT) and why the need for it is growing. According to the report, around 3.6 million Americans miss or delay scheduled medical care appointments because they do not have appropriate transportation. The Changing Medical Care Scene Advances in medical treatment means that an increasing number of those who would earlier have been treated as inpatients are now able to return home and come back for care only as required. The need for NEMT is not only for those recovering from sickness, surgery or injury. Those with chronic conditions such as arthritis, asthma, cardiac conditions, pulmonary disease, diabetes and so on need medical services on a regular and frequent basis. In a 2009 study, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that over 75% of the adult population of America that is over the age of 55 has at least one chronic cond

Having a loved one in hospital is always a cause for stress in the family and there is great relief at the time of discharge. But that often does not mean that the stress is over. There is still a lot that needs to be done do ensure that the recovery goes smoothly. The patient may need a period of care and rehabilitation and this will usually require a great deal of support. Planning for the discharge and what comes after should begin well in advance to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Before Discharge Before the patient is discharged you should obtain the following information from the hospital: The expected date of discharge The type of care that the patient will require and whether specialized services will be necessary and if so, a list of approved care providers and services. The recommendations of the doctors and nurses on what actions you should take. Contact information from where additional information may be obtained and questions answered. Care a

Having mobility issues does not mean that you are a prisoner in your home. Whether it is a temporary issue or a long term one, being able to go out can be good for you. Of course, you need to check with your doctor before doing this, but if you get the go ahead, why not? The answer is often that the logistics of travel are too cumbersome to surmount. A normal car may not be suitable if you are in a wheelchair or if there are other constraints. And then there is the question of your safety and comfort. There is a way to overcome all these problems and that is by using Non-Emergency Medical Transport (NEMT). What Is NEMT? NEMT is not an ambulance – that is for emergency and as the name says, NEMT is for non-emergency situations. NEMT is a specialized service that caters to the specialized transportation needs of those with mobility problems. NEMT will pick you up from your home, hospital, nursing home or wherever you are. It will then take you to where y

Caring for an elderly parent is a labor of love. However, it can also be very stressful, especially if the parent has mobility problems. From just being unstable on the feet to being unable to walk due to injury or medical conditions to varying degrees of paralysis, the issues could be varied. It is important to remember that while caring for a parent with mobility problems is tough, it is even harder on the parent. Depression A loss of mobility leads to a feeling of being dependent on others. This can often lead to feelings of guilt at being a burden on the rest of the family. In addition, and often a more serious matter, is that the limitations that the lost mobility results in can lead to depression. This, in turn, can cause other medical issues or exacerbate existing ones. That is why it is important to provide the parent with mobility assistance and a way of traveling that is safe and designed to meet their needs. Around The Home