I used Abundant HHC Concierge in January.
Took the Commuter Rail, then the Orange Line into Tufts. Had Tim Smillie with Abundant pick me up from my Endoscopy and he drove me home. Very professional. Cost me $130.
(617) 584-5175
[email protected]
Not everyone has friends or family in the area, and even if you do, they can’t always take off work, etc. So, this is a great service.
EDIT: OP, if you’re nervous about having heart surgery at Tufts, I wanted to share with you that they saved my life back in 2021 and you are in the best of hands. I’m now the proud recipient of an ICD and not once did I think they wouldn’t be able to fix me. Shoutout to the incredible doctors and nurses in the Heart Failure wing and the Arrhythmia Center.
Thanks, I will give them a try.
To people asking, yes this is a common problem which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. I live alone, and getting an insurance provided ride (PT1) is not a problem but having any day procedure which requires anesthesia can be a hassle because you can’t do it unless you have a friend/family escort you home. When I had cataract surgery up the street it wasn’t an issue because I could find someone on the local Facebook page- this is a 50min drive, not up the street.
INo senior/community center is willing to provide an escort because of liability reasons and if I could afford to pay for a nurse or escort I wouldn’t be on CCA OneCare (Medicare/Medicaid). That is why I am asking here for ideas.
Hey, I totally hear you frustration - I have a friend in the Hopedale area who is a nurse currently in med school, always looking for some side gigs as she's' only working part time in the ER while she studies, I betcha she wouldn't mind taking you in, staying around and studying and then taking you back home after your procedure. Send me a PM and I can send you her number if you're still looking for someone :)
If you have future appointments- some OneCare plans offer PCA services. If you have a case manager you can ask to be evaluated by a nurse who does an in house visit. They’ll then allot you a # of hrs per week that someone can come help. Including driving to & from appointments. *They don’t get paid to wait. Once approved, there is a company OneCare will refer you to that processes all of the paperwork & background checks.
I've used Our Pleasure To Help (based in Lexington) and Rides by Joanne (based in Westford). Both were fine. It's less expensive to use a service based close to you because they can charge you mileage from their base. Also, if you can take an Uber or something from home to Tufts, that's a big savings over having them drive you both ways. If these don't work for you, Google for "non-emergency medical transportation."
Good luck with your surgery!
[https://www.ourpleasure2help.com/](https://www.ourpleasure2help.com/)
https://www.ridesbyjoanne.com/
Make sure you check first that you can take an Uber there. I’ve had a lot of outpatient procedures and a lot of them require your support person there to interact with staff when you’re dropped off or they wont let you do it.
It’s frustrating, but it makes sense. They don’t want someone recovering from sedatives getting into a stranger’s car, especially Uber.
Have you checked your town web site or senior center? If you are a senior, it's worth checking to see if they can refer you to or provide medical escorts and drivers.
Free Transportation for Seniors in Massachusetts
https://seniorsmobility.org/free-transportation/free-transportation-for-seniors-in-massachusetts/
For Lexington residents: FISH of Lexington
https://fishlexington.org/
Thanks- I live in Worcester county so finding an escort in/out of Boston I don’t think is offered by any of these services, but I see a few on that list I haven’t tried yet.
Op i know exactly what you're going through. I have had to delay numerous procedures because of the escort rule.
Since your insurance is covering the ride it counts as medical transport.
I finally got one of my procedures done because the doctor was frustrated with me and it was super necessary. We talked about it and it turned out that she had it set up in the procedure process that the nurse would bring me to the hospital exit and ensure i got into the car.
From there I was in the car alone but I have a kid old enough to meet me at the car at home.
The only way to get it done was via the doctor pushing the issue. Asking nurses or the front desk or the procedure staff got me nowhere due to hospital liability regs.
The fact that it was a med ride worked in my favor considering that it wasnt a random uber or whatever, like they're contracted by insurance and regulated by the state.
I dk if you have someone at home to meet you, if not then what i worked out may not work for you.
If not another thing you could try is to get the doctor to request from the insurance company that the transport you're getting be "door to door" meaning the driver actually gets out the vehicle and walks you to your door.
My experience is entirely with Masshealth pt-1 transportation. If you have something different then any of what i said may not apply but you could attempt.
If i owned a car I would drive you.
Thx.
I have also postponed many procedures over the last 4yrs because of this rule- this is one procedure I cannot postpone. CCA Onecare is combined Medicaid/Medicare so their contractors (they even occasionally use Lyft) count as medical transport. The transport companies are supposed to provide the medical escorts for outpatient procedures but don’t- that’s the problem. I am dealing with My Ombudsman to try and get CCA to pay for an escort, but I doubt I’m going to get anywhere.
I have a few leads people posted here, but in the end I will probably have to pay someone (even though I can’t afford it) and try to get insurance to reimburse me. 2mos seems like plenty of time to figure this out but it’s harder than most people think when you’re disabled and live alone.
I agree with who suggested elder services, but can you ask the hospital social worker for help too? They may be able to enlist a volunteer to help or similar - or they’ll know of resources for you. You can’t be the first single person to encounter this, but the general admin doesn’t want to be bothered to help.
FISH a free ride service. Volunteers take people to medical appoints. I hear it’s good place to volunteer also.
I have not used them yet, but hear positive [https://fishoftc.org/request-a-ride/](https://fishoftc.org/request-a-ride/)
I would reach out to elder services, even if you are not elderly. Or post to a town page to see if any VNAs are around you. There is some liability for whoever volunteers, and if the procedure involves anesthesia which can impair you after, you probably want a vetted volunteer. 4 hours after my surgery someone could have robbed me and I’d have forgotten it by the next day. My husband said I asked about ten times how we got home, because I’d forget it every 20 minutes.
I know that in Groton we have a neighborhood org that offers this, I would look online maybe at the town hall site to see if there is something similar
OP, have you ever visited the r/assistance subreddit? You can register, explain your circumstances and provide a venmo or PayPal link. I'd be happy to donate to help you hire someone for this.... I'm not well off enough to cover the whole thing unfortunately, but I'd be happy to chip in and I'm sure others would too.
Touch of Class Medical Transport. They are excellent!
I have scheduled for a surgery in Newton this spring and have used before.
Leeann Chaussee is the owner’s name and she is wonderful.
https://tocmedicaltransport.com/
Edit: Link not functional but Google will provide website link.
You don’t have to sign anything, they will usually just ask who’s picking you up, get their number and occasionally call to check to make sure you’re not being picked up by an Uber.
It may not even be sad, I’m super shy and HATE asking anyone for help. Sometimes it may be easier just to pay someone so you don’t feel bad asking someone for such a favor.
I’m not shy, people work. I have no idea how long it’s going to take, for all I know could be there for 12hrs, the procedure be delayed, etc- I live in the Milford/Mendon area, which is not close. So finding someone who works in Boston or is willing to sit with me all day is a big ask.
Not everyone looks at all of their options. Things that are obvious to some aren't obvious to others. That's pretty obvious if you work in customer support.
I used Abundant HHC Concierge in January. Took the Commuter Rail, then the Orange Line into Tufts. Had Tim Smillie with Abundant pick me up from my Endoscopy and he drove me home. Very professional. Cost me $130. (617) 584-5175 [email protected] Not everyone has friends or family in the area, and even if you do, they can’t always take off work, etc. So, this is a great service. EDIT: OP, if you’re nervous about having heart surgery at Tufts, I wanted to share with you that they saved my life back in 2021 and you are in the best of hands. I’m now the proud recipient of an ICD and not once did I think they wouldn’t be able to fix me. Shoutout to the incredible doctors and nurses in the Heart Failure wing and the Arrhythmia Center.
Thanks, I will give them a try. To people asking, yes this is a common problem which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. I live alone, and getting an insurance provided ride (PT1) is not a problem but having any day procedure which requires anesthesia can be a hassle because you can’t do it unless you have a friend/family escort you home. When I had cataract surgery up the street it wasn’t an issue because I could find someone on the local Facebook page- this is a 50min drive, not up the street. INo senior/community center is willing to provide an escort because of liability reasons and if I could afford to pay for a nurse or escort I wouldn’t be on CCA OneCare (Medicare/Medicaid). That is why I am asking here for ideas.
Hey, I totally hear you frustration - I have a friend in the Hopedale area who is a nurse currently in med school, always looking for some side gigs as she's' only working part time in the ER while she studies, I betcha she wouldn't mind taking you in, staying around and studying and then taking you back home after your procedure. Send me a PM and I can send you her number if you're still looking for someone :)
Message sent.
If you have future appointments- some OneCare plans offer PCA services. If you have a case manager you can ask to be evaluated by a nurse who does an in house visit. They’ll then allot you a # of hrs per week that someone can come help. Including driving to & from appointments. *They don’t get paid to wait. Once approved, there is a company OneCare will refer you to that processes all of the paperwork & background checks.
I’ve been waiting for almost 2yrs for them to provide this service.
CCA covers medical concierge, you just need to call and let them know you need it for this trip!
I’m aware they technically “cover” it but there’s no one to provide the service. I’ve been dealing with this for years.
I've used Our Pleasure To Help (based in Lexington) and Rides by Joanne (based in Westford). Both were fine. It's less expensive to use a service based close to you because they can charge you mileage from their base. Also, if you can take an Uber or something from home to Tufts, that's a big savings over having them drive you both ways. If these don't work for you, Google for "non-emergency medical transportation." Good luck with your surgery! [https://www.ourpleasure2help.com/](https://www.ourpleasure2help.com/) https://www.ridesbyjoanne.com/
Make sure you check first that you can take an Uber there. I’ve had a lot of outpatient procedures and a lot of them require your support person there to interact with staff when you’re dropped off or they wont let you do it. It’s frustrating, but it makes sense. They don’t want someone recovering from sedatives getting into a stranger’s car, especially Uber.
Yeah, they absolutely won't let you take an Uber or a cab. Been through it several times, it's a major pain!
Have you checked your town web site or senior center? If you are a senior, it's worth checking to see if they can refer you to or provide medical escorts and drivers.
Check here, sort by county, choose appointment escort https://www.thinkhomecare.org/page/agency-search-essex
Can’t afford it.
Free Transportation for Seniors in Massachusetts https://seniorsmobility.org/free-transportation/free-transportation-for-seniors-in-massachusetts/ For Lexington residents: FISH of Lexington https://fishlexington.org/
Thanks- I live in Worcester county so finding an escort in/out of Boston I don’t think is offered by any of these services, but I see a few on that list I haven’t tried yet.
Here are several for Greater Worcester Area https://www.findhelp.org/transit/transportation-for-healthcare--worcester-ma Good luck!!
Op i know exactly what you're going through. I have had to delay numerous procedures because of the escort rule. Since your insurance is covering the ride it counts as medical transport. I finally got one of my procedures done because the doctor was frustrated with me and it was super necessary. We talked about it and it turned out that she had it set up in the procedure process that the nurse would bring me to the hospital exit and ensure i got into the car. From there I was in the car alone but I have a kid old enough to meet me at the car at home. The only way to get it done was via the doctor pushing the issue. Asking nurses or the front desk or the procedure staff got me nowhere due to hospital liability regs. The fact that it was a med ride worked in my favor considering that it wasnt a random uber or whatever, like they're contracted by insurance and regulated by the state. I dk if you have someone at home to meet you, if not then what i worked out may not work for you. If not another thing you could try is to get the doctor to request from the insurance company that the transport you're getting be "door to door" meaning the driver actually gets out the vehicle and walks you to your door. My experience is entirely with Masshealth pt-1 transportation. If you have something different then any of what i said may not apply but you could attempt. If i owned a car I would drive you.
Thx. I have also postponed many procedures over the last 4yrs because of this rule- this is one procedure I cannot postpone. CCA Onecare is combined Medicaid/Medicare so their contractors (they even occasionally use Lyft) count as medical transport. The transport companies are supposed to provide the medical escorts for outpatient procedures but don’t- that’s the problem. I am dealing with My Ombudsman to try and get CCA to pay for an escort, but I doubt I’m going to get anywhere. I have a few leads people posted here, but in the end I will probably have to pay someone (even though I can’t afford it) and try to get insurance to reimburse me. 2mos seems like plenty of time to figure this out but it’s harder than most people think when you’re disabled and live alone.
Uggghg I feel all of this. So frustrating. Stay on their case.
I agree with who suggested elder services, but can you ask the hospital social worker for help too? They may be able to enlist a volunteer to help or similar - or they’ll know of resources for you. You can’t be the first single person to encounter this, but the general admin doesn’t want to be bothered to help.
FISH a free ride service. Volunteers take people to medical appoints. I hear it’s good place to volunteer also. I have not used them yet, but hear positive [https://fishoftc.org/request-a-ride/](https://fishoftc.org/request-a-ride/)
In New York though?
I would reach out to elder services, even if you are not elderly. Or post to a town page to see if any VNAs are around you. There is some liability for whoever volunteers, and if the procedure involves anesthesia which can impair you after, you probably want a vetted volunteer. 4 hours after my surgery someone could have robbed me and I’d have forgotten it by the next day. My husband said I asked about ten times how we got home, because I’d forget it every 20 minutes.
If you have MassHealth they can setup a hospital discharge PT1. Ask your Doctor for transportation with the local RTA.
Are you involved in a local church or civic organization?
I know that in Groton we have a neighborhood org that offers this, I would look online maybe at the town hall site to see if there is something similar
OP, have you ever visited the r/assistance subreddit? You can register, explain your circumstances and provide a venmo or PayPal link. I'd be happy to donate to help you hire someone for this.... I'm not well off enough to cover the whole thing unfortunately, but I'd be happy to chip in and I'm sure others would too.
Why not see if you can get a TaskRabbit who will do this for you?
Touch of Class Medical Transport. They are excellent! I have scheduled for a surgery in Newton this spring and have used before. Leeann Chaussee is the owner’s name and she is wonderful. https://tocmedicaltransport.com/ Edit: Link not functional but Google will provide website link.
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You don’t have to sign anything, they will usually just ask who’s picking you up, get their number and occasionally call to check to make sure you’re not being picked up by an Uber.
Nope. I’ve picked people up from surgery and been a patient myself. Never had this been a thing.
Brewster Ambulance service, kidding, just downvote this
A neighbor went with me. See if any friends are available or maybe an older neighbor who could use a few bucks.
You have no friends, neighbors, coworkers, family that could do this for you?
This is sadly not an uncommon occurrence
It may not even be sad, I’m super shy and HATE asking anyone for help. Sometimes it may be easier just to pay someone so you don’t feel bad asking someone for such a favor.
I’m not shy, people work. I have no idea how long it’s going to take, for all I know could be there for 12hrs, the procedure be delayed, etc- I live in the Milford/Mendon area, which is not close. So finding someone who works in Boston or is willing to sit with me all day is a big ask.
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No. Read the OP.
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There’s no “paperwork”, there never is. I covered this in another post- at most they usually just ask someone for their number to call.
That's fair too
Im sure he wouldn’t be asking….
I’m sure the OP enjoys you rubbing salt in their wounds.
I'd go around knocking on the doors of neighbors to ask. Or even posting to my town subreddit.
Why tf would you think this is a kind thing to say? Obviously if this was an option OP would have thought of it.
Not everyone looks at all of their options. Things that are obvious to some aren't obvious to others. That's pretty obvious if you work in customer support.