Kerico says the lack of transportation to medical care leads to increased no-shows and higher medical costs.
DALLAS — Every day has its own battle and three days out of the week, Pamelia McClenton needs a helping hand.
“This is my livelihood as well as my mother’s,” said Pamelia McClenton.
Her mother, Eddie Delaney, is on dialysis.
“It would be a struggle for me especially to try to do this by myself,” said McClenton. “To get her transported, from the wheelchair into my car, out of my car back into the wheelchair.”
Getting her mother to and from her doctor’s appointments has become hard.
“My car is down,” said McClenton.
That’s where Craig steps in to help. He is a Kerico Healthcare driver.
“We’re in love with our driver, Craig. He is our family. He’s just part of the family,” said McClenton.
“I really appreciate him because he’s very kind,” said Delaney.
Michael Morris is the founder and CEO of Texas-based Kerico. The company provides non-emergency transportation.
“We provide transportation for the elderly population and population that doesn’t have adequate transportation as far as handling their medical needs,” said Morris.
He said a lack of transportation is a big reason patients miss doctor appointments.
“A missed appointment accounts for about $150 billion in losses to the healthcare industry,” said Morris.
According to a 2017 study, the Medical Transportation Access Coalition said each no-show could cost a physician an average of $200.
“It also exacerbates the causes of illnesses from a minor illness getting more serious because a patient can’t get to the doctor to care of the preventative care,” said Morris.
Kerico works similarly to rideshares such as Uber or Lyft with pricing based on distance. For McClenton and Delaney, no one goes the distance like their driver, Craig.
“If I didn’t have it, I don’t know where I would be. I know definitely where my mother would be. She would be in the hospital,” said McClenton.