Lyft will boost its non-emergency medical transportation business through an integration with Epic’s electronic medical record system. The rideshare company said it will allow clinicians to schedule a ride for their patients from their health record, and make it easier for health systems to collect data on the impact of their transportation programs.
Health systems Tampa General and Ochsner Health currently use Lyft for non-emergency medical transportation services. Rides are ordered through Lyft’s Concierge platform, which allows businesses to pre-order rides for employees or clients.
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“Access to reliable transportation is a common barrier to seeking healthcare, especially for our most vulnerable patients,” Dr. David Carmouche, Ochsner’s senior vice president for community care, said in a news release. “By teaming up to integrate Lyft into Epic – our established health record system – Ochsner is providing a solution that makes it easier for patients to seek out high quality care when they need it and without unnecessary delays due to a lack of transportation.”
The rideshare company also began offering non-emergency medical transportation to Medicaid patients in six states last year—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, Virginia and Missouri.
Lyft expects the integration will further boost its footprint, since more than 250 million patients have a current electronic health record in Epic.
Competitor Uber is also taking strides to expand its business in non-emergency medical transportation. Last year, Uber struck a partnership with Cerner, Epic’s main rival.
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