Maryland-based healthcare system MedStar Health and on-demand car service provider Uber are partnering to give patients a new option for ensuring they can get to and from healthcare appointments. Through this partnership, a “Ride with Uber” button is now displayed on MedStarHealth.org for patients who miss appointments or have to reschedule at the last minute frequently cite transportation as a factor.
“Patients expect the same level of seamless integration in health care as they do in other aspects of their everyday life. MedStar is focused on becoming a premier digital healthcare organization. Our partnership with Uber is but one small step toward a future where technology-enabled patient engagement rivals other industries that have been disrupted by digital technology,” said Michael Ruiz, MedStar vice president and chief digital officer in a statement.
Extending from north of Baltimore to Washington, D.C., northern Virginia and southern Maryland, Uber is available throughout the MedStar service area. This collaboration offers patients another convenient way to move from home or office to any one of MedStar’s 10 hospitals or hundreds of outpatient locations and urgent cares, all with the touch of a button. Patients can now set a ride reminder to automatically notify them an hour before their appointment and keep them on schedule.
“Uber is a reliable option—day or night—regardless of where you need to go in the DMV,” said Zuhairah Washington, general manager of Uber DC in a statement. “Our collaboration with MedStar can help patients better plan their transportation to and from appointments, and ensure they never miss an appointment because they don’t have a ride.”
In addition to bricks-and-mortar sites, MedStar also has made a significant commitment to using digital technology to help consumers find physicians and schedule appointments online.
