Dialysis Center NEMT Partnership
Dialysis Transport That Never Misses a Session
Standing order NEMT for your entire patient panel. One setup call. Automatic dispatch every treatment day. Will-call return transport. No missed sessions.
The Missed Session Problem
Every missed dialysis session increases emergency room risk by 25%. For end-stage renal disease patients on a three-times-per-week hemodialysis schedule, even one missed session can lead to dangerous fluid overload, hyperkalemia, and cardiovascular complications. Two missed sessions in a row frequently result in an ER visit and hospitalization.
Transport is the most common non-clinical reason for missed dialysis sessions. Patients who rely on NEMT through broker dispatch face unpredictable pickup times, last-minute cancellations, and drivers who do not understand the urgency of treatment schedules. A patient who misses their pickup window often misses the entire session — dialysis chairs are scheduled tightly and cannot easily accommodate late arrivals.
Standing order transport solves this structurally. When a patient's pickup is programmed into a standing order system, transport dispatches automatically every treatment day at the same time. There is no rebooking, no daily authorization, and no broker queue to delay dispatch. The patient knows exactly when their ride is coming. The center knows exactly when to expect the patient. Transport reliability becomes clinical reliability.
The financial impact matters too. Every ER visit that results from a missed dialysis session costs the healthcare system $5,000 to $15,000. Every hospitalization costs $10,000 to $50,000. Reliable $50 to $100 round-trip transport that prevents these events is one of the highest-ROI interventions in the ESRD care pathway.
How the Standing Order System Works
Setting up standing orders is a one-time process. Your center provides us with the patient panel: names, addresses, treatment schedules (MWF or T/Th), session start times, and service levels (ambulatory, wheelchair, or stretcher). We program each patient into our dispatch system.
On each treatment day, transport dispatches automatically. No center staff involvement required for routine pickups. Drivers arrive at the patient's home at the programmed time — typically 45 to 60 minutes before the session start time, depending on distance.
Return transport uses a will-call system. When the patient completes treatment and is cleared for travel, center staff calls our dispatch line. A return vehicle is dispatched immediately. For patients with highly predictable session lengths, we can also pre-schedule the return pickup.
Schedule changes are handled with a single call. If a patient's schedule shifts, a session is cancelled, or a new patient joins the panel, our dispatch updates the standing order same-day. If a patient is hospitalized, we place their standing order on hold and reactivate it when they return to treatment.
Dialysis Centers We Serve
DaVita Kidney Care
Multiple locations across Chicagoland, south suburbs, and Northwest Indiana
Fresenius Kidney Care
Centers in Chicago, suburban Cook County, and Will County
US Renal Care
South suburban and Indiana locations
NorthShore Dialysis
North suburban Chicago locations
Independent Centers
Community-based dialysis centers throughout our 31-city coverage area
Patient Transport Patterns
Pre-Treatment Pickup
Scheduled pickup from patient’s home to dialysis center. Timed to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before session start. Standing order — dispatches automatically each treatment day.
Post-Treatment Return (Will-Call)
Center staff calls dispatch when the patient completes treatment and is ready for transport. Accommodates variable session lengths and post-treatment recovery time.
Post-Treatment Return (Scheduled)
For patients with predictable session lengths, return transport is pre-scheduled. Driver arrives at the estimated completion time.
Fatigue & Fluid Management
Post-dialysis patients often experience fatigue, dizziness, and fluid shifts. Our drivers provide door-through-door assistance and allow extra time for patient comfort.
Pricing for Dialysis Center Partners
Standing order volume pricing reflects the operational efficiency of recurring, predictable transport schedules. Per-trip rates for standing order patients are lower than on-demand rates because we can optimize driver routes and reduce deadhead miles.
Pricing is based on service level (ambulatory, wheelchair, stretcher), one-way trip distance, and total monthly trip volume. A dialysis patient on a three-times-per-week schedule generates approximately 26 round trips per month — 312 per year. Volume pricing at this scale produces meaningful per-trip savings compared to on-demand booking.
Billing is monthly net-30 with a single invoice covering all patients. For Medicaid-eligible patients, we handle prior authorization and billing directly with the MCO. The center receives no Medicaid paperwork for these transports.
Set Up Standing Orders for Your Center
One call to set up your patient panel. Automatic dispatch starts on the next treatment day. No missed sessions. No rebooking. No broker delays.