When you’re considering your courier opportunities, concerns can arise about whether or not using a medical courier is right for your institution. That’s okay—it’s important to research all your options thoroughly before coming to the solution that’s best for you, your patients, your employees and your facility. However, there are a few myths about the medical transportation industry we’d like to set straight before you come to your final decision. This week’s blog is debunking three of the seven most common medical courier myths and giving you the skinny on how our industry truly operates. We’ll walk you through the other four in our next blog!
Myth 1: Couriers don’t understand the needs of the healthcare industry
Truth: While the healthcare industry is a complicated world to an outsider, medical transport is actually an area where specialists thrive. This myth comes up a lot in cases where couriers support multiple industries, and the intricacies of each can play second fiddle to the standard courier protocol. For example, couriers who promise to serve medical facilities, food and grocery chains, retail locations and industrial markets may service each of those verticals but could be shirking their due diligence in certain areas to do so.
However, healthcare-specific couriers—like ProMed Logistics—focus all of their efforts on understanding the specific needs of medical transportation, so our customers can rest assured we know the intricacies involved with transporting materials and equipment for the healthcare industry.
Myth 2: Every courier is the same
Truth: As we’ve stated in previous blogs, not all couriers are the same. Yes, we’re all likely to offer the same or similar services, but the quality of care and the relationships you build with your courier will change based on the team you choose. This is especially true for couriers who service the healthcare industry, as you’ll want to ensure you have a team who understands the requirements, limitations and protocol involved in med transport.
Myth 3: You have less oversight when using a third-party courier
Truth: All professional couriers should have a system in place to ensure an unbroken chain of custody from the time a delivery leaves a facility until it reaches its intended destination. Similarly, couriers who manage tasks such as updating and ordering inventory at hospitals or labs have technology that can actually increase your visibility about your facility’s day-to-day operations. The breadth of data and real-time shipment tracking available through your courier can open up time that your team would otherwise have to find in their already tight schedules for tasks like inventory.
Be on the lookout for Part Two of our blog on medical courier myths. In the meantime, call ProMed Logistics if you’re in need of a medical courier for your lab, hospital, pharmacy or other healthcare facility. We’re here to help.