In the heart of Grand Rapids, MI, Tom Sikkema, founder and CEO of Ride Your Way, is revolutionizing non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). Born from a deeply personal experience and fueled by a passion for healthcare accessibility, Tom’s story and his company are testament to innovation and resilience in the face of challenges. This case study explores how Ride Your Way is setting new benchmarks in the industry through unique service offerings and inventive sales strategies.
Introduction to Ride Your Way NEMT and its Founder, Tom Sikkema
Ride Your Way was founded with a mission rooted in compassion and necessity. After battling a rare and life-threatening type of pediatric brain cancer, Tom Sikkema experienced firsthand the challenges patients face in accessing healthcare. His daily trips for cancer treatment proved difficult, but through incredible perseverance and unwavering support from his family, Tom emerged victorious.
His daily trips for cancer treatment proved difficult, but through incredible perseverance and unwavering support from his family, Tom emerged victorious. After battling a rare and life-threatening type of pediatric brain cancer, Tom Sikkema experienced firsthand the challenges patients face in accessing healthcare.
Tom’s experience as a cancer survivor ignited a passion to pursue a career as a registered nurse. During his nursing career, he continually noticed that patients without reliable transportation faced detrimental effects to their health. Recognizing this unmet need, he launched Ride Your Way with a vision to provide reliable and patient-centric transport services to increase health and wellness for the most at-risk members of his community.
For those in the NEMT industry seeking to innovate and overcome similar challenges, Tom’s experiences offer invaluable lessons in adaptability and client-focused service enhancements. Ride Your Way stands as a testament to the power of innovation, commitment, and strategic thinking in creating a truly impactful business.
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The Unique Innovation: Traversa Transport Wheelchair and its Impact on Patient Comfort
Ride Your Way is committed to “personalized, punctual, and safe transportation.” When Tom heard about the new Traversa Transport Wheelchair by Broda, he knew that Ride Your Way needed to be one of the first to adopt this groundbreaking technology. Tom recognized the Traversa as a game-changing stretcher alternative. Instead of offering ambulance-style transport for bed-bound, medically stable clientele, Ride Your Way began offering a revolutionary alternative service.
Ride Your Way is committed to “personalized, punctual, and safe transportation.” When Tom heard about the new Traversa Transport Wheelchair by Broda, he knew that Ride Your Way needed to be one of the first to adopt this groundbreaking technology.
Unlike traditional stretchers or gurneys, the Traversa offers a more stable and comfortable ride, especially critical for patients who can no longer sit upright in a wheelchair or require a stretcher. For instance, Tom recalls transporting a regular dialysis patient with double above-the-knee amputations who suffered significant discomfort on bumpy roads. The Traversa not only alleviated her pain but also provided her the comfort to sleep during her trips.
Tom continued to notice positive passenger reactions to the Traversa, and knew he needed to expand their stretcher alternative services!
Dealing with Non-Insurance Billing & a Creative Solution
Introducing such innovations, however, did not come without challenges. The most significant hurdle Ride Your Way faced was the non-billable nature of their stretcher alternative service line to insurance providers. This predicament initially resulted in pushback from potential customers, threatening the sustainability of their innovative service offerings.
In response to these challenges, Ride Your Way implemented innovative reimbursement solutions. They negotiated with skilled nursing facilities to showcase the cost benefits of using the Traversa over traditional stretcher and ambulance transports. This led to sustainable direct billing agreements.
Facilities were pleased to find that the stretcher-alternative trips were much more affordable than the expensive and unreliable ambulance services. This strategic shift ensured financial viability and strengthened trust, creating long-term partnerships and revenue streams for Ride Your Way.
Client Satisfaction and Business Growth: The Positive Outcomes
The introduction of the Traversa Transport Wheelchair and innovative billing strategies led to increased client satisfaction and business growth. Patients appreciated the enhanced comfort and safety, while healthcare facilities valued the reliability and affordability of Ride Your Way’s services. This positive feedback loop has driven business expansion and created an additional service line for stretcher alternative transportation, reinforcing the company’s market position.
Conclusion: The Future of Ride Your Way NEMT and Lessons Learned
Looking ahead, Ride Your Way is poised to continue its upward trajectory in the NEMT industry, fueled by a solid commitment to patient care and industry-leading innovations. The company’s resilience in overcoming financial challenges and dedication to enhancing patient experiences serves as an inspiring blueprint for other NEMT operators.
Tom Sikkema’s story exemplifies how personal experiences can lead to profound changes in healthcare delivery. By focusing on patient needs and leveraging creative problem-solving, Ride Your Way is not just a transportation provider—it’s a catalyst for change in the NEMT landscape.
