Private Medical Transport on Your Schedule —
Across Alberta, demand for non-emergency medical transport continues to grow year after year.
Capacity is limited and the strain is especially felt in rural communities where scarce resources are used for both emergency medical services and non-emergency patient transfers.
The Albertan who is scheduled for chemo-therapy or surgery may arrive late, or see an appointment cancelled, if the only ambulance in town is tied up with a 911-call.
Alberta families who prefer to have more control over their medical transport needs, are not limited to the public health care system. Across Central and Northern Alberta, JET COMPANION is a private non-emergency medical transport service that serves both the cities and rural communities.
What is Non-Emergency Medical Transport (NEMT)?
It means that we don’t respond to any 911-calls, or requests to transport patients to an Emergency Room. Medical emergencies require an EMS response, and by law that is the sole responsibility of Alberta Health Services, and a select few private ambulance companies, contracted by AHS.
NEMT is about mobility and access to care, not emergency response. It is a resource to transport patients from A to B, on a stretcher, with medical support. Patients can’t travel on their own, but transfers are always scheduled and non-emergent. It means no lights, no sirens.
Why a private NEMT-service, and not the public ambulance service?
One is not better than the other. Alberta EMS companies are regulated and meet some of the highest standards in the industry when it comes to patient care, patient safety, equipment, hygiene and staff training.
However, the public health care system is under extreme pressure to keep up with demand. Private companies have more flexibility to offer a premium service and operate on your schedule – not the system’s. There is more time to provide a customized experience to the patient. The fee-for-service allows for maximum privacy and dignity. Hiring a crew that is not on standby for EMS response at the same time, offers the best guarantee for an on-time pick up. There is certainly no pressure to squeeze a transfer in between emergency calls, or to quickly offload one patient, to go to the next.
What level of care is to be expected from a NEMT-ambulance in Alberta?
JET COMPANION staffs all units with Alberta-licensed Primary Care Paramedics and Advanced Care Paramedics, who are trained and equipped to keep patients safe and comfortable at all times. The same paramedics who do scheduled patient transfers for us, also work in the Emergency Medical Services, where they drive the same type of vehicles and operate the same equipment. Our vehicles carry medical oxygen, mobility aids, and devices to carry patients up and down stairs.
What area does JET COMPANION cover?
Our crews are based near Edmonton International Airport, in Leduc. We serve our patients mainly around Edmonton, as far as Edson, Red Deer, Lloydminster and Cold Lake. But we can transport patients across Alberta. Transfers to and from Calgary, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie are common. When needed, our crews can travel to British Columbia and Saskatchewan, covering long distances by road.
Private ambulance between Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan
Public ambulances are not available for long distance transfers beyond the borders of Alberta. Even within our province, special authorization is required for a North Zone ambulance to transfer a patient to the South Zone. Private NEMT-services are not restricted in the same way. Families can schedule a long-distance transfer across provinces, for a bedridden patient when an air ambulance is not financially viable, or when the patient’s condition doesn’t allow flying at altitude.
What does private medical transport cost?
Private stretcher service or NEMT is not covered by AHS. Rates are based on distance, time and level of care required. Contrary to public ambulances, on-demand services can be added such as catering, scheduled wait time, hotel accommodation enroute or an extra vehicle to carry luggage or travel companions. Private non-emergency medical transport is a premium service. It is structured, staffed and priced accordingly. Taxis or public service ambulances will always be cheaper. But in return for the higher cost, you can also expect a refined customer care experience, beyond the strictly medical needs of the patient. And, there are no surprises.
Day-trips for bed-ridden patients in Alberta
Private stretcher service in Alberta is ideal for day trips that require advanced planning such as specialist appointments or day surgery. Punctuality and reliability are key to avoid disruption in the patient’s treatment schedule. But the trip does not necessarily need to be medically necessary. Say, a bed-ridden patient wanted to go to a concert, or to the mountains. If transport is the main limiting factor…that’s one good reason why private non-emergency ambulance companies exist and have their own spot in the market. When a private medical transport service is booked, that timeslot is always guaranteed: there is no risk that the crew might be diverted to attend an emergency call elsewhere. The crew is reserved exclusively for your family.
End of life transport in Alberta
A crew can also be booked for end-of-life transports or so-called “palliative transfers”. When the goal is no longer treatment, but sharing quality time with family, the lack of suitable medical transport can severely limit the ability of a palliative patient to participate in family life, when there is no time to waste.
Palliative patients are no longer treated in an acute care setting, and the focus is on comfort care. However, any transport from A to B can be highly complex. The patient may need more than a stretcher: commonly, oxygen, medication for symptom control and incontinence management during transport, as well as controlled medical intervention like airway suctioning or tube feeding.
That’s where JET COMPANION can dispatch a transport nurse, who can discreetly keep the patient comfortable, while seeing loved ones, attending a funeral, or visiting a special place, maybe for the last time.
When the reason for transport is deeply personal, and not so much out of medical necessity, public ambulance services often don’t have the capacity to assist. That’s where private NEMT-services fill an incredibly meaningful gap in the system. End-of-life transfers are carefully coordinated in advance with physicians and hospice teams to ensure continuity of care. Our crews approach the patient gently, and with compassion. The transfer cannot be rushed.
Medical transport should not be the limiting factor
When medical transport becomes a limiting factor, families deserve options. Whether the goal is access to specialized care, long-distance relocation, or a deeply personal final journey, private non-emergency medical transport provides a structured, reliable solution. Planning ahead removes uncertainty — and restores control at a time when control matters most.
Read more about JET COMPANION’s Non Emergency Medical Transport Service in Alberta here.
Frequently Asked Questions about Non-Emergency Ambulance Transport in Alberta
- Is private medical transport covered by Alberta Health Services?
No, private medical transport is paid out-of-pocket, often by families, employers or crowdfunding.
- Can a private ambulance cross provincial borders?
Yes, subject to provincial laws and regulations an Alberta ambulance can transfer a patient in or out of the province.
- How far in advance should a private medical transfer be booked?
Bookings can be accommodated at short notice, subject to availability. The best guarantee that a crew will be ready, is to book as early as possible.