Lyft expands healthcare focus with Ascension partnership
Ride-hailing service Lyft has partnered with Ascension, the US's biggest not-for-profit hospital system, to offer "non-emergency medical transportation" to vulnerable and low-income patients. St-Louis-based Ascension's Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Nick Ragone said Lyft's online tool will be used for all patient transport scheduling, and "only an authorized Ascension employee will have access to the tool." It is the latest move into the healthcare sector by Lyft, which plans to expand its service with Ascension in the coming months.
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascension has partnered with on-demand transportation company Lyft to make non-emergency transportation services available to patients facing transportation barriers. The agreement will provide an additional resource for Ascension’s most vulnerable patients by making available convenient and reliable transportation, furthering Ascension’s promise to deliver Healthcare That Leaves No One Behind and its efforts to create an exceptional experience for those it serves at an affordable cost. Once the service is rolled out across the nation’s largest non-profit health system, Lyft drivers will be available for transportation to and from many of Ascension’s 2,500 sites of care, including 141 hospitals, in 24 states plus Washington, D.C.

“Many of the patients we serve across the country, especially those living in poverty and struggling the most, rely on public transportation, which can be inconvenient in terms of schedules and pickup and drop-off points,” said Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension. “Some patients may need a ride just once or twice a year, but some individuals with chronic conditions have to travel frequently to one of our care sites. By partnering with Lyft, we can offer our patients a convenient, reliable and affordable form of transportation.” The service also will provide a way for Ascension to help patients who arrive at a hospital by ambulance and need a ride home when they’re discharged.

“Working with Lyft allows Ascension to provide an additional level of service to our patients as we provide compassionate, personalized care with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable,” Dr. Tersigni said.

Through Ascension, Lyft will provide patients with direct transportation to a passenger’s destination and quick response times from drivers, with convenient and customer-friendly service.

“We worked closely with our care providers and operational leaders to find the right partner to provide non-emergency transportation services for those we serve,” said Michael Gray, Chief Operating Officer, The Resource Group, a subsidiary of Ascension. “We selected Lyft because it best meets our important requirements of convenience, customer support and service, and market flexibility across many of the communities we are blessed to serve.”

“Lyft is excited to partner with Ascension to bring expanded transportation options to its patients in communities across the country,” said Gyre Renwick, head of enterprise healthcare partnerships, Lyft. “The Lyft experience aligns well with Ascension’s goal of meeting the particular needs of everyone as an individual and ensuring no one is left behind.”

Lyft plans to expand its service to more communities served by Ascension over the next several months.

About Ascension

Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2016, Ascension provided more than $1.8 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes approximately 150,000 associates and 36,000 aligned providers. Ascension’s Healthcare Division operates 2,500 sites of care – including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia, while its Solutions Division provides a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascension’s own group purchasing organization.

About Lyft

Lyft was founded in June 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation. Lyft is the fastest growing rideshare company in the U.S. and is available in more than 200 cities. Lyft is preferred by drivers and passengers for its safe and friendly experience, and its commitment to affecting positive change for the future of our cities.