Medical Transportation for Patients on Oxygen in Massachusetts

Yes, you can travel with your oxygen, and you bring your own equipment. The tank or concentrator rides secured upright inside the passenger cabin, never in the trunk. Tell us your flow rate and how long your supply lasts when you book, so the trip is scheduled with enough margin for a clinic that runs late.

Can I bring my oxygen tank or concentrator in the van?

Yes, and you should bring your own. We do not supply oxygen. Your equipment comes from your durable medical equipment supplier and is set to the flow rate your doctor prescribed, so it is the only oxygen that belongs in the vehicle. Bring the portable unit you normally take to appointments, not the large stationary concentrator from your living room.

Where does the tank go during the ride?

Secured upright on the floor of the passenger cabin. Never in the trunk. Hospice and respiratory educators are consistent on this point: a loose cylinder can become a projectile in a collision, and a cylinder shut in the trunk cannot be reached if something goes wrong on the road. We keep a window open an inch or two for ventilation, and there is no smoking or open flame in the vehicle at any time, which is standard practice anywhere oxygen is in use.

How much oxygen should I bring for the trip?

Enough for the ride there, the entire appointment, the ride back, and a delay on top of that. Ask your supplier how long your portable tank lasts at your prescribed flow rate, because that number changes with both the flow setting and the tank size. If you use a concentrator, bring a charged spare battery. Clinics run behind, traffic on Route 128 and the Pike is unpredictable, and running low on the way home is the one problem you can fully prevent before you leave the house.

Bring a copy of your oxygen prescription showing your flow rate. Clinics ask for it more often than people expect.

Will the driver adjust my oxygen?

No. Our staff are trained, background checked and insured, and they are not nurses. They do not set or change your flow rate, do not administer medication, and do not make clinical judgments of any kind. What they do is secure your equipment, help you and it safely in and out of the vehicle, and call 911 if something goes wrong. Your liter flow is your doctor's order, and managing it stays with you or the family member traveling with you.

What should I tell you when I book?

• That you use oxygen, and whether it is a tank or a concentrator
• Your flow rate, and roughly how long your supply lasts at that setting
• Whether you are traveling in a wheelchair or walking to the vehicle
• Whether there are stairs at your home or at the clinic entrance
• The appointment time and how long that appointment usually runs
• Whether someone is riding with you

Can I stay in my wheelchair while using oxygen?

Yes. The chair is secured with a four point tie down and you stay seated in it for the ride, with the oxygen secured separately. If your tank normally rides in a carrier on the back of your chair, say so when you book, so the securement is planned in advance rather than improvised at the curb. More on how that service works is here: Wheelchair Transportation Services Across Massachusetts. If you can walk to and from the vehicle and simply need a steady arm, ambulatory transportation is the lighter and cheaper option.

What does the ride cost?

Wheelchair accessible transportation is $115 each way and $230 round trip within five miles, then $2 a mile beyond that. Traveling with oxygen does not add a fee. If you also need help getting down or up a flight of stairs before the ride, stair assistance is $200 a visit with two trained staff and an electric stair chair. A fuller breakdown is in How Much Does Wheelchair Transportation Cost in Massachusetts.

Is there a cheaper ride I should try first?

Often, yes, and it is worth the phone calls. If you have MassHealth, the PT-1 process covers rides to covered appointments at no cost to you, arranged through your provider. Your local Council on Aging may run free or low cost medical transportation for town residents. Some Medicare Advantage plans include a set number of rides each year as a plan benefit. Start there. Our service is for the trips those programs will not cover, cannot schedule in time, or cannot handle because of a wheelchair, a stretcher, or stairs.

What if my appointment is a regular one?

Standing trips get scheduled as standing trips. If you are going to the same clinic twice a week for the next several weeks, we book the series rather than taking it one call at a time, and the same securement plan carries across every ride, which matters more when there is equipment involved.

Who should I ask about my own oxygen plan?

Your prescribing doctor and your equipment supplier. They know your flow rate, your tank sizes and how long each one lasts for you specifically. Call them before any trip longer than your usual routine.

Care Remedy provides wheelchair accessible and stretcher transportation across Massachusetts, with offices in Woburn, Springfield and Brockton. Call 781 957 8076 or email info@careremedyinc.com to book a ride.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Confirm your oxygen needs, flow rate and supply for any trip with your own doctor or your equipment supplier.