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We're Transporting a Life!
- Team 360
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Beyond the equipment: The standards behind safe stretcher transportation.
At 360 Quality Care + Transport Services, we believe stretcher transportation is about far more than having the right vehicle and equipment. It's about having the training, standards and culture to safely transport some of healthcare's most vulnerable passengers.
360 is certified by the State of Missouri to provide non-emergency stretcher transportation. Now, we've taken that commitment another step forward.
Carly Newman, Director of Operations for 360, recently became a NEMTAC Certified Instructor in both Advanced Mobility Device Securement (AMDS) and Certified Stretcher Operator (CSO) training.
That means 360 not only has the credentials and experience to provide stretcher transportation — we now have a credentialed instructor capable of training NEMT
professionals in the standards behind doing it safely. The only one in Missouri!
We sat down with Carly to talk about why that matters.
What does becoming a Certified Instructor mean for you and 360?
It means I'm now able to train NEMT professionals in both Advanced Mobility Device Securement and Certified Stretcher Operator standards. For 360, I think it should elevate our safety standards even further. We want to distinguish ourselves not simply by the number of transports we provide, but by how we provide them. We're working with vulnerable people. Whether a company operates three vehicles or 200, every passenger deserves to feel safe and to know they are being properly secured and transported.
As our industry grows, we can never allow a passenger to become just another trip on a schedule. We're transporting a life.
Why does stretcher transportation require specialized training?
There hasn't always been a consistent standard for how non-emergency stretcher transportation should operate. EMS professionals are trained and equipped to respond to medical emergencies. But there are also people who don't require emergency medical transportation and simply cannot travel safely in a traditional seated position.
When appropriate, properly trained NEMT stretcher providers can help fill that gap — providing a safe, reliable and more appropriate transportation option while allowing emergency medical resources to remain available for emergencies.
But that only works if the NEMT provider has the training, equipment and procedures necessary to do it safely.
What does safe stretcher transportation actually look like?
It starts with safety and proper securement. A driver can do everything correctly and still encounter another motorist running a red light, an unexpected stop or an accident. That's why proper passenger and equipment securement isn't optional.
Whether we're traveling 50 yards or 500 miles, the standard shouldn't change.
It also means having properly trained team members who understand the equipment, positioning, securement procedures and responsibilities involved in moving someone who may be unable to protect or reposition themselves.
You talked about compassion being part of safety. Why?
Because the passenger is vulnerable. For some people, their independence is changing. For another passenger, this could be their first transportation experience since an accident or illness changed their life. And now they're being transported by someone they've never met.
That's why communication matters. Explain what you're doing. Explain the securement system. Talk with the passenger. Get to know them. Help them understand that they're safe.
When drivers combine proper training with compassion, the entire experience changes. The passenger isn't simply secured properly — they feel secure.
What does having this expertise in-house change for 360?
It gives us another tool to continuously raise our own standard.
We already conduct random field inspections. We're adding random securement checks using our Samsara monitoring technology, and our drivers will continue receiving education as industry safety standards evolve. Having a credentialed instructor within 360 means training doesn't end when someone receives a certificate. It becomes part of our everyday operating culture.
What should a healthcare organization or family ask before choosing a stretcher transportation provider?
Don't simply ask whether a company provides stretcher transportation. Ask how they provide it. Are their stretcher operators specifically trained? How are passengers secured? What procedures are followed? How is safety monitored? Is continuing education required? What happens after the initial training?
Hospitals, skilled nursing communities, case managers, discharge planners and families are trusting a transportation company with a person who may be especially vulnerable.
Price and availability matter. But so do training, standards and accountability.
At 360, our goal is that regardless of which member of our team arrives, the experience should be consistent: Safe. Secure. Reliable. Compassionate. Because at the end of the day, we're not moving a trip. We're transporting a life.
About Carly Newman: Carly Newman is Director of Operations for 360 Quality Care + Transport Services, where she leads efforts in safety, training, performance and service quality. A graduate of Lindenwood University, Carly is a NEMTAC Certified Instructor in Advanced Mobility Device Securement (AMDS) and Certified Stretcher Operator (CSO) training. Her work focuses on raising standards within NEMT while ensuring every passenger is transported safely, securely and with dignity and compassion.
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