Why Passenger Safety Matters: The Leading Cause of Injuries in NEMT—and How 360 Sets the Standard

When it comes to Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), safety isn’t just a priority—it’s a lifeline. Every day, thousands of passengers rely on NEMT providers for access to essential healthcare. Yet across the industry, the number one cause of passenger injuries remains both common and preventable: Improper or inadequate use of safety restraints.

This includes unsecured wheelchairs, loose or misapplied tiedowns, missing shoulder belts, and mobility devices not correctly positioned in the vehicle. Unfortunately, these preventable oversights often lead to wheelchair tipping events, falls inside the cabin, or passengers becoming projectiles during sudden stops.

At 360 Quality Care + Transport Services, this is exactly why we have built a culture of uncompromising safety. From the moment a passenger boards one of our vehicles, our team follows a meticulous, standardized securement process designed to eliminate the common risks seen across the NEMT industry.

Backed by National Standards: Our NEMTAC Accreditation

360 is one of only 12 Accredited Providers in the United States of America

360 Quality Care + Transport Services is proudly accredited by the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Accreditation Commission (NEMTAC)—the only nationally recognized organization dedicated to elevating operational, safety, and training standards across NEMT.

NEMTAC accreditation means:

• Every driver receives advanced training in patient handling, securement techniques, and incident prevention.

• Wheelchair and stretcher securements follow national best practices, not just minimum requirements.

• Vehicles undergo routine, documented safety checks.

• Internal audits ensure continuous compliance and quality improvement.

Our Safety Philosophy: Prevent Every Preventable Injury

While the industry’s leading cause of injury remains improper securement, 360 has engineered its operations to address every detail that contributes to safe transport:

• Four-point wheelchair securement—checked and verified every trip

• Mandatory shoulder and lap belt usage

• Driver proficiency testing specific to mobility equipment

• Bedside-to-bedside care to prevent boarding and exiting falls

• Continuous education aligned with NEMTAC guidelines

Our goal is simple: Zero injuries. Zero turnbacks. Zero compromise.

At 360, safety is not a checkbox—it’s a promise.

Source References

1. NEMTAC (Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Accreditation Commission)– National safety standards and securement best practiceshttps://www.nemtac.co/

2. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) / RESNA Standards for Wheelchair Transport Safety– Research identifying improper securement as a leading cause of wheelchair-related injuries during transporthttps://www.resna.org/

3. Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 163: “Wheelchair Securement Practices”– Documented data on injury causes related to securement errorshttps://www.trb.org/TCRP/TCRP.aspx

4. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)– Analysis showing improper restraint use is a top cause of passenger injury in modified vehicleshttps://www.nhtsa.gov/