What Is Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)? A Boston Patient's Guide

Most people don't think about medical transportation until they need it — usually right before a discharge, a recurring infusion, or a parent's first dialysis appointment. By that point you're already exhausted, and the last thing you want is to learn a whole new acronym. So let's keep this simple. Non-emergency medical transportation, or NEMT, is scheduled, professional transport for people who need to get to medical care but who do not need a 911 ambulance.

At AVI Transportation we provide NEMT across the Boston Metropolitan area in two formats: wheelchair-accessible transportation and ambulatory transportation. This guide explains the difference, who NEMT is built for, what a typical ride looks like, and how Boston-area patients and caregivers usually book it.

What does NEMT actually mean?

NEMT stands for non-emergency medical transportation. The non-emergency part is the important word: this is not an ambulance, and it is not for life-threatening situations. It is the planned, on-time transportation that makes ongoing medical care possible — getting to dialysis three times a week, going home from the hospital after a procedure, attending a chemotherapy infusion, making it to a primary care follow-up, or returning to a rehab clinic for physical therapy.

A good NEMT provider treats the ride itself as part of the care plan. Your driver knows your appointment time, knows the right entrance at the medical building, and knows whether you need door-through-door assistance or a quick curbside pickup. That is the whole job. If you already know the date and time, you can book a ride directly online.

Who is NEMT for?

NEMT is for anyone who needs more than a rideshare but less than an ambulance. In the Boston metro the people who use it most often fall into a few categories:

• Patients on recurring treatment schedules — dialysis, infusion therapy, oncology, wound care, post-op physical therapy.
• Older adults who can walk with light assistance but no longer drive themselves to medical appointments.
• Wheelchair users who need an ADA-compliant van with a ramp or lift and proper four-point securement — see our wheelchair-accessible transportation service.
• Patients being discharged from a Boston-area hospital who can't safely use a taxi or rideshare to get home.
• Caregivers and adult children coordinating rides for a parent who needs door-through-door help.

"If a passenger needs hands-on help from the front door of their home to the front door of the clinic, that is NEMT — not a rideshare."

Wheelchair vs. ambulatory: what's the difference?

Wheelchair transportation

Our wheelchair NEMT uses ADA-compliant vans with automatic ramps or hydraulic lifts and four-point wheelchair securement. The passenger stays seated in their own manual or power wheelchair (or scooter) for the entire ride. Drivers are trained in safe wheelchair securement and door-through-door assistance. Learn more on our wheelchair-accessible transportation page.

Ambulatory transportation

Ambulatory NEMT is for passengers who can walk, stand, and transfer in and out of a standard vehicle on their own or with light assistance from the driver. It is the right choice when you want a professional, comfortable medical ride instead of a rideshare, but you don't need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Read more about our ambulatory transportation service.

What to expect on every AVI ride

1. You book the ride — online, by phone, or through a caregiver — at least 24 hours ahead when possible.
2. You receive a confirmation with the vehicle type (wheelchair or ambulatory), pickup window, and driver contact.
3. The driver arrives within the pickup window, helps with door-through-door assistance, and confirms the destination.
4. You arrive on time at the right medical entrance, and AVI coordinates with care staff if needed.
5. When your appointment is finished, the same provider is dispatched to bring you home, no surprises.

Where AVI provides NEMT in the Boston metro

AVI Transportation is headquartered in Norwood and serves the entire Boston Metropolitan area. We regularly transport passengers to Mass General, Brigham and Women's, Beth Israel Deaconess, Dana-Farber, Boston Children's, Newton-Wellesley, Mount Auburn, South Shore Health, and dialysis and infusion centers across the metro.

How to book a Boston-area NEMT ride

You can schedule a ride online through our Book a Ride page, or call reservations at +1 (857) 416-9394. For same-day support and dispatch, the line is +1 (617) 237-6282. We recommend booking at least 24 hours in advance for guaranteed availability, especially for early-morning dialysis pickups and recurring weekly appointments. Questions? Just contact us.