Couple fills growing need for medical transport

Javier Ruiz and his wife Elizabeth Niehaus are new Delaware residents who are jumping right in to help the community.

The couple has launched Sussex Transport Care, non-emergency medical transportation for ambulatory, wheelchair and stretcher passengers.

Ruiz is originally from Spain. The couple lived there, in Portugal and in Ohio before settling in Sussex County.

“I had the opportunity to work in assisted living in Akron, Ohio. One of the things I enjoyed the most was medical transportation. Only a few people wanted to do that,” Ruiz said. “I was having fun meeting all of those people, but it was super important for them.”

Sussex Transport Care has only been in business for two months. They operate a single van outfitted with a wheelchair ramp and accommodations for a stretcher.

Ruiz is the sole driver and is certified to operate the service. Niehaus handles the booking, accounting and customer service from their home near Milton.

“I see many people moving here from other states, and they don’t know how to get to a medical appointment. It’s one thing to retire, but when you live here, you start to see the challenges,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz said they are focused on quality over quantity, providing a personal touch others don’t offer.

“We pick up the customer at their house. We stay with them in the medical appointment until they are finished, then take them back home,” Ruiz said. “[Others] are focused on quantity. You might not get to your appointment on time, they drop you off and come back when they can, so you might be waiting for hours.”

Niehaus said they do not accept health insurance, only out-of-pocket payment.

She said they are only insured to operate in Delaware, but can take patients anywhere in the state.

Ruiz said their non-emergency service saves calls to 911.

“If you are in a wheelchair or in a stretcher and cannot move at all, the alternative is to call an ambulance. Calling an ambulance is very expensive, and it’s a waste of resources. Just because you can’t move doesn’t mean it’s an emergency,” he said.

Niehaus said they often provide more than transportation; they also provide relief from loneliness.

“Sometimes when I get phone calls, I’m on the phone for an hour,” Niehaus said. “They’re just pouring their hearts out because they don’t have anybody to talk to.”

“I wanted to do this because the one who I didn’t want to be isolated was me,” Ruiz said.”I need face-to-face; I need interaction.”