Patient dies after crash involving state's medical transport service

A driver for the state's nonemergency medical transportation service crashed last month, sending to the hospital a passenger who later died, Gov. Dan McKee's office said Saturday.

The driver worked for Assured Transportation, a subcontractor of Medical Transportation Management, the state's service. The passenger was being brought back from a dialysis appointment on Nov. 27 when the two-car crash happened in Coventry on Route 117 west of Abbotts Crossing.

The state said it was not notified about the crash until Nov. 30 "through a routine incident report."

According to a news release dated Nov. 27, police and several fire districts responded to "a serious motor vehicle collision."

Two people were in each vehicle, and all four were taken to local hospitals with what were thought to be "non life-threatening injuries," police said.

However, the state was informed on Friday that the patient had died. The autopsy report and the police report have not yet been released. The governor's office did not identify the driver or the passenger.

The state said that when it was informed of the death via email, "we learned about illegal activity and policy violations that also occurred related to the accident." No further details have been made public.

The attorney general's office and state police are now handling the case, McKee's office said.

“What happened is horrific and inexcusable,” McKee said in a statement. “Our most vulnerable neighbors, seniors and loved ones rely on this critical transportation service, and we need to make sure we have a provider who provides high-quality services to our patients. My prayers go out to the victim’s family. Every and all options are on the table to hold MTM accountable — this cannot happen again.”

Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Womazetta Jones is reviewing "contractual options with MTM, including but not limited to the assessment of liquidated damages, imposition of a corrective action plan and/or termination," the governor's office said.

Additionally, McKee's office noted that Jones is requiring that MTM "conduct a full audit of its sub-contractors by December 10 to ensure compliance with all qualifications and certifications set forth in the contract."

“This is a tragedy,” Jones said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family. This never should have happened. We are taking swift action. We are looking at every one of our options to ensure the protection of Rhode Islanders.”

In a statement to The Providence Journal, Phil Stalboerger, MTM's vice president of public affairs, said the company "was saddened to learn of the accident that occurred on November 27th."

"Upon learning the details, MTM terminated its contract with the company responsible for transporting the passenger," Stalboerger said. "MTM expresses its deepest condolences to the passenger’s family."

The company, which was hired under former Gov. Gina Raimondo, has been the subject of controversy before, including complaints in 2019 over late or missed rides and unanswered calls.

In a tweet, House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Patricia Serpa called the recent crash "an egregious failure on the part of MTM."

"They need to go — fast, quick and in a hurry," she said. "I’ve been saying it for two years. Time to cut ties, period."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Patient dies after crash involving MTM medical transport service