Late deliveries not only elevate your blood pressure, but they can also be pricey. Customers are less inclined to return to a company’s services. However, the costs of late medical service delivery can be substantially higher, which is why it is important to invest in a medical courier.
When there is a problem with healthcare logistics, the repercussions might be serious. When medical delivery delays occur, almost 90% of nurses are unable to provide effective patient care. And late delivery have a cascade effect regardless of where you work in the healthcare profession.
Starting a medical courier service is vastly different from delivering pizza. You will be in charge of transporting medical items that are often sensitive, fragile, and even biohazardous. As a medical courier, you are required to adhere to special regulations.
The global medical supply delivery service market was valued at over $48 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow by 9.3 percent from 2021 to 2028. This is a rapidly growing industry with a lot of opportunities for entrepreneurs to start their own medical delivery services.
Starting a medical delivery service can be a profitable business venture, and there are often very few startup costs. You can likely manage with a small storage space if you’re storing inventory, and you don’t need a huge office space either. But delivering oxygen tanks and X-rays is a little bit different than delivering pizza.
You’ll be responsible for vehicle maintenance (if you’re supplying your own vehicle), paying your delivery drivers, and finding clients. Medical delivery services are responsible for transporting health care equipment, medical records, samples and specimens, and pharmaceuticals.
They typically work with clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, and laboratories to safely deliver medical supplies. They must also comply with legal regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) related to the transport of medical materials.
If you’re a medical delivery service manager, there are strict policies designed to protect you, your employees, and your customers — ranging from OHSA regulations to laws set by the Department of Transportation. But just because you follow the rules doesn’t mean your own business will get (and keep) new clients and quality couriers. You’ll need to offer quick, secure, and affordable delivery to undercut the competition while making sure you and your employees are paid well.
Many different businesses and facilities can benefit from a medical courier service.
Trained Delivery Professionals
You do not have to worry about explaining the importance of your delivery to a courier. You will be working with professional couriers who have the specialist training and equipment to handle medical deliveries safely. They know the importance of on-time deliveries and what needs to be done to protect items.
For example, they know how to handle samples and other delicate medical supplies. They are medically certified to handle medical goods. Vehicles also have the right equipment to securely transport goods, including services such as temperature-controlled deliveries.
Cost-effective Delivery Solution
Medical courier services can be cost-effective for your business in different ways. They can reduce supply chain costs, as you do not have to worry about internal staffing for deliveries. The medical courier services will always have sufficient staff on call too. So even if you need same-day delivery, you know you will be covered.
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Couriers also offer detailed reporting and tracking, so you understand your delivery costs and logistics in-depth. You can learn how to reduce overhead costs further this way, using the valuable reporting data you will receive.
You will not lose money and essential time due to late deliveries or spending time tracking deliveries. Sometimes, medical insurance also gives discounts or cover costs if it considers the delivery a part of the medical costs.
Advanced Technology
Medical courier services utilize technology to improve the efficiency of their deliveries. This means many automated processes streamline delivery and reduce the risk of human error, such as lost delivery.
Examples of medical courier delivery technology include:
- GPS tracking
- Online order and track platforms
- Email notifications
- Barcode scanning
- Signature capture
As a medical business, you do not want to worry about losing track of packages. Often packages include sensitive patient data or urgent medical supplies.
Technology such as email notifications and barcode capture increases delivery reliability. It ensures you are aware of where the package is in real time.
Staff Management and Compliance
Have peace of mind that your medical supplies are in safe hands with medical courier services. Not only do staff go through screening and training to handle the equipment. However medical courier companies also use technology and audits for efficient staff management.
Audits include:
• Checking deliveries are meeting PHI / OSHA Requirements
• Secure vehicle and cleanliness
• Grooming and attire of driver
Do not spend time worrying about driver reliability and security. If you want to guarantee your delivery service is compliant, clean, and safe, use a medical courier service. The TSA carries out background checks, and the delivery company audits them regularly.
Staff regularly receive training and gain certifications to guarantee optimum service. Medical courier services also ensure a chain of custody to protect you, patient data, and the items. This reduces liability risks and ensures you meet confidentiality requirements.
Flexible Delivery
There is nothing worse than receiving a vague delivery window when you urgently need a delivery. A medical courier service offers effective delivery management, so you feel more in control of deliveries and utilize your time more effectively.
You will be able to track your orders online and review orders to ensure it is all correct. Plus, the GPS tracking feature and email notifications mean you can continue to work while waiting for the delivery to arrive.
Medical courier services also focus on client specifications and work to make delivery times suit you. It means you are more reliable and trustworthy as a healthcare provider too. You will be keeping your patients safer and can provide accurate predictions about delivery times.
Reliable Delivery Service
A medical courier service is the most reliable way to transport your goods. Do not worry about having to explain regulations and other critical issues to each driver. They already have the knowledge to deliver your items reliably.
Have peace of mind regulations are followed throughout the supply chain. Medical courier services follow the same regulations, such as HIPAA, to keep your supplies secure. All transactions are confidential, and supplies are transported securely.
Delivery predictions are accurate, and the software can help provide the trust you need when using a new courier service. Couriers are also available 24/7/365.
How to Start a Profitable Medical Courier Service
A medical delivery service delivers medical supplies, prescription drugs, medical records, and even blood and organs for analysis to medical or healthcare facilities, doctors’ offices, and laboratories. Preparing and packaging medical supplies securely in the vehicle, as well as transporting them properly, is critical to the business.
1. Know the Laws & Regulations
There are certifications you can secure online to be authorized to transport sensitive medical supplies and materials.
Online training sites will provide you with a certification in biohazard containment, HIPAA Regulations, OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen Handling, etc. Securing these certifications will build trust in your medical courier company and secure clients down the road.
2. Prepare the Needed Capital
One of the most challenging parts of starting a medical delivery business is getting funding. Once you’ve carefully constructed your business operations and delivery service, money has to come into play for your idea to take shape.
Here are a few ways you can raise money for your own business:
- Personal savings, investments, and reserves
- Debt financing from banks or other financial institutions
- Equity funding
- Soft loans from friends and family
- Business angels and grant organizations
- Partnerships through investors
3. Secure a License to Operate
Medical courier services require a few licenses to operate. If you intend to run your courier business in the US, here are the legal documents you should have in place:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Operating Agreements
- Valid Driver’s License
- Business License and Certification
- Business Plan
- Courier Insurance Policy
- Commercial Auto Insurance Policy
- Employment Agreement
- Non-disclosure Agreement
- Operating Agreement for LLCs
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Consulting contract documents
- Online Terms of Use
- Online Privacy Policy Documents
- Company Bylaws
- Memorandum of Understanding
Some states in the US also require someone with a diploma in pharmacy to be involved in medical delivery service. This is to ensure that the proper pharmaceutical-related measures are taken to guarantee the safety of the public.
4. Acquire a Delivery Vehicle
Company vehicles might be the most crucial part of your medical delivery service. Invest in a fuel-efficient vehicle that will save you money in the long run if you have the wiggle room for it; otherwise, your own vehicle will more than suffice.
5. Hire Highly-Skilled Drivers
The delivery drivers you choose to hire must be responsible and possess a clean driving record, as they will be in charge of handling sensitive equipment and lab specimens.
Furthermore, your couriers are the last people your customers will see; make sure they leave a good lasting impression from their interpersonal skills, dress, and how their vehicle looks.
6. Get a Route Planning Circuit
As a medical courier service, you are expected to make multiple deliveries in a single day. Planning and optimizing your routes is essential to save time and fuel.
Route4Me is the best multi-stop route planner that logs more than ten locations for multiple deliveries. Its flexibility allows you to decide if you want to change routes for all your drivers with just one click.
7. Develop a Business Plan
Establish the business name for your medical courier service and a location from where it will operate. Secure the necessary permits and certifications so you can legally operate your business.
Establish your business as an LLC or a corporation, and register it for taxes. Secure insurance that will cover your drivers and vehicles, and get one to cover the medical supplies and samples specifically you’ll be transporting.
8. Identify the Main Competitors
Scout your location to identify who your competitors are.
Is there another service in town?
Check out which healthcare facility they offer their services to and see if you can make a better offer or leverage other market opportunities.
9. Strategize Marketing Ideas
Marketing is one of the biggest things you can expect to spend money on. Having the best marketing strategy for your medical courier business may be just the secret sauce you need to fully capture prospective clients’ minds and hearts.
Here are some things you can do to spread the word:
- List your service in local directories and yellow pages
- Attend medical expos to build your network
- Engage in digital marketing (Facebook and Google ads)
- Offer exclusive promos that can inspire establishments to try your services
10. Scout New Clients
Creating a website can increase the legitimacy of your business in the eyes of potential clients. You can even go as far as cold-calling skilled care facilities, medical offices, and medical supply businesses, networking with healthcare professionals, and Googling the delivery process of other medical couriers.
Talk to nonprofit organizations and national organizations that provide services for elderly and disabled people, individual clients, pharmacies, and even nursing homes, to offer your services.
Here is the list of clients medical couriers typically provide services for:
- Hospitals
- Labs
- Nursing homes
- Physicians offices
- Patients (residential addresses)
Final Words
The annual salary range of delivery drivers in the US is $13,000 to a maximum of $42,600. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary medical couriers make in a year ranges from $28,000 to $52,000, with others going as high as $105,500 per year.
Medical courier services can be a profitable business venture requiring small startup costs. You also will not need ample office space. The demand for medical courier services is also fairly stable.
