Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Barrett and Jasmine Archie.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
MJ Reliable Transportation was founded for the purpose of providing transportation to individuals in communities that lack reliable, safe, and compassionate transportation services. Our goal at MJ Reliable Transportation is to reduce the barriers these individuals face by providing transportation to routine medical appointments, specialist appointments, dialysis, outpatient procedures, and much more. Jasmine and I have worked in the social service profession, with a combined 20 years’ experience helping individuals improve their quality of life. I have always had the heart and passion for helping others, but after my father became legally blind in 2014 that encouraged me to want to help others with their transportation needs as my father relies heavily on transportation services to get to and from appointments. I met my business partner Jasmine Archie through a mutual friend. Jasmine has a strong work ethic that I was impressed by. Her desire to help those in need seemed to leave a positive impact on many individuals within her community. So, I approached her with the idea of starting a NEMT business (Non-Emergency Medical Transportation). Together we began to research this industry and found that so many individuals are faced with challenges of getting to and from critical medical appointments.
After being in business since April 2019, we began to see a new challenge that has opened our eyes. Many of our patients are allotted a certain number of trips through their health insurance per calendar year. Many times, due to critical health conditions, they exhaust their maximum number of trips provided before the end of the year. When this happens, the patient is left to figure out how they will get to their critical care appointments which are needed to maintain their quality of life. The burden is usually passed on to family and friends, but in some cases, the patient has no one.
We are committed to ensuring that our medically fragile and elderly patients are provided the high-quality services they deserve. Therefore, we are committed to offering free transportation to patients that have difficulty accessing transportation services for their health and wellness appointments. To provide this to as many patients as possible, we started a GoFundMe account. Currently, we have raised over $800.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have experienced many obstacles along the way. Some of the challenges we faced were not being able to get a business loan or line of credit, ridiculous insurance premiums, the high cost of handicap accessible vans, and the countless hours spent becoming certified NEMT drivers. Though we were faced with many challenges from the very start, we knew that our faith would carry us to the finish line. With a true vision, we knew that minor setbacks would only become big comebacks. We used our own money to purchase our very first Handicap accessible van while maintaining full-time jobs. Jasmine and myself rotated driving schedules to make sure that our van was always on the road servicing those that truly needed our service.
Please tell us about MJ Reliable Transportation.
We are a premier non-medical emergency transportation company that provides ambulatory and wheelchair transportation for individuals of all ages. Our goal at MJ Reliable Transportation is to reduce the barriers individuals face by providing transportation to medical appointments. We work closely with individuals, hospitals, insurance providers, and long-term care facilities. When we transport our patients, we are not just providing them with a ride, we are providing an experience. We will greet you warmly and handle you with care, we will protect your privacy and maintain your personal dignity, and we will maintain the highest level of professional standards, skill, and competence. We treat every single patient with dignity and respect. We listen to their stories and the wisdom they share. We assure their loved ones that they are safe in our care. We are best known for providing the highest level of quality service.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Jasmine – Lemonade stands on Sundays. My mother taught me early that I had to work hard for the things I wanted. With three simple ingredients, I could mix up the BEST lemonade in town. I sold each cup for .25
Monica – I can remember going fishing with my father on the weekend, eager to catch a fish and so impatient with the process of waiting for a fish to take the bait. The bond and memories we created is something I will never forget. Through that childhood experience, I learned the importance of trusting the process at an earlier age in life. I can also remember my mother baking me a strawberry cake every year on my birthdays and buying me a valentine’s day gift every year. This was a tradition she started with all her children. And even till this day, I look forward to receiving my gifts.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 818-861-5534
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: mj_reliable_transportation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjreliabletransportation/
- Other: https://www.gofundme.com/f/easing-the-burden-they-deserve-to-get-around
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