Ford Motor Company has begun offering non-emergency medical transportation as part of its GoRide on-demand service in southeast Michigan, the automaker has announced.

The ride-hailing service will bring patients to more than 200 facilities in the Beaumont Health network, and will allow patients to book the rides up to 30 days in advance. The service will use Ford Transit vans that can accommodate wheelchairs and bring the patients from their homes to the medical facilities.

The Transit vans feature flexible seats that can be flipped up to accommodate two wheelchair positions. Some of the vehicles feature bus doors or running boards to ease entry and grab handles to help patients enter the van. Many of the vans use a wider wheelchair lift that can accommodate non-standard-size wheelchairs to accommodate bariatric patients who previously needed to stretcher.

During a test of the program, GoRide delivered 92% on-time pick-up and delivery rate and average wait times of between 10 and 30 minutes, according to Ford. The pilot began in 2017.

GoRide drivers must undergo a training regimen that includes the proper ways to care for and transport patients who require non-emergency medical support. They are also trained to support skilled nursing facilities.

GoRide is part of Ford Smart Mobility, Ford's business unit that invests in emerging mobility services.