Uber has launched a new service aimed providing patients with transportation to get them safely to and from healthcare facilities.

With Uber Health, which can also be integrated into existing healthcare products via an API, healthcare professionals can schedule rides on behalf of patients, caregivers, and staff up to 30 days in advance. In addition, several rides can be scheduled and managed from within the service’s dashboard.

The service doesn’t require people to have the Uber app, as everything is conducted via text message. In future, Uber will introduce an option for riders to receive a call with trip details to their mobile phone or landline.

According to the ride hailing firm, Uber Health is already being used by more than 100 healthcare organisations, including hospitals, clinics, rehab centres, senior care facilities, home care centres, and physical therapy centres.

The Uber Health dashboard and API have been made available publicly as of today (1 March) right across the US.