Stretcher
Planning a non-emergency stretcher transfer: from discharge to arrival
A practical guide to coordinating the care team, pickup location, receiving facility, and transportation crew before a scheduled transfer.
A hospital discharge is a handoff between people, places, and responsibilities. When a passenger needs to remain lying down during transportation, that handoff requires careful coordination. The most useful starting point is a shared plan: who decides the transportation needs, when the passenger is ready, and who will receive them at the destination.
Confirm the appropriate transportation level first
Non-emergency stretcher transportation and ambulance transportation are not interchangeable. The clinical team should determine whether the passenger can travel using a non-emergency service or needs medical monitoring or treatment during the journey. A stretcher alone does not answer that question.
Tell the transportation provider about the requirements identified by the care team before accepting a booking. Do not assume clinical support or medical equipment is included in a standard stretcher trip. For an emergency, call 911; this guide concerns planned, non-emergency travel.
Coordinate a realistic discharge time
An expected discharge date is not always a confirmed release time. Ask the facility who will tell dispatch when the passenger is ready and how changes should be communicated. Agree on a contact who can answer practical questions on the day of the transfer.
A useful coordination note separates the appointment or discharge time from the requested vehicle arrival time. It also identifies the unit or entrance where the crew should report. This reduces ambiguity when a large campus has several buildings or different pickup procedures.
Prepare the receiving location
Before departure, confirm that the receiving facility or person is expecting the passenger. Provide a reachable contact and clarify where the crew should arrive. For a private residence, discuss access, elevators, stairs, and any space constraints with dispatch in advance.
At home, the family and care team should resolve readiness for the discharge itself, including who will be present and what support is needed after arrival. Medicare’s discharge planning checklist is a useful discussion tool for patients and caregivers preparing to leave a care setting.
Further readingMedicare: discharge planning checklist (PDF) (opens in a new tab)Agree on the handoff, not just the address
Transportation coordination should identify who is responsible at pickup and who takes over at arrival. If a receiving contact changes, update dispatch before the vehicle departs. Ask the facility how necessary discharge information and personal belongings will accompany the passenger.
For a transfer between facilities, make sure the destination name, unit, and acceptance arrangements match the transportation request. Similar facility names and multiple entrances can create unnecessary confusion. Share essential information through the appropriate channels rather than sending detailed medical records through a general website inquiry.
What to confirm with the transportation team
Cathay coordinates non-emergency stretcher trips with trained two-person teams. Before a trip is assigned, discuss:
- The care team’s assessment of the required transportation level.
- Pickup and receiving contacts, including the specific unit or entrance.
- Access conditions that could affect movement into or out of the vehicle.
- The anticipated readiness time and how delays will be communicated.
- Companion arrangements, belongings, and any authorization requirements.
A careful transfer begins well before the vehicle arrives. Bringing the sending facility, receiving location, family, and dispatch into the same conversation helps each person understand their part. Confirm availability and the agreed arrangements with dispatch before relying on a departure time.
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