what if you don’t have someone to drive you home from a procedure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to extend your circle of "people you are comfortable asking". This is why social people are more likely to have a better quality of life. What about a neighbor? Coworker?

I would never do this for anyone but family or an etremely close friend. Far too many liability issues involved. OP needs to look into at home medical care.

What?!? It's just driving someone. I've done it many times for people. Colonoscopies are routine procedures, and very safe. What's wrong with you? With that mindset, you really shouldn't leave your bunker. Someone could trip on your sidewalk and sue you. If you drive, you can get into a collision and they'll sue you. You could witness something at work and they'll sue you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they won't let you take an uber than they must arrange for medical transport. It's typically an ambulance without lights on. They required it for my adult son, and coded it as a medical necessity.

Lol, no. Not for an scheduled outpatient colonoscopy. It's not their responsibility, it's the patient's. If your unwilling to expand into your social circle, and unwilling to reschedule, then maybe you can hire an aide from a private duty nursing agency.

I know it's dcum, but don't be a huge beeatch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they won't let you take an uber than they must arrange for medical transport. It's typically an ambulance without lights on. They required it for my adult son, and coded it as a medical necessity.

Lol, no. Not for a scheduled outpatient colonoscopy. It's not their responsibility, it's the patient's. If your unwilling to expand into your social circle, and unwilling to reschedule, then maybe you can hire an aide from a private duty nursing agency.

Just walk out of the hospital with your cell phone and call an Uber or Lyft from a block away. It’s a hospital not a prison. They can’t hold you hostage.

If you know when you are going to be released, you can prearrange an Uber or Lyft. I do this often for airport rides, too.

OP, I am seen as the Strong One in my circle of friends and family. They call me to ask for favors but if I ask them for a similar one, they are too busy. You can’t force people to give a damn but Lyft drivers are some of the kindest people I know. I’ve taken them out of Hopkins Bayview before easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they won't let you take an uber than they must arrange for medical transport. It's typically an ambulance without lights on. They required it for my adult son, and coded it as a medical necessity.

Lol, no. Not for a scheduled outpatient colonoscopy. It's not their responsibility, it's the patient's. If your unwilling to expand into your social circle, and unwilling to reschedule, then maybe you can hire an aide from a private duty nursing agency.

Just walk out of the hospital with your cell phone and call an Uber or Lyft from a block away. It’s a hospital not a prison. They can’t hold you hostage.

If you know when you are going to be released, you can prearrange an Uber or Lyft. I do this often for airport rides, too.

OP, I am seen as the Strong One in my circle of friends and family. They call me to ask for favors but if I ask them for a similar one, they are too busy. You can’t force people to give a damn but Lyft drivers are some of the kindest people I know. I’ve taken them out of Hopkins Bayview before easily.

I don't know how it will work in OP's case, but the last time I did this for a relative, I'm pretty sure they checked that I was there before they started the procedure.

[Anonymous]

This happened to a friend's mom after surgery. Her mom didn't tell her it was happening until the day of, and she lived 4 hours away with a newborn. They had to lean on people they were NOT comfortable with. First they called my mom, who drove her to the hospital 2 hours away, but my mom has vision issued and can't drive at night so couldn't bring her home at 1 AM. They had to reach out to her church to ask for a volunteer. She was mortified to impose on someone she didn't know super well but...in times like these, that's what weak networks can help with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they won't let you take an uber than they must arrange for medical transport. It's typically an ambulance without lights on. They required it for my adult son, and coded it as a medical necessity.

Lol, no. Not for a scheduled outpatient colonoscopy. It's not their responsibility, it's the patient's. If your unwilling to expand into your social circle, and unwilling to reschedule, then maybe you can hire an aide from a private duty nursing agency.

Just walk out of the hospital with your cell phone and call an Uber or Lyft from a block away. It’s a hospital not a prison. They can’t hold you hostage.

If you know when you are going to be released, you can prearrange an Uber or Lyft. I do this often for airport rides, too.

OP, I am seen as the Strong One in my circle of friends and family. They call me to ask for favors but if I ask them for a similar one, they are too busy. You can’t force people to give a damn but Lyft drivers are some of the kindest people I know. I’ve taken them out of Hopkins Bayview before easily.

I don't know how it will work in OP's case, but the last time I did this for a relative, I'm pretty sure they checked that I was there before they started the procedure.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they won't let you take an uber than they must arrange for medical transport. It's typically an ambulance without lights on. They required it for my adult son, and coded it as a medical necessity.

Lol, no. Not for a scheduled outpatient colonoscopy. It's not their responsibility, it's the patient's. If your unwilling to expand into your social circle, and unwilling to reschedule, then maybe you can hire an aide from a private duty nursing agency.

Just walk out of the hospital with your cell phone and call an Uber or Lyft from a block away. It’s a hospital not a prison. They can’t hold you hostage.

If you know when you are going to be released, you can prearrange an Uber or Lyft. I do this often for airport rides, too.

OP, I am seen as the Strong One in my circle of friends and family. They call me to ask for favors but if I ask them for a similar one, they are too busy. You can’t force people to give a damn but Lyft drivers are some of the kindest people I know. I’ve taken them out of Hopkins Bayview before easily.

I don't know how it will work in OP's case, but the last time I did this for a relative, I'm pretty sure they checked that I was there before they started the procedure.

Colonoscopies, you don't have to physically be in the building, but you do have to check in. I have a single friend and I periodically give him rides to various services where he had to have another individual (like his colonoscopy and an eye appointment where his eyes were dilated). I can usually go in with him and leave my cell phone number with the staff. The colonoscopy was about 5 minutes from my office, so I went to the office and worked and they called me after he had woken up and when he was getting dressed asking me to be back in about 15 min.

But they will not release the patient without someone to escort them home.

And they will not start the procedure unless there is someone who has agreed to come, sign the patient out and guarantee them an escort home. If OP cannot find someone to escort or a service, then she will have to reschedule.

[Anonymous]

When I sign in for a colonoscopy they ask for name of ride home. If not there phone number to call. They do not release you until named person is there.

If I walked out I would be looking for a new doctor I am sure.

[Anonymous]

On my local Facebook page, I have seen people ask for a ride home from a procedure.. I assume the patient would pay them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they won't let you take an uber than they must arrange for medical transport. It's typically an ambulance without lights on. They required it for my adult son, and coded it as a medical necessity.

Lol, no. Not for a scheduled outpatient colonoscopy. It's not their responsibility, it's the patient's. If your unwilling to expand into your social circle, and unwilling to reschedule, then maybe you can hire an aide from a private duty nursing agency.

Just walk out of the hospital with your cell phone and call an Uber or Lyft from a block away. It’s a hospital not a prison. They can’t hold you hostage.

If you know when you are going to be released, you can prearrange an Uber or Lyft. I do this often for airport rides, too.

OP, I am seen as the Strong One in my circle of friends and family. They call me to ask for favors but if I ask them for a similar one, they are too busy. You can’t force people to give a damn but Lyft drivers are some of the kindest people I know. I’ve taken them out of Hopkins Bayview before easily.

I don't know how it will work in OP's case, but the last time I did this for a relative, I'm pretty sure they checked that I was there before they started the procedure.

No, I picked up a friend after her colonoscopy and was not present before or during. She was all by herself.

Also, in case any of you are wondering, yes, you recuperate in a bed for an hour or however long it takes you to go through the stages of wake-up. Then they debrief you. Then they want to see someone pick you up. But I agree with a PP that sometimes patients get lost in the shuffle - "I'm just going the bathroom right across the hall" - and patients walk out all the time. There's a large swathe of the population that cannot afford a medical transport, dear rich bubble people, and not everyone can get off work to pick up a friend.

Please do not drive yourself, however. Walking, you could stumble and weave a bit, but not die. Bus, you can stumble on the steps, but not die. Driving? You can kill someone, and it could be yourself.

Once you're home, you're supposed to look out for all these signs of bleeding. You do not need someone to wait with you at home. Complications are extremely rare!

- I've seen all this up close several times, including for my own child.

[Anonymous]

If you leave without being officially discharged, just make sure your IV is taken out first. I've worked at hospitals that will call the police and have you brought back to triage at the ED to have it removed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they won't let you take an uber than they must arrange for medical transport. It's typically an ambulance without lights on. They required it for my adult son, and coded it as a medical necessity.

Lol, no. Not for a scheduled outpatient colonoscopy. It's not their responsibility, it's the patient's. If your unwilling to expand into your social circle, and unwilling to reschedule, then maybe you can hire an aide from a private duty nursing agency.

Just walk out of the hospital with your cell phone and call an Uber or Lyft from a block away. It’s a hospital not a prison. They can’t hold you hostage.

If you know when you are going to be released, you can prearrange an Uber or Lyft. I do this often for airport rides, too.

OP, I am seen as the Strong One in my circle of friends and family. They call me to ask for favors but if I ask them for a similar one, they are too busy. You can’t force people to give a damn but Lyft drivers are some of the kindest people I know. I’ve taken them out of Hopkins Bayview before easily.

I don't know how it will work in OP's case, but the last time I did this for a relative, I'm pretty sure they checked that I was there before they started the procedure.

No, I picked up a friend after her colonoscopy and was not present before or during. She was all by herself.

Also, in case any of you are wondering, yes, you recuperate in a bed for an hour or however long it takes you to go through the stages of wake-up. Then they debrief you. Then they want to see someone pick you up. But I agree with a PP that sometimes patients get lost in the shuffle - "I'm just going the bathroom right across the hall" - and patients walk out all the time. There's a large swathe of the population that cannot afford a medical transport, dear rich bubble people, and not everyone can get off work to pick up a friend.

Please do not drive yourself, however. Walking, you could stumble and weave a bit, but not die. Bus, you can stumble on the steps, but not die. Driving? You can kill someone, and it could be yourself.

Once you're home, you're supposed to look out for all these signs of bleeding. You do not need someone to wait with you at home. Complications are extremely rare!

- I've seen all this up close several times, including for my own child.

I have had multiple procedures at Johns Hopkins. There is no sneaking out.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to thank the OP and all who contributed useful info.
Super helpful thread!

[Anonymous]

Yes, I bookmarked Peak Transit.

[Anonymous]

For my colonoscopy, the office said an uber wouldn't work because the person needed to come inside to check me out-- that they wanted to make sure there was someone who would look out for me.

I went to a lot of trouble to have my daughter leave work early to come get me. She called me from the car. I told the checkout as much. And they let me go without her coming upstairs.

That said, if I'd had a different person checking me out perhaps it would have been an issue. (I think the result would have been them keeping me a couple of more hours til they concluded I was fine.).

The problem with Ubers is that they're kind of anonymous. If you called an old fashioned taxi company on the phone, you could probably offer to pay extra for them to come upstairs.