How Healthcare Policies Value Money Over Empathy

This past Monday (March 22nd) at around 5:15 PM, Neighborhood Allies received a phone call from an employee at Mercy West about a patient who needed transportation back home. When we arrived at the hospital, they told us that he had been out of surgery and waiting for a ride since early that morning. After several failed attempts to get a Lyft or an Uber to the hospital to take him home, the healthcare worker offered to give him a ride.

When this idea was run by her supervisor however, she was told that it was against policy to offer extra assistance outside of hospital property due to liability issues. With virtually no other alternative, the healthcare worker was able to find Neighborhood Allies and request a ride.

This situation brought to our attention yet another ongoing issue those with limited resources face that is overlooked by public services. The question comes to mind: Could you imagine leaving surgery with a broken bone or in a wheelchair and your only way home is the city bus?

In an article from Psychology Today, the issue of returning home from surgery after an emergency surgery is illustrated by the imbalance between patient resources. It goes on to say how many who are taken into an emergency surgery do not have someone to call that can be there in a moment’s notice to look after them and bring them back home.

The American Medical Resource Institute says that if there’s no one to drive your patient home, you should try to schedule around it. If possible, reschedule the surgery for a time when a “responsible adult” (as outlined by healthcare policy) is available.

Yet this solution does not meet the needs that those who are taken to the hospital by an ambulance face. There are many questions and concerns that can be found online from people who are all trying to find the solution to the seemingly unsolvable problem: How do you get home from the hospital after being taken by an ambulance?

If you ever find yourself or a loved one in a similar situation, please reach out to Neighborhood Allies Cincinnati to schedule free transportation.