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I have had a spinal cord injury since 2019 and use a walker and or wheelchair to get around i understand that they simply can’t transport my chair but they won’t even let me bring my walker and keep saying to me every time that they can’t bring it because it’s the law of it CANT be strapped down and I even said if I hold it across me and then you can buckle me in to the stretcher why can’t we do that and every time it’s the same thing and I usually get upset and end up not even going and they just leave and carry on with their lives and screw me pretty much now I don’t always get them two but more often than not if I’m going in the evening shift it’ll be them and when I go during the day it’s not usually them but on occasion it is but I obviously can’t change the time that my emergency happens right so they told me that an ambulance will bring me home once I’m done at the emergency room but I found this out to actually be false because I always ask and it’s the same thing every time they just simply can’t do it cuz that’d be taking up an ambulance away that someone with an actual emergency obviously if I’m getting discharged the hospital feels it’s not a danger to my life anymore but you get it so if say someone has a heart attack and needs transport via ambulance immediately then they may have to wait longer cuz there busy taking me home so my question is that are they actually not allowed to transport a folding basic two wheel walker that I physically can’t walk without I can get in the Uber or Lyft from hospital fine but then how am I supposed to get from the car to my door yea I can always ask them to get it for me out of my house but I don’t know these people they may not want to be bothered by doing it and give me a hard time about it and by that time I just want to get in my home so yea if anyone actually knows if this is legal or not please let me know thanks!!! I’ll appreciate any feedback!!!

Have you tried calling your county's social services to see if you can get transportation services?
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geddyupgo Jul 7, 2024
Great suggestion!
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I understand why an ambulance company wouldn't want to bring your walker along with you, as they don't want to be responsible for it, I'm sure, nor does the ER.
I guess I'm not understanding though why an ambulance won't take you home. Yes, you'll have to wait longer perhaps until one is available, but you still should have that option.

My late husband often had to go to the ER via ambulance, and he was never allowed to bring his hemi-walker, nor did I ever request that they do.
If my husband ended up being admitted, I would just bring it up with me when I went to visit.
And if he was brought to the ER by ambulance he was always returned home by ambulance, so I'm not sure why your hospital isn't doing the same unless they think that perhaps you are abusing the system because of your frequent visits.
Or maybe it has something to do with your health insurance. Have you tried calling them to find out what your coverage allows?
I'm sorry that you're in such poor health that you need to go to the ER so often. Perhaps it's now best that you no longer live on your own, and instead start looking into moving into an assisted living facility where you will have folks checking on you around the clock and they will also have a van that perhaps can pick you up if and when the next time you go to the ER.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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MACinCT Jul 7, 2024
But that does not explain when patients bring in their own wheelchairs, oxygen tanks and CPAP machines.. In a facility these items get labeled
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Call your County Disability people and run this by them.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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It depends on what kind of ride service you are using. Uber or Lyft may not accept wheelchairs or walkers,but there are medical transport services that do. They cost a lot more than Uber or Lyft but if you had emergency ambulance ride to get to the hospital, you could use a medical transport service just for the ride home. They have their own wheelchairs and will get you back into your house. Depending on the community you live in there might be senior services or services for the disabled that could provide transportation for less money a medical transport company.
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Victoria35 Jul 8, 2024
I’ve never had an Uber or Lyft complain that they can’t handle my Rollator. I suspect that the hospital informs the company that they need to accept a patient’s movement system and/or the company makes their drivers aware.
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No one in this day and age who is a qualified person with a disability should ever have to deal with a problem as you have described such as a lack pf dignity and respect and limited knowledge of disability laws, Certainly contact your local governmental office of disabilities for help as this appears to be a systemic issue of failure to provide accommodations to people with disabilities.
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Reply to johnawheeler
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If you’re talking about an ambulance picking you up, they don’t want to be responsible for your walker or wheelchair, plus it takes up room in an already small space. If you need to be moved within the hospital, you should be able to request a wheelchair. I know the ER I would have to go to has a lot of hospital wheelchairs lined up as you enter the hospital. You shouldn’t have to choose between going to the ER to get treated and not going, which means you don’t get the care you need and to which you are entitled. As for getting home, there are ambulance services for that. The hospital shouldn’t need to use one of their ambulances. Also, if you have your walker or wheelchair and are able to get from a vehicle to your home, you might be able to get an Uber/Lyft or taxi home, which is paid for by the hospital. They will make the call themselves.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. That’s why you’re there. It’s the hospital’s duty to care for you.
Assume that the ambulance can’t/won’t accommodate your walker or wheelchair. Arguing with the drivers is one stressor you don’t need.
I hope this helps.
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Elainera Jul 7, 2024
Hospital wheelchairs are transport wheelchairs. This would only work if Shychy89 had someone with her who could push her in the chair. She could ask the ambulance team/paramedics to make sure staff at the emergency room will help move her.
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Since this only happens with a particular ambulance crew I’m wondering what the company policy actually is. I’m assuming this is the local emergency service and not a transport service, there is a difference and the local transport service might be your way home. That said I would suggest giving the ambulance service a call to see what the rule actually is and what they suggest to resolve your issue.
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Reply to Lymie61
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Make a high level complaint to the company head in charge of transporting you - or look for legal advice. This sounds a very uncaring and rather ignorant company. I was in the bank couple days ago. A man was shouting and causing a scene. He had given his bank card to his wife who was on holiday for a month and needed money = a high amount. He had his ID. The bank said he had to give 48 hours notice. He said he had and they said for something else he had to give another 48 hours. He kicked of and people came to talk to him with him shouting you are just being unreasonable. They continued its company policy. He continued shouting. They went away and came back 5 minutes later. We will make an exception for you. Take the lead. Not saying scream and shout but make your complaints to be heard and i bet they will also make an exception.
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MedicinNC Sep 4, 2024
Ma'am, if it were me (I am a paramedic in a 9-1-1 system), I will not "make exceptions" in a situation like this if I deem it unsafe to carry a mobility device in an ambulance that is not designed for safe storage of those items. If my ambulance has no way to tie down or secure a patient's belongings, I will not make exceptions especially if our policies don't allow it. I am not willing to jeopardize the patient's safety, my safety, my livelihood or the safety of my crew to carry an object that could become a projectile in a crash. (I answered the original post earlier and I did say that some of our ambulances are designed to safely store *some* items like walkers, but most cannot and carrying unsecured belongings is against our policy).
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General Sources of Disability Rights Information
ADA Information Line 800-514-0301 (voice) 1-833-610-1264 (TTY) ADA.gov 
ADA National Network (800) 949-4232 (voice/TTY) www.adata.org

Call them
Find a pro bono attorney if needed (Call Legal Aid or Lawyer Referral/State Bar)

Gena / Touch Matters
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Reply to TouchMatters
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This company doesn't use the handicapped modified Dodge Caravan?
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Reply to cover9339
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San Francisco Uber has a few vehicles with wheelchair accommodation.
The wheelchair is strapped down with the passenger in the wheelchair.
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Reply to PeterFromSF
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Shychy89: Contact your locality's social services. Typically ambulances do not transport a patient back home.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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Ask social services to help you find a medical transport service that CAN take your walker.
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Reply to Taarna
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Paramedic here: In our EMS system, we only transport a walker, rollator, or wheelchair in an ambulance IF it is possible to tie them down or secure them safely. The reason is not necessarily space, although that is often a concern with some of the smaller ambulances. If there is an accident, we do not want mobility devices to become projectiles, especially if the ambulance rolls. We do not like transporting patient belongings because that is an invitation for them getting lost or misplaced or forgotten. Belongings can become a distraction from patient treatment. I advise patients to limit their belongings to a phone, charger and a good book. Do NOT bring your medications. Do NOT bring anything valuable.

Also, please note that the EMS/9-1-1 ambulance that takes you to the hospital is an emergency vehicle. The ambulance/transport service taking you home most likely will be a private service and may not be part of EMS (even if they are required to have lights and sirens). When you are discharged (i.e., you receive your discharge paperwork) ask if you can have assistance to whatever vehicle is picking your up. Private/transport ambulance services may or may not have a wheelchair of some type to transfer you from their vehicle to your door.

My advice is, if you are transported to the ER, to ask the EMS crew if they can place your walker or wheelchair by the front door or outside where it can be easily retrieved when you are brought home. Sometimes, an EMS crew *may* allow you to bring a mobility device with you. In some systems, policy forbids that for the safety reasons I mentioned above and sometimes it's at the discretion of the medic or EMT. We have four different styles of ambulance in our system and only one of the interior layouts allows for the safe storage of mobility devices.

I hope that helps.
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Reply to MedicinNC
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Get an account with Uber or Lyft. They will transport the walkers and rollaters with you.
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Reply to brandee
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Get an Uber or Lyft from your house to the ER. They will bring your walker.
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This post is 2 months old. Only post OP made and never responded to. Probably left the group.
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