Non-Emergency Medial Transportation ??? (store, delivery, place) - Knoxville - Tennessee (TN) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

donsabi · 03-02-2018, 02:23 PM

I am the OP and I thank you all for the great posts.

I contacted ETHRA and learned that they do provide rides but not to all areas of Knoxville. They ok'ed the medical facility but denied the hotel location. I then contacted CAC who said they would be happy to provide the ride to and from the medical facility.
Last night on the local news they ran a story that Uber is now providing medical transportation.
I am grateful that I have two options. I will run it by Tennessee Valley Eye and see what they have to say.

hiknapster · 03-03-2018, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsabi

I am the OP and I thank you all for the great posts.

I contacted ETHRA and learned that they do provide rides but not to all areas of Knoxville. They ok'ed the medical facility but denied the hotel location. I then contacted CAC who said they would be happy to provide the ride to and from the medical facility.
Last night on the local news they ran a story that Uber is now providing medical transportation.
I am grateful that I have two options. I will run it by Tennessee Valley Eye and see what they have to say.

Once again, using UberHealth will depend on whether your doctor opts in. The rides will be booked through healthcare providers. It is being used by doctors that want to make sure that their patients won't miss an appointment. It will not be used for patients that may need medical attention. The service is not available here right now, it's gradually rolling out to different healthcare organizations.

I've been driving for Uber for the past three years and have been with Lyft since they offered the service in Knoxville at the end of August 2016.

creeksitter · 03-03-2018, 10:47 AM

My eye surgeons were OK with me being dropped off/picked up. Maybe it helped that my ride lived about 4 blocks away.

When scheduling a colonoscopy they were all "we want someone to be here throughout the procedure" and I was all "don't single people deserve medical care". Because I had no problem asking someone to show up at 10:30 but asking them to be there at 7:45 a.m. and wait and wait is a bit much.

Somewhere in the conversation they mentioned if someone was going home in a taxi they had to wait around an extra 2 hours. Not exactly fun but I suppose doable if you bring snacks. At least now they are willing to consider the Taxi/Uber option.

donsabi · 03-04-2018, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creeksitter

My eye surgeons were OK with me being dropped off/picked up. Maybe it helped that my ride lived about 4 blocks away.

When scheduling a colonoscopy they were all "we want someone to be here throughout the procedure" and I was all "don't single people deserve medical care". Because I had no problem asking someone to show up at 10:30 but asking them to be there at 7:45 a.m. and wait and wait is a bit much.

Somewhere in the conversation they mentioned if someone was going home in a taxi they had to wait around an extra 2 hours. Not exactly fun but I suppose doable if you bring snacks. At least now they are willing to consider the Taxi/Uber option.

I am in Kingsport and need to go to Tennessee Valley Eye for surgery. As I age my friends became fewer and fewer and many are at an age they are not capable of driving two hours. The one friend who is younger would have helped but he is scheduled for knee replacement two days before my eye surgery. I would hire a driver but the way society is today who do you trust as so many are on one drug or the other.
I am pretty much forced to drive myself to Knoxville, stay at a hotel, and hope the doctor will approve a ride with CAC, ETHRA, or Uber.

As I stated before, Bayada Nurses is one of the best resources for our aging population. I would sure like to see them open offices in TN.

donsabi · 03-05-2018, 02:25 PM

Thanks for the posts.

Update: ETHRA is having some funding issues and not servicing all areas in Knoxville. CAC will provide medical transportation.
I called the eye surgery center and was told I could use Uber. I think Uber would be the best choice for me.

KathiOH1 · 03-05-2018, 03:09 PM

Not to contradict others on this forum, a doctor can tell you if you're well enough for transport, but they won't dictate what transportation you are allowed to use. Senior Citizens frequently use Lyft and Uber to get around.

donsabi · 03-09-2018, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsabi

Thanks for the posts.

Update: ETHRA is having some funding issues and not servicing all areas in Knoxville. CAC will provide medical transportation.
I called the eye surgery center and was told I could use Uber. I think Uber would be the best choice for me.

I have been waiting a callback for rescheduling for a week now. Today I called Tennessee Valley Eye and was redirected to University Eye Specialists. I was yet unable to reschedule but when I tried to reconfirm my transportation issues I was given a major runaround and bounced back and forth between TN Valley and Univ. Eye Spec. I am awaiting a call from one of their representatives as to their policy.

I am sure I am not the first or only person who has or is having transportation issues. I am amazed that neither facilities have a policy in place or alternatives for the no ride situation.

KathiOH1 · 03-09-2018, 06:01 PM

In Maryville there are service organizations such as senior smiles that provide transportation to some people who need medical treatment. Does anyone know if there's something similar in Knoxville?

DaveinMtAiry · 03-20-2018, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creeksitter

My eye surgeons were OK with me being dropped off/picked up. Maybe it helped that my ride lived about 4 blocks away.

When scheduling a colonoscopy they were all "we want someone to be here throughout the procedure" and I was all "don't single people deserve medical care". Because I had no problem asking someone to show up at 10:30 but asking them to be there at 7:45 a.m. and wait and wait is a bit much.

Somewhere in the conversation they mentioned if someone was going home in a taxi they had to wait around an extra 2 hours. Not exactly fun but I suppose doable if you bring snacks. At least now they are willing to consider the Taxi/Uber option.

Being forced to wait an additional 2 hours because you are leaving in a cab is ridiculous. For every one of my colonoscopies my wife arrived just before i was done armed with coffee and breakfast. We put on the show of leaving together, then drove away in 2 separate cars. She went to work, I went to a golf course.

DubbleT · 03-20-2018, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinMtAiry

Being forced to wait an additional 2 hours because you are leaving in a cab is ridiculous. For every one of my colonoscopies my wife arrived just before i was done armed with coffee and breakfast. We put on the show of leaving together, then drove away in 2 separate cars. She went to work, I went to a golf course.

Did they let you walk out of the building? At my last endoscopy a few months ago one of the staff plopped me in a wheelchair and escorted me to the pick up zone where my daughter had to bring the car around, and they didn't leave until I was buckled in, waving as we drove away, lol.