How to Set Up a Dialysis Standing Order: One Call, 156 Rides Per Year

You go to dialysis 3 times a week, 52 weeks a year — that is 156 trips. Booking each one individually means 156 phone calls, 156 confirmations, and 156 chances for a miscommunication that leaves you stranded. A standing order with Dream Care Rides replaces all of that with one phone call. You tell us your schedule, your address, and your dialysis center. We assign a driver and the ride happens automatically every session. Call (708) 505-6994 right now to set yours up, or book online.

What Is a Standing Order?

A standing order is a recurring ride that dispatches automatically on the same days each week. It is not a subscription and it is not a contract. It is a schedule — your pickup address, your dialysis transportation in Chicago destination, your time, and your driver. Once set, the ride happens every session day without you calling to rebook.

For a typical MWF dialysis patient, the standing order looks like this:

• Monday 5:45 AM — driver picks up at home, delivers to DaVita Matteson by 6:15 AM for 7:00 AM session
• Monday ~12:00 PM — will-call return: patient calls when session ends, driver dispatches
• Wednesday 5:45 AM — same pickup, same route, same driver
• Wednesday ~12:00 PM — will-call return
• Friday 5:45 AM — same pickup, same route, same driver
• Friday ~12:00 PM — will-call return

That is 6 rides per week, 312 rides per year (round trip), handled by one setup call.

How to Set Up Your Standing Order: 5 Steps

Step 1: Call Dream Care Rides

Call (708) 505-6994 and tell the dispatcher you need a dialysis standing order. Have this information ready:

• Your dialysis center name and address (e.g., DaVita Matteson, 4811 W 211th St)
• Your session days (MWF or TTS)
• Your session start time
• Your home address

Step 2: Provide Your Transport Details

Tell the dispatcher:

• Service type: wheelchair transportation in Chicago ($65 – $115 base) or ambulatory sedan ($35 – $65 base)
• Special instructions: apartment door code, building entrance, oxygen needs, companion rider
• Preferred pickup time: typically 30 to 45 minutes before your session start

Step 3: Choose Your Return Pickup Method

Two options for the ride home after dialysis:

• Scheduled return: We set a pickup time based on your estimated session end time plus a 30-minute buffer. The driver arrives at that time.
• Will-call return: When your session ends, you or the center staff calls (708) 505-6994. The driver dispatches to you. This is better for patients whose session length varies.

Step 4: Confirm Payment

Your options:

• Illinois Medicaid: Your doctor or dialysis social worker submits prior authorization through your managed care organization. Once approved, we bill Medicaid directly. See the Illinois Medicaid transportation guide for details.
• Medicare Advantage: Some plans include NEMT benefits. Check with your plan. Original Medicare does not cover NEMT.
• Private pay: Credit card, debit card, or cash. Billed per ride. See the Dream Care Rides rate card for current pricing.

Step 5: Rides Begin Automatically

Your standing order goes live within 24 to 48 hours. We assign a primary driver and a backup. Your first ride happens on your next session day. After that, the ride dispatches automatically — no weekly confirmation calls, no rebooking.

What a Standing Order Costs

Standing order pricing is the same as single-ride pricing — there is no markup and no membership fee:

Service	Base Rate	Per Mile
Ambulatory (sedan)	$35 – $65	$2 – $4/mi
Wheelchair (ADA van)	$65 – $115	$3 – $6/mi

Surcharges: Weekend 1.5x, Holiday 2.25x, Wait $15 – $30 per 15 minutes, Oxygen $25, Stairchair $25.

Annual Cost Examples

Patient Profile	Distance Each Way	Annual One-Way Trips	Estimated Annual Cost
Wheelchair, DaVita Matteson	8 miles	156	$14,196 – $34,476
Ambulatory, Fresenius Tinley Park	6 miles	156	$7,332 – $13,572
Wheelchair, DaVita Harvey	5 miles	156	$12,480 – $22,620

Medicaid-authorized patients pay nothing out of pocket for covered rides.

Canceling or Changing a Single Session

A standing order is not a contract. You can cancel one session without losing the rest:

• Cancel one ride: Call (708) 505-6994 at least 24 hours before the session. No cancellation fee for private pay patients with 24-hour notice.
• Change pickup time for one day: Call at least 12 hours ahead. The driver adjusts for that day only; the standing order stays as set for all other days.
• Pause the standing order: Going on vacation or having a hospitalization? Call us and we pause the order. When you are ready to resume, one call reactivates it.
• Cancel the standing order entirely: Call and we remove it. No termination fee.

Same-Driver Assignment

When you ride 156 times a year, the driver matters. Dream Care Rides assigns the same driver to your standing order whenever operationally possible. Your driver learns your routine — which door you use, how you transfer, whether you prefer conversation or quiet. That consistency makes a 5:45 AM pickup in January in Harvey significantly less stressful.

If your primary driver is off or unavailable, a backup driver covers your route. The backup has your notes on file: address, door code, wheelchair type, oxygen needs, and any instructions you gave at setup.

What Dialysis Centers Need to Know

If you are a dialysis center administrator reading this — not a patient — see our dedicated guide: dialysis transportation for centers. That guide covers facility account setup, volume pricing for 50+ patient centers, and consolidated monthly billing.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Author: Otse Amorighoye is the Founder and CEO of Dream Care Rides (NPI #1033989991), headquartered at 20000 Governors Dr Suite 103H, Olympia Fields, IL 60461. Dream Care Rides provides non-emergency medical transportation throughout Chicago, Cook County, and the greater Illinois-Indiana metro area.