Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in Hazel Crest, IL

Advocate South Suburban Hospital at 17800 South Kedzie Avenue is Hazel Crest's defining medical institution — and one of Dream Care Rides' most frequently served facilities. As part of the Advocate Aurora Health system, South Suburban offers emergency services, cardiac care, orthopedics, and a comprehensive cancer program that draws patients from across the South Suburbs. The hospital serves as the primary acute-care facility for a catchment area stretching from Hazel Crest through Homewood, Country Club Hills, Markham, and Harvey.

For NEMT providers, Advocate South Suburban presents specific logistics that only experienced drivers handle well. The main patient entrance is on Kedzie Avenue with a covered drop-off area and automatic doors leading into the main lobby — this is the standard arrival point for ambulatory and wheelchair patients. However, the Emergency Department entrance on the south side of the building requires approaching from 178th Street, and discharge patients from the ER are sometimes released from a different exit than where they entered.

Orthopedic and rehabilitation discharge patients are occasionally released from the rehabilitation wing on the east side of the building, which has its own smaller loading area. Drivers unfamiliar with this layout will drive to the main entrance, wait for a patient who is actually at the rehab wing exit 200 yards away, and waste 20 minutes figuring out the miscommunication. DCR drivers know to confirm the specific discharge point with the nursing station before positioning the vehicle.

The cancer program at Advocate South Suburban generates significant recurring transport demand. Patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy visit the hospital on a regular schedule — often weekly or more frequently — for several months. These patients are often fatigued, nauseous, and emotionally drained after treatment. The driver who picks them up after chemotherapy is providing more than transportation — they are providing a calm, clean, comfortable environment for a patient at their most vulnerable. DCR assigns the same driver to recurring cancer patients whenever possible, creating a consistent and compassionate experience.

The Kedzie Avenue corridor north of 175th Street narrows and frequently backs up during hospital shift changes. Our drivers have learned to use 175th Street to Pulaski Road as the faster approach from the east, avoiding the congestion that can add 15 minutes to an arrival time during peak hours.