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What Counts as an Emergency?
Call 911 if you experience:
We provide NEMT for:
Dream Care Rides is a licensed NEMT provider. We do not provide emergency ambulance or paramedic services.
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Last updated: March 2026
Get home safely after your hospital stay. Same-day discharge rides from every major Chicago hospital. Ambulatory from $45, wheelchair from $65, stretcher from $150. Call (708) 505-6994.
Book Your RideHospital discharge transportation in Chicago is a vital service that bridges the gap between inpatient care and safe arrival at home, a skilled nursing facility, or a rehabilitation center. When a patient is medically cleared for discharge, the hospital expects them to leave promptly so the bed can be prepared for the next patient. Without reliable transportation already in place, discharge delays can cause stress for the patient, frustration for hospital staff, and complications in care coordination.
Dream Care Rides specializes in same-day hospital discharge transportation across the entire Chicagoland area. Our drivers are experienced in working with hospital discharge teams, navigating large medical campuses, and handling patients with varying levels of mobility. Whether you need an ambulatory ride with a helping hand, a wheelchair-accessible van, or a stretcher for supine transport, we dispatch the right vehicle and crew to meet your needs.
Call as soon as discharge is confirmed
Call (708) 505-6994 the moment your discharge date is set. For planned discharges, booking 24 to 48 hours ahead is ideal. For same-day discharges, call immediately and we will dispatch the next available vehicle. Private pay patients can book without any broker authorization.
Provide patient and hospital details
Give us the patient name, hospital name, room or floor number, expected discharge time, destination address, and mobility level (ambulatory, wheelchair, or stretcher). Mention any equipment needs such as oxygen or IV pole.
Receive upfront price and confirmation
We confirm the vehicle type, price, and estimated arrival time. Ambulatory from $45, wheelchair from $65, stretcher from $150. The quoted price is the final price. You receive a booking confirmation number to share with the hospital discharge team.
Driver arrives and coordinates with hospital staff
On discharge day, the driver arrives at the hospital, checks in at the designated NEMT pickup area, and coordinates with nursing staff for a safe patient handoff. The driver assists the patient from the hospital room or discharge lounge to the vehicle.
Safe transport to your destination
The driver secures any mobility equipment, transports the patient to their home, nursing facility, or rehab center, and provides door-through-door assistance at the destination. The dispatch team monitors the trip and communicates with the patient or family throughout.
Our drivers visit these hospitals regularly and know the exact pickup locations, entrance protocols, and staff coordination procedures. Here is where we pick up discharge patients at each facility.
251 E Huron St, Chicago, IL 60611
The primary NEMT pickup area is the Huron Street patient drop-off circle on the north side of the hospital. Ambulatory and wheelchair patients use the Huron Street entrance, which leads directly to the main lobby. Stretcher patients use the Erie Street accessible entrance on the south side of the building, which provides ground-level loading with direct elevator access to inpatient floors. Our drivers coordinate with the discharge desk on the second floor for patient handoff.
1653 W Congress Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60612
The designated NEMT loading lane is on Harrison Street at the main hospital entrance. This lane provides direct access to the lobby and is wide enough for wheelchair ramp deployment and stretcher loading. Rush security staff manage the loading zone and can assist our drivers with elevator access. For bariatric patients, the Harrison Street entrance has reinforced ramp access rated for heavy-duty lifts.
5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
The primary patient pickup area is on Maryland Avenue at 58th Street, which leads directly to the Center for Care and Discovery lobby. Wheelchair and stretcher patients use the ground-level accessible loading area at this same entrance. For outpatient clinic discharges from the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine, the patient drop-off is at 5758 S Maryland Ave with a separate entrance. Our Olympia Fields headquarters is just 15 miles south, giving UChicago patients fast pickup times.
1969 W Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
Patient discharge pickup at Stroger is at the Ogden Avenue main entrance. The loading area is on the east side of the building with curb-cut access for wheelchair patients. Stretcher patients are loaded from the ground-level emergency department area when the main entrance is not accessible. Stroger discharge coordination often requires direct communication with the patient care coordinator on the assigned floor, and our dispatch team handles this proactively.
836 W Wellington Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
The NEMT pickup area is at the Wellington Avenue entrance on the north side of the campus. Wheelchair patients use the accessible loading ramp adjacent to the main entrance. The hospital coordinates discharges through the patient access department, and our drivers check in with the front desk upon arrival. For patients being discharged from the rehabilitation unit, pickup may occur at the separate rehabilitation building entrance on Barry Avenue.
1500 S Fairfield Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Patient pickup at Mount Sinai is at the California Avenue main entrance or the Fairfield Avenue accessible entrance depending on the patient discharge location. Wheelchair and stretcher patients typically use the Fairfield entrance, which has ground-level loading access. Our drivers coordinate with the nursing station on the discharge floor and meet patients at the designated pickup point. Wait times at Sinai can be longer due to high discharge volume, and our 60-minute free wait policy applies.
2525 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
The NEMT loading area at Mercy Hospital is at the Michigan Avenue main entrance. The drop-off circle is directly in front of the lobby entrance with accessible curb cuts for wheelchair loading. Stretcher patients are loaded from the ground-level emergency department bay when the main entrance is not suitable. Mercy serves a large South Side population, and our drivers are familiar with the discharge flow and staff coordination procedures at this facility.
2160 S First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153
Patient pickup at Loyola is at the First Avenue main entrance. The NEMT loading lane is clearly marked and accessible for wheelchair ramp deployment and stretcher loading. Loyola is a large campus in Maywood, and navigating to the correct building is important. Our drivers know the campus layout and coordinate with the discharge team to ensure they are at the right entrance for the patient discharge unit. The parking structure is adjacent to the main entrance for short-term loading.
2650 Ridge Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
The patient pickup area at NorthShore Evanston is at the Ridge Avenue main entrance circle. Wheelchair patients use the accessible entrance on the east side of the building. The hospital discharge coordinators typically call the patient transport provider 30 minutes before the patient is ready, and our dispatch team maintains direct communication with the nursing floor. Evanston Hospital serves a large North Shore suburban population, and our vehicles are frequently dispatched from nearby areas.
225 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Lurie Children's is located adjacent to Northwestern Memorial in Streeterville. The patient pickup area is at the Chicago Avenue entrance. Pediatric discharges require a parent or guardian to accompany the child during transport, and our vehicles accommodate the parent as a companion at no additional charge. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available for pediatric wheelchair patients. Our drivers are trained in pediatric patient sensitivity and coordinate with Lurie's family resource center for seamless discharge.
Hospital discharges rarely happen exactly on time. Physician rounds, final lab results, medication reconciliation, and paperwork processing can push a discharge window by hours. Dream Care Rides builds this reality into our scheduling. Your driver will wait up to 60 minutes from the scheduled pickup time at no extra charge. If the delay extends beyond that, our dispatch team works with you to reschedule the pickup for the same day. We do not charge cancellation fees for hospital-initiated delays.
| Service Level | Base Rate | Per Mile | Typical 10-Mile Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambulatory | $45 | $2.00 | $65 |
| Wheelchair | $65 | $2.50 | $90 |
| Stretcher | $150 | $3.50 | $185 |
Most Illinois Medicaid managed-care plans include non-emergency medical transportation benefits that cover hospital discharge rides. Medicare Advantage plans often include supplemental transportation benefits as well. Our billing team contacts your insurance provider, verifies eligibility, obtains any required prior authorization, and ensures the ride is covered before you leave the hospital. For patients without insurance coverage or who prefer the simplicity of private pay, we offer transparent self-pay rates confirmed before the ride.
Dream Care Rides is a licensed, insured non-emergency medical transportation provider headquartered in Olympia Fields, Illinois (NPI #1033989991), serving patients throughout Chicago, Cook County, and the greater Illinois-Indiana metro area. All pricing and operational information on this page reflects our current private pay rates and service standards.
Call (708) 505-6994 as soon as your discharge date is confirmed. Same-day service available across Chicago.
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