Why Outpatient Surgery Patients Need Confirmed Transportation
Every accredited surgical center in Illinois requires patients receiving anesthesia to arrange transportation home before the procedure begins. This is not optional — facilities will cancel or postpone surgery if the patient cannot confirm a ride. Driving yourself is prohibited after any form of sedation, and rideshare presents problems: it is a curb-to-curb product rather than a dedicated medical service, and there is no guarantee a car will be available at the unpredictable moment of discharge. Dream Care Rides drivers complete PASS wheelchair securement, patient transfer, and passenger-assistance certification, and provide door-through-door escort on every post-surgical discharge trip.
Dream Care Rides eliminates this uncertainty. When you book outpatient surgery transportation, we confirm both your arrival ride and your post-operative return before your procedure date. Our dispatch team coordinates directly with surgical centers so the driver arrives when you are actually ready — not an hour early while you are still in recovery, and not 45 minutes late while you sit in a discharge lounge. Call (708) 505-6994 to arrange your rides now.
According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, patients should not drive, operate machinery, or make critical decisions for at least 24 hours after receiving general anesthesia or IV sedation. Post-operative transportation is a patient safety requirement, not a convenience.
Facility Requirement
Most surgical centers require patients to provide the name and phone number of their transportation provider during pre-operative registration. Dream Care Rides provides a confirmation number and direct dispatch line that satisfies this requirement at every Chicago-area surgical center.
How Outpatient Surgery Transport Works
Book Both Rides in Advance
Call (708) 505-6994 or book online at least 48 hours before your procedure. We schedule your drop-off ride and set up a will-call return for after surgery.
Pre-Op Drop-Off
Your driver arrives at your home, assists you to the vehicle, and delivers you to the surgical center with time to spare for check-in. Door-to-door or door-through-door service is standard.
Will-Call Pickup After Surgery
When the surgical team determines you are ready for discharge, the center calls our dispatch line. We send your driver immediately — typical response is 15 to 30 minutes.
Safe Ride Home
Your driver assists you from the facility to the vehicle and from the vehicle to your door at home. If you need wheelchair assistance post-surgery, we have you covered.
Vehicle Options for Surgery Patients
Ambulatory (Sedan/SUV)
For patients who can walk with minimal assistance before and after surgery. The most common choice for procedures like cataract surgery, endoscopy, dental surgery, and minor orthopedic procedures. Your driver provides door-to-door service and assists you in and out of the vehicle. Base fare: $35 to $65 plus $2 to $4 per mile.
Wheelchair Van
For patients who will need a wheelchair after surgery — common after knee arthroscopy, hip procedures, foot and ankle surgery, and any procedure requiring a cast or immobilization boot. ADA-compliant vans with hydraulic lifts and Q-Straint securement systems. Base fare: $65 to $115 plus $3 to $6 per mile.
Stretcher Transport
For patients who must remain reclined during transport. Used for more complex same-day procedures, transfers between facilities, or patients with post-operative conditions that prevent sitting upright. Two trained attendants included. Base fare: $300 to $525 plus $5 to $16 per mile.
Not sure which vehicle you will need? Ask your surgical team during your pre-operative consultation, or call us at (708) 505-6994 and our dispatcher will help you choose. You can also upgrade from ambulatory to wheelchair on the day of surgery if your post-operative condition requires it.
Book Your Surgery Rides Now
Confirmed drop-off and will-call pickup. One call handles both rides.
Will-Call Returns: No Waiting After Surgery
Surgery timing is inherently unpredictable. A procedure scheduled for 90 minutes might take 2 hours. Recovery room stays vary from 30 minutes to several hours depending on how the patient responds to anesthesia. Scheduling a fixed-time pickup for post-surgical patients leads to one of two bad outcomes: the driver arrives too early and sits idle (costing you wait-time fees), or the driver arrives too late and the patient waits in a discharge area.
Dream Care Rides solves this with will-call returns. Instead of guessing when you will be ready, we position a driver near the surgical center and dispatch them only when the center calls to confirm you are cleared for discharge. This means no idle wait-time charges for surgery delays, a driver at the door within 15 to 30 minutes of the discharge call, and no burden on the patient to arrange a ride while groggy from anesthesia.
Your companion, the surgical center's discharge coordinator, or the nursing staff can place the will-call to our dispatch line. We handle the rest.
Chicago-Area Surgical Centers We Serve
Northwestern Medicine Ambulatory Surgery Center
Chicago
Rush University Surgicenter
Chicago
UChicago Medicine Outpatient Surgery
Chicago
Advocate Christ Outpatient Surgery
Oak Lawn
Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Surgery
Olympia Fields
Ingalls Memorial Outpatient Surgery
Harvey
Silver Cross Hospital Same-Day Surgery
New Lenox
Palos Health Outpatient Surgery
Palos Heights
We transport patients to every ambulatory surgery center, hospital outpatient department, and freestanding surgical facility in the Chicago metropolitan area and Northwest Indiana. View our full Chicago coverage area.
Pricing and Payment
| Vehicle Type | Base Fare | Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Ambulatory (Sedan/SUV) | $35 – $65 | $2 – $4 |
| Wheelchair (ADA Van) | $65 – $115 | $3 – $6 |
| Stretcher (Ambulette) | $300 – $525 | $5 – $16 |
Weekend surgeries are billed at 1.5× the base rate. Holiday procedures at 2.25×. Wait time beyond the included window costs $15 to $30 per 15-minute increment. Supplemental oxygen adds $25 per trip. Use our NEMT cost calculator to estimate your total cost or view the complete Dream Care Rides rate card.
Payment options: Illinois Medicaid transportation covers outpatient surgery NEMT for eligible beneficiaries at no out-of-pocket cost. Private-pay patients can pay via credit card, debit, or ACH — no prior authorization required. Call (708) 505-6994 for a quote specific to your surgical center and home address.
Pre-Operative Transport Checklist
Use this checklist to prepare your transportation before surgery day:
- ✓ Book both your pre-op drop-off and will-call return at least 48 hours before surgery
- ✓ Confirm the vehicle type with your surgical team (ambulatory vs. wheelchair)
- ✓ Provide the surgical center's name, address, and your check-in time to our dispatcher
- ✓ Give the surgical center Dream Care Rides' dispatch number for the will-call return
- ✓ Arrange for a companion to accompany you if your facility requires one
- ✓ Pack any post-operative equipment (crutches, boot, sling) so the driver can assist with loading
- ✓ Have your confirmation number ready on the morning of your procedure
Questions About Surgery Transportation?
Our dispatch team coordinates outpatient surgery rides every day. We know the process and will walk you through it.
Otse Amorighoye
Founder & CEO, Dream Care Rides | NPI #1033989991
Otse Amorighoye founded Dream Care Rides to ensure every patient has confirmed, professional transportation for their medical needs — especially for procedures where arriving safely and on time is not negotiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Surgical centers require every patient who receives anesthesia — including local anesthesia with sedation, general anesthesia, and IV sedation — to have a responsible adult provide or arrange transportation home. Driving after anesthesia is medically unsafe and legally prohibited. Most facilities will cancel your procedure if you do not have confirmed post-operative transportation before check-in. Dream Care Rides provides pre-arranged, confirmed pickup that satisfies this requirement.
When you book with Dream Care Rides, we schedule your drop-off ride to the surgical center and set up a will-call return. This means our dispatcher keeps a driver positioned near the facility. When the surgical team calls us — or when your companion contacts us — to say you are ready for discharge, we send the driver immediately. Typical response time is 15 to 30 minutes after the call. You are never left waiting outside a facility.
Will-call returns are designed for exactly this situation. We do not charge for surgical delays. Our driver is dispatched only when you are actually ready, so there is no idle waiting time billed to you. If the procedure runs 2 hours over the estimate, there is no penalty or additional fee for the delay.
Yes, a family member or companion can ride along at no additional charge. Many surgical centers require a responsible adult to accompany the patient during discharge. Let us know when booking so we assign a vehicle with appropriate seating for both the patient and the companion.
Yes. Many patients need wheelchair transport after orthopedic procedures, foot or ankle surgery, or any procedure that temporarily limits mobility. Our ADA-compliant vans have hydraulic lifts and four-point Q-Straint tie-down systems. Wheelchair transport starts at $65 to $115 base fare. If you are unsure whether you will need a wheelchair after your procedure, ask your surgical team in advance.
Yes, Illinois Medicaid covers non-emergency medical transportation to and from outpatient surgical procedures for eligible beneficiaries. Rides are coordinated through your managed care organization. Medicaid accepted in select service areas — call (708) 505-6994 to check availability. Private-pay patients can also book directly without prior authorization.
We recommend booking at least 48 hours before your scheduled procedure. This ensures driver assignment, route confirmation, and coordination with the surgical center. For same-week bookings, call (708) 505-6994 directly and we will do our best to accommodate. Standing orders are available for patients with multiple scheduled procedures.
We transport patients for all types of outpatient and same-day surgical procedures, including orthopedic surgery (knee, hip, shoulder arthroscopy), cataract and eye surgery, endoscopy and colonoscopy, oral and dental surgery, dermatologic procedures, hernia repair, cardiac catheterization, pain management procedures, and cosmetic surgery. The vehicle type depends on your post-operative mobility, not the type of surgery.
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Last updated: March 25, 2026. This page is reviewed and updated quarterly.