Hospital Discharge Transportation in Metro Detroit: A Checklist for Families and Discharge Planners

Discharge day is often stressful. The patient is ready to go home, family members are juggling work, and the exact discharge time can shift by hours. Transportation is frequently the last thing arranged — and the most common reason a patient ends up waiting in a lobby.

Here's a practical checklist to plan a smooth ride home (or to rehab) from hospitals in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties — from Henry Ford Hospital and the DMC in Detroit to Corewell Health in Royal Oak and Troy, Henry Ford Providence in Southfield and Novi, and Henry Ford Macomb in Clinton Township.

The short answer

Call your transportation provider as soon as a discharge date is likely, tell them the patient's mobility level (walking, walker or wheelchair), the hospital, unit and room, the expected discharge time and the destination details, and update them if the time changes. A non-emergency provider like CuraTransit can coordinate directly with the unit or discharge planner.

Step 1: Choose the right type of ride

Not sure? Ask the nurse or physical therapist how the patient is getting in and out of bed and chairs today. Read more: wheelchair van vs. ambulance vs. rideshare.

Step 2: Share the details your provider needs

• Patient's full name and a contact phone number
• Hospital name, building, unit and room number
• Expected discharge time (and who to call for updates)
• Destination address — home, rehab, skilled nursing or assisted living
• At home: steps, stairs, narrow doorways and the best entrance
• Equipment going home: walker, wheelchair, personal oxygen the patient manages
• Wheelchair type (manual or power) and whether it is extra-wide
• Who will meet the patient at the destination
• How the ride will be paid: facility contract, private pay, or an auto no-fault / MACP claim if the hospital stay followed a car accident

Step 3: Prepare the destination

• Clear a path from the vehicle to the door; in winter, shovel and salt walkways and ramps.
• Have the bed, chair and bathroom ready before the patient arrives.
• Make sure someone is home — or that the facility knows the arrival time.
• Pick up new prescriptions in advance if possible, or plan who will.

Step 4: Before leaving the hospital

• Discharge paperwork and medication list
• Follow-up appointment dates (consider booking rides for those, too)
• Personal belongings, glasses, hearing aids and phone charger
• Durable medical equipment orders confirmed

For discharge planners and case managers

CuraTransit works with hospitals across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties to reduce discharge delays:

• Direct scheduling by phone, email or fax (248-919-0942)
• Wheelchair-accessible van and ambulatory options in one call
• Pickup at the unit or designated discharge entrance
• Facility contracts with direct scheduling and contract pricing for high volume

Set up a facility account or call 248-320-9092.

Frequently asked questions

Can you pick up a patient being discharged today?

Same-day discharge rides are handled based on availability. Call as soon as you know the discharge time.

Will the driver help the patient into the house?

Yes. Our service is door-to-door: the driver assists the patient from the vehicle into the home or facility — not just to the curb.

Can a family member ride along?

Yes. Let us know when booking so we can reserve a seat.

Do you transfer patients from the hospital to rehab or a nursing home?

Yes. Facility-to-facility transfers for patients who can ride seated or in a wheelchair are part of our hospital discharge transportation service.

How is a discharge ride paid for?

Discharge rides are paid by the hospital or receiving facility under a facility contract, by the family as private pay, or — when the hospital stay followed a Michigan car accident — through an approved no-fault or MACP claim.

Which hospitals do you pick up from?

We pick up from hospitals across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties, including Henry Ford, Corewell Health, the Detroit Medical Center, Trinity Health and McLaren facilities. See our service areas.