A shortage of ambulances in the District of Columbia means local lawmakers are said to be weighing the option of using both Uber and traditional taxi drivers to respond to low-risk 911 calls and take the patients to doctors' surgeries instead of to hospital. In order to implement such a system, nurses may be stationed at 911 call centres to determine if callers need immediate, professional, attention, or if they were just looking to get a free ride to hospital. The Washington Post reports that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has been pushing for an ambulance service since she took office last year.
A shortage of ambulances in the District of Columbia means local lawmakers are said to be weighing the option of using both Uber and traditional taxi drivers to respond to low-risk 911 calls and take the patients to doctors' surgeries instead of to hospital. In order to implement such a system, nurses may be stationed at 911 call centres to determine if callers need immediate, professional, attention, or if they were just looking to get a free ride to hospital. Recently there has been an increase in uninsured patients relying on city-subsidised transportation (such as ambulances) to get to non-urgent medical appointments, according to the Washington Examiner.