If you need emergency medical services and anambulance arrives, you may assume that you will be taken to your nearest medical center, providing you the care you need in the shortest amount of time. While that would seem reasonable, in practical application it’s not always the case.
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How Decisions Are Made
Where an ambulance crew ultimately takes you depends on the system used. The determination is sometimes made automatically the moment youcall 911.
Paramedics have a certain pull when making decisions. While they can’t choose which hospital to take you to, they can report specific medical conditions that require a specialized facility.
The systems used can vary considerably among states and even counties. In California, for example, people are traditionally offered a choice of hospitals unless their condition warrants a specialized facility. In other states, you may only be advised of your destination as you leave. This is not to suggest you have no say in the matter.
You have the right to tell the ambulance where to take you, and, if they’re able to do so safely, they usually will. However, some ambulances are assigned specific “zones” and are not allowed to transport patients outside of those territories.
Moreover, if a hospital is on diversion, you may be sent to a different one than you commonly use.
Types of Facilities
Among some of the specialized facilities you may be routed to are:
Multi-Casualty Incidents
When EMS systems get overwhelmed—usually as a result of a multi-casualty incident—patients will be divided up among the available regionalhospitals. Transportation will be coordinated through a disaster control facility.
In cases like these, neither you nor the paramedics will have a say in your destination unless your injuries demand the use of a specialized hospital. Innatural disasterssuch as hurricanes or floods, emergency patients may be transported to other states, especially if the local healthcare infrastructure has been crippled.
Patient Choice
Most patients who request a transfer to a specific facility will do so as a result ofhealth insurance concerns. If you know that one hospital is a provider under your insurance plan and another isn’t, it is fair to ask for the destination to be changed as long as it doesn’t compromise your health.
You may want to volunteer your insurance information to the ambulance crew if there’s any chance that your 30%coinsurancefor a provider hospital may be increased to full price with anout-of-network provider.
Similarly, if you have been working with a team of specialists (such as cardiologists, infectious diseases specialists, or neurologists), you may want them to oversee your care as opposed to a team that does not know your background or history.
A Word From Verywell
On the face of things, the simplest choice would be to take you to the nearest hospital rather than carting you through rush hour traffic across town. But the simplest choice is not always the best choice.
If it unclear why you or a loved one is being transported to a distant facility, do not hesitate to ask. As panicked as you may feel, listen to their rationale and be quick to let them know if you prefer another facility for whatever reason.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
California Department of Managed Health.Emergency and urgent care.
Man S, Zhao X, Uchino K, et al.Comparison of acute ischemic stroke care and outcomes between comprehensive stroke centers and primary stroke centers in the United States.Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2018;11(6):e004512. doi:10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.117.004512
Casimir G.Why children’s hospitals are unique and so essential.Front Pediatr. 2019;7:305. doi:10.3389/fped.2019.00305
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