Hospital Discharge Stretcher Transport — Toronto & GTA
Toronto and GTA - Safe Stretcher Transfer
from Hospital to Home
Why Hospital Discharge Requires More Than a Car or Wheelchair Van ?
The discharge is approved. The bed is ready at home. What's missing is a way to get there when sitting upright isn't safe.
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After surgery, injury, or illness, sitting upright in a standard vehicle isn't just uncomfortable — for some patients, it's a fall risk, a pain risk, and a recovery setback. A wheelchair van still requires the patient to sit. A car requires them to step in and out. When someone needs to remain lying flat, neither option works.​​
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Sitting upright after certain surgeries or illnesses can cause:
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Pain at incision sites
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Breathing difficulty for cardiac or respiratory patients
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Fall risk during vehicle entry and exit
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Positioning complications that slow recovery
Patients who remain flat or semi-reclined during transport report significantly less post-transfer pain and positioning complications.
How Aurevia Hospital Discharge Transfer Works
This protocol is followed on every hospital discharge transfer — not "when we have time."
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Booking & Confirmation
We confirm hospital unit, destination, mobility level, prescribed oxygen
(if applicable), and preferred discharge window.
Facility Coordination
We confirm pickup location and discharge readiness window with the hospital unit. This prevents hallway waiting and reduces discharge delays.
Crew Preparation
The assigned two-person crew prepares stretcher configuration, securement systems, and required mobility supports prior to arrival.
Preparation happens before bedside contact — not during.
Safe Transfer & Securement
Controlled bed-to-stretcher movement.
Full stretcher locking and vehicle anchoring.
Monitored positioning throughout transport.
Arrival & Handover
Coordinated entry.
Controlled unloading.
Safe positioning in the receiving space.
Transfer is documented — arrival time, patient condition, receiving adult's name.
Pre-Scheduled Transfers —
Discharge Delays Are Rare
We work on a pre-scheduled model — bookings at least 24 hours in advance whenever possible.
Before dispatching the crew, we call the ward to confirm the patient is ready. Most delays are caught at that point, before anyone is waiting.
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If a discharge is significantly delayed after the crew has already arrived, waiting time may apply. Our dispatcher will notify you before any additional charge begins — you won't find out about it on the invoice.
What Families Ask Before Booking
If this is your first time arranging transportation, you're not alone. These are some of the most common questions families ask before booking.
Is Hospital Discharge Transportation Safe?
Yes — when it's done properly. Two trained attendants manage every transfer using proper lifting, positioning, and fall-prevention techniques. The stretcher locks into the vehicle with certified securement systems. Our crew is covered under Ontario's workplace safety program (WSIB) and our operation carries full commercial insurance.​
This isn't general passenger transport. Non-emergency patient transfers are all we do.
How Do I Arrange Transportation From a Hospital?
Call us or fill out the booking form. We'll ask about the hospital location, destination, mobility needs, and when the discharge is expected. We handle facility coordination directly — you don't need to navigate the hospital's internal processes or relay information between us and the ward.
If you're arranging from out of town, that's normal. We do it regularly.
​Can Hospital Transportation Be Arranged Without Family Present?
Yes. Many bookings are made by adult children or caregivers who can't be there on the day. Our crew coordinates directly with the hospital staff, manages the transfer from bed to destination, and your loved one is never left to navigate the process alone.
We can provide an update at drop-off when requested.
Every Discharge Transfer Includes Documented Handover
When a patient leaves a hospital, there is a legal and medical transfer of responsibility.
Many transport services provide only a verbal "got them home." We provide a written record.
What our handover includes:
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Pickup time from hospital room
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Patient condition at pickup and arrival
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Transfer details and route
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Arrival time at destination
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Name and signature of receiving adult
For families who cannot be at the hospital, this document provides peace of mind. For discharge coordinators, it provides documentation
