Getting a ride home after surgery can sound simple. If you don't drive, live alone, or don't have someone nearby, calling an Uber or Lyft may seem like the obvious solution.
But surgery transportation works differently from an ordinary ride home. Many hospitals and surgery centers will not discharge you after anesthesia or sedation to an unaccompanied rideshare.
That doesn't necessarily mean you can't use Uber or Lyft at all. Some facilities may allow a rideshare if a responsible adult accompanies you, while others have different requirements. Because policies vary, confirm exactly what your surgical facility requires before surgery day.
Possibly — but you may not be allowed to take one alone.
After certain types of anesthesia or sedation, you may be sleepy, unsteady, nauseated, confused, or slower to react than usual. Those effects can continue even when you feel awake enough to leave the recovery area.
Because of this, many surgical facilities require someone else to take responsibility for helping you get home safely.
An Uber or Lyft driver is providing transportation. The driver generally isn't serving as your responsible adult or postoperative caregiver.
That's why the important question isn't simply:
Can I take an Uber?
It's:
Can I take an Uber if my responsible adult rides home with me?
Your facility can tell you its specific policy.
The restriction is generally about your condition after anesthesia or sedation, not about rideshare companies specifically.
Even after you've met the facility's requirements for discharge, you may still experience effects such as:
You may also need help getting into your home, filling prescriptions, remembering discharge instructions, or managing the first few hours after surgery.
That's why a surgical facility may require a responsible adult rather than simply proof that a car is waiting outside.
Some facilities may allow this.
For example, your responsible adult might meet you at the hospital or surgery center, receive your discharge instructions, and then accompany you home in an Uber or Lyft.
But don't assume this arrangement will satisfy your facility's policy.
Requirements can vary based on the facility, procedure, type of anesthesia or sedation, and your individual circumstances.
Before surgery, ask:
Those answers are much more useful than a general internet rule about whether rideshares are "allowed."
The exact definition depends on your surgical facility.
Generally, this is someone who can help you safely leave the facility and follow the instructions you've been given after anesthesia or sedation.
Depending on the facility and your situation, that person may need to:
Your surgical team may have additional requirements.
If you've been told that you need someone with you after surgery, How Long Should Someone Stay With Me After Surgery? can help you think through the practical side of planning for help at home.
Tell your surgical facility before the day of surgery.
Don't wait until you're dressed and ready for discharge to find out whether your transportation plan qualifies.
Depending on where you live and what your facility accepts, possible alternatives might include:
Not every option will satisfy every facility's requirements.
Ask your facility what alternatives it accepts and what the person or service must provide, rather than simply booking transportation and assuming it will work.
Potentially.
Some areas have non-emergency medical transportation, postoperative transportation, or medical escort services designed to help patients get home after procedures.
But hiring one doesn't automatically mean your facility will accept it.
A transportation service may provide only a ride, while your facility may require someone who can receive discharge instructions, assist you into your home, or remain with you afterward.
If you're considering a service, ask your surgical facility what qualifications or responsibilities it requires before you book anything.
It's possible that a procedure requiring an appropriate discharge arrangement could be delayed or cancelled if you don't have the transportation or responsible adult your facility requires.
That's one reason transportation shouldn't be treated as a minor surgery-day detail.
If your surgical team tells you that you need a driver or responsible adult, make that part of your preparation plan early — and tell them as soon as possible if arranging one is going to be difficult.
For other practical details that can affect whether you're ready for your procedure, see Surgery Preparation Checklist.
You don't need to figure out your facility's policy yourself.
Call the surgeon's office or surgical facility and say that you're arranging transportation home after surgery.
Then ask:
That gives you the information you actually need for your surgery without relying on a policy from another hospital or surgery center.
Transportation is easy to overlook when you're focused on the surgery itself.
But if your facility requires a responsible adult, your ride home is part of your surgery preparation — just like following fasting instructions, arranging time off, or knowing when to arrive.
Confirm the plan early enough that you have time to make another arrangement if your first option doesn't meet the facility's requirements.
Want a simple way to stay on track?
Preparing for surgery involves a lot of small but important steps. Download the free SurgiNav Surgery Prep Checklist to stay organized and feel more confident before your procedure.
You may be able to take an Uber or Lyft home after surgery, but don't assume you can take one by yourself.
Many surgical facilities require a responsible adult after anesthesia or sedation, and a rideshare driver generally doesn't fill that role. Some facilities may allow your responsible adult to accompany you in the rideshare, while others have different requirements.
Before surgery day, ask your surgical facility exactly what it requires for transportation and discharge. If you don't have a friend or family member who can help, tell the facility ahead of time and ask what alternatives it accepts.
The goal isn't just to find a ride. It's to make sure you have a discharge plan your surgical team considers safe and appropriate.
Make sure you've completed the most important preparation steps before your procedure. Download the free SurgiNav Surgery Prep Checklist and head into surgery day with confidence.
Download the Free Surgery Prep ChecklistThis article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always follow the instructions provided by your healthcare team.
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Educational information only. Always follow your surgeon's instructions.