Arranging a patient ride: what patients and relatives should know

Who a patient ride is for

With us, a patient ride is a seated ride in a regular vehicle. It suits people who can sit on their own and need some help getting in and out, for example in old age, with a rollator or for regular treatment.

We are not an ambulance service and provide no medical or nursing care on the way. Anyone who has to travel lying down or cannot sit independently needs a specialised transport service.

• Rollators and folding wheelchairs come along.
• Wheelchair users: if you can move from the wheelchair onto a vehicle seat, you are welcome; we help you get in. We do not currently have a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

What the driver does

• pick-up at your front door at the agreed time
• help getting in and out, as agreed
• drive right up to the entrance of the practice or hospital
• on request, accompany you to reception or registration
• return ride at a fixed time or on call

You can choose to be accompanied to registration in the request under «What helps the passenger?».

The pick-up time: plan with a buffer

Tell us your appointment time and, if you know it, the department or entrance from your appointment letter. We plan the pick-up so that you arrive without rushing. The pick-up time is stated in the confirmation.

Many rides from the region go to Aarau Cantonal Hospital or Baden Cantonal Hospital in Dättwil. From Lenzburg station it is about 11 kilometres to Aarau and about 13 kilometres to Baden; from Brugg and Windisch, Baden is closer. Outpatient consultations are also held at KSA Lenzburg on Dammweg.

The return ride: fixed time or on call

You often do not know exactly how long an appointment will take. That is why there are two options:

• Fixed time: we pick you up again at the agreed time.
• On call: you call us when your treatment is over, on 076 225 23 23, around the clock.

You book the outward and return ride in one request.

Relatives booking for their parents

Children often do not live nearby. You can still book the ride: choose «For someone else» in the request and enter the passenger's name and phone number. The confirmation and the invoice go to you as the person booking.

Series of appointments: dialysis, radiotherapy, therapy

If you need dialysis three times a week, daily radiotherapy or several weeks of day rehab, you do not need individual bookings but a fixed timetable. You give us the appointments once, we plan outward and return rides for the whole series and confirm them in writing. Billing is once a month with a list of rides, to you, to relatives or to the institution.

You can cancel or move single appointments of a series free of charge up to 24 hours in advance. Care homes, home care services and clinics find everything about series and invoicing on the care and health page.

What about health insurance?

Basic health insurance can contribute 50 percent to medically necessary transport, up to CHF 500 per year (Art. 26 KLV). Whether this applies to your ride is decided by your health insurer. Please check with them directly beforehand; we cannot promise that costs will be covered. On request we issue a ride confirmation for your records.

Checklist before you ask

• date and appointment time, address of the practice or hospital
• department or entrance from the appointment letter, if known
• aids such as a rollator or folding wheelchair
• help needed: getting in, accompaniment to registration
• return ride: fixed time or on call
• when booking for someone else: the passenger's name and phone number