Are you fretting because you don’t have a driver for your colonoscopy or other outpatient procedure? Don’t worry; there IS a solution.
If you need a ride to your colonoscopy, upper endoscopy or what-have-you, you can easily solve this problem by doing what I did.
First of all, don’t bother wasting your time trying to talk the doctor out of this requirement – that is, producing your driver on the spot at the medical clinic to confirm you’ll be driven home after the procedure.
I tried my darnedest to convince the doctor that I could drive home, but she wouldn’t have it.
Your doctor also will not accept drivers from Uber or Lyft.
Nor will a doctor accept a cab driver.
You may be wondering if rentafriend.com could be an option. You can literally pay someone to be your “friend” for numerous activities.
It might be tempting to hire someone to pretend to be your friend and drive you to the medical clinic, posing as someone you know, and then driving you home.
Another temptation might be to arrange this person to meet you there separately, pose as your driver-friend, stay there during the procedure, then walk out of there with you – but then you’d go your separate ways.
When I had my first colonoscopy, a family member was my driver.
After the procedure I didn’t feel the least bit woozy, loopy or otherwise drugged or impaired to drive.
I could’ve easily driven home, but the family member did the driving.
Ten years later after my second colonoscopy, for which I had nobody personal in my life to drive me, I felt “off” as I was leaving the building. I felt I could’ve driven, but I didn’t feel 100%.
My driver was a medical transport company.
And that’s your solution.
Professional Medical Transport for Your Colonoscopy
The issue with renting a friend is that you have NO idea what you’re going to get.
That person may be desperate for money but may also get uneasy entering a medical clinic with a stranger who’s scheduled for a colonoscopy.
On the flipside, they might end up being very nosy and asking you a steady stream of questions about your health.
A medical transport company driver is already familiar with hospital or medical clinic settings.
THIS IS THEIR JOB: to drive people to and from medical appointments.
You don’t have to feel awkward, as you would if “renting a friend” or getting a neighbor to do it if no family members or close friends are available.
Google “medical transport service for (your city’s or nearest major city’s name).”
Medical transport companies that are out of state may pop up in the results, so be sure that the one you’re vetting services your area.
If the description of their services emphasizes elderly or disabled people, do NOT assume that they won’t provide a service to a younger able-bodied person.
The company I chose provides rides for any person regardless of age or health.
I paid half the fee upfront at the time of scheduling via credit card, and the second half a week prior to the appointment.
I received a text reminder/confirmation a week before and the day before.
The total cost was around $270.
My driver was very courteous and professional, and there wasn’t any awkwardness as there would be if it were a rented friend, neighbor or even my sister-in-law.
Must your driver stay in the waiting room during your colonoscopy?
If your doctor says this is required, you’ll want to question this.
In my case, we got there very early (I scheduled the pickup to allow for plenty of time in case there was a traffic jam).
The driver needed to leave for another transport job, but not before he introduced himself to a nurse and gave her the name of his company and phone number.
He didn’t even need to meet my doctor.
He returned at the prearranged time to pick me up, waiting for me just outside of the recovery area.
The $270 was worth every penny.
Do NOT put off a colonoscopy or other needed medical procedure just because you “don’t have a ride.”
You DO have a ride: a medical transport company.
