Is Uber the New Ambulance?

More and more people are choosing Ubers for their emergency transportation needs over traditional ambulances.

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by Ethan Hausmann

Recent studies show that ambulance usage has declined in cities where Uber is widely available. What is the reason behind this trend? Are people more trusting of the ride service? Or are Ubers just more efficient? There are actually several reasons for the adoption of Uber as an emergency transportation service.

The results are in and people want Uber to get them to the hospital. Check out the data here. There are some pros and cons to using Uber for your emergency needs.

The good
On the plus side Uber is far cheaper than an ambulance ride. A trip in an ambulance can cost you anywhere from $450 to $5,000 or more. Uber rides cost a fraction of this price. If you can afford to wait, then Uber is the best option.

But you might not need to wait. Sometimes an Uber is faster than an ambulance in responding. So if you need to get to the hospital quickly, then an Uber might be a good choice.

The bad
Ubers don't have the siren and flashing light found on an ambulance. This means that if traffic becomes a problem, then the patient in the back seat will not get to the hospital in a timely manner.

Another benefit of traditional ambulances over Ubers is the paramedics who can provide immediate treatment before and during transportation. This is especially important for someone who might be seriously bleeding to death. Ubers do not have this vital service. An Uber is just your transportation.

The reality
It is very interesting that a company that started by disrupting taxi services in cities has now had the unintended side effect of reducing ambulance calls.

This isn't bad though. I think we can all agree that as long as people are seeking the medical attention they need, it doesn't matter who gets them to the hospital. Also, Uber helps relieve the over-burdened ambulance system.

Everyday people call for an ambulance when they really don't need one. A person wants to go to the hospital, but doesn't want to drive themselves. These non-emergency trips are very common for ambulances. This takes up valuable resources that could instead be used for actual life-threatening cases.

Enter Uber. By being available for these non-emergency trips Uber allows more ambulances to be on call for real emergency needs, such as severe bleeding, stopped breathing, or internal poisoning.

This is a great example of people using a product or service for unintended uses. Sometimes this ends badly in the case of Tide Pods, but for Uber it is another valuable market segment.