Hospital requires me to have someone accompany me out of the hospital following surgery.

Unless a ride or person is there any surgery center or hospital will not discharge you to a bus, Uber or taxi. most documentation insists on a person with you for the next 12-24 hours. I imagine many just have friends drop their people off, but if the center knows that you won’t have anyone with you they SHOULD cancel your case. I’ve had patients try to trick the center but the nurses can usually pick up on when no one will be home. The best was when a patient tried to go home after surgery on the back of a motorcycle. this clearly was not allowed either.

Yes, it's for liability. If they allowed you to leave by yourself while still groggy and you got killed/injured or killed or injured someone else they could be found liable for letting an impaired person loose.

There are medical transport companies (like uber drivers with first aid courses I think) that can do this. They are a little more expensive than Uber though. Do a google search on
Ambulatory Outpatient Day Surgery Transportation -- or ask your surgical center for a list. They gave my husband this information when he had a partial knee replacement out of state (even though I was able to travel with him and help, a lot of people travel to surgeries out of state and this is a common request). Best of luck with your surgery.

Guy gets a GI bleed cauterized in the ED. Pretty minor deal. Discharged a half hour after he wakes up from propofol. Arrived back at the ED via EMS 15 minutes after he left the ED the first time when he passed out on the bench in front of the hospital. Yeah, don't go home by yourself.

They can tell the CDC he has the monkey pox, they will grab him fast

When I was scheduling a colonoscopy, a doctor's office recommended calling Comfort Keepers. They were not allowing Uber/taxi because of the need to have someone that can be responsible for you. I'd not heard of Comfort Keepers, but they provide in-home care and senior care, are nationwide, and apparently are the go to for this kind of service. They quoted me $150. I ended up not needing them.

I have to admit, I'm curious as to how the whole "They won't release you" works out logistically. Assume a patient has been admitted and, even if they had a person agree to drive them home before the fact, that person is unavailable. If the patient just starts walking out, does the hospital literally try to restrain them?

Yes, they drag you back in and open up all your stitches as punishment.

Trying to schedule a colonoscopy, I asked, and they said they would need someone to sign in with me. So they want that person there when you are admitted. They also said they wouldn't allow Uber/taxi. That sign in eliminates that unless you can get an Uber driver to also pretend to be a relative/friend and wait through the procedure - not going to happen. Might as well hire the Comfort Keepers service for $150.

Basically yes...They'll hold you until you're ready to be discharged alone, and bill you for that bed. Your insurance likely won't cover the charge.

That is strange. I had knee surgery and showed up alone. I had someone pick me up, but they did the procedure.

If your girlfriend is not available, reach out to your side piece…

I think you really need to evaluate your life if you don't have anyone to ask. If you don't have family that can help you should have friends, running club members, members of your church, a close friend at work. Everyone should have friends that they treat like family.

This isn’t the time for that conversation. Don’t be a 8==D. Do better.

I live in Manhattan and could potentially help depending upon day/time