Ambulance Driver Clocks Off Mid-Patient, Calls an Uber

An ambulance driver transporting a woman with chest pain reportedly got lost, announced that he was done driving for the day, and called an Uber to take himself home. The patient, whose journey was rather more urgent, was left behind.

The incident happened on Wednesday evening in Cleveland, Ohio, while the woman was being taken to the Cleveland Clinic. Instead of completing the trip to hospital, the driver is accused of abandoning her after deciding his working day had reached its natural conclusion somewhere short of the emergency department.

The driver worked for Lynx EMS, a private ambulance company, rather than Cleveland EMS. Having apparently outsourced the final journey he remained interested in, he left the patient at the scene.

Cleveland’s public emergency crews then had to step in. According to Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees Local 1975, known as CARE, a Cleveland EMS unit responded after the private ambulance driver departed.

Paramedics administered medical care to the woman and completed the interrupted trip to hospital, a CARE spokesperson said. In other words, the patient eventually received both the treatment and transport generally expected when one gets into an ambulance with chest pain.

“We stand by our EMTs, paramedics and dispatchers who strive to provide the best care to anyone who is in need of it,” the CARE spokesperson added.

Lynx EMS said it acted as soon as it learned what had happened and is now reviewing the circumstances. The company did not say what action had been taken against the driver or offer further details about the patient.

In its statement, Lynx EMS said: “Patient safety and quality care are of the utmost importance to us and responsibilities we take very seriously. Upon becoming aware of the situation, immediate steps were taken to address the matter and ensure the patient’s well-being and care needs were addressed.

“We are continuing to review the circumstances surrounding this incident and will take appropriate action based on the findings of that review. As this involves personnel and patient related matters, we are unable to comment further.

“We remain committed to providing high-quality care and maintaining the trust of our patients, their families, healthcare partners, and the communities we serve.”

The woman was ultimately brought to the hospital by Cleveland EMS. The company review will determine what happens next to the driver, whose own transport arrangements appear to have been made rather more promptly than those of his patient.