Stretcher transport in South Florida
For passengers who cannot sit up for the ride. A trained two-person crew, a comfortable secured stretcher, and true bed-to-bed care. Based in Coral Springs and serving Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade. Rides from $220.
Scheduled service 7 days a week. Same day and short notice when availability allows.
- 5.0 Google rating
- Licensed & insured
- Broward, Miami-Dade & Palm Beach
When sitting up is not an option, we carry the whole trip
Some passengers simply cannot ride in a seat. After certain surgeries, during a long recovery, or with limited mobility, the only safe way to travel is lying down. Most families discover this at the worst moment, when a hospital says their loved one is ready to leave but cannot go home in a car, and the only alternative anyone mentions is a very expensive ambulance.
This is the gap our stretcher service fills. A two-person crew, a proper stretcher secured in a climate-controlled vehicle, and a calm ride at a human pace. It is the level of care a rideshare cannot offer and an ambulance overcharges for.
Every stretcher trip includes
- A trained two-person crew on every stretcher trip
- True bed-to-bed service, from their bed to the destination bed
- A secured, padded stretcher in a climate-controlled vehicle
- Careful transfers, with doorways and turns planned ahead
- A calm, unhurried pace. This is not an ambulance run
- Family kept informed from pickup to arrival
Common reasons families call us for a stretcher
- Passengers who cannot sit upright for the length of the ride
- Post-surgery recoveries with strict lying-down orders
- Long-term bed rest and limited mobility at home
- Transfers between hospitals, rehab, and skilled nursing
- Imaging, wound care, and specialist visits that require arriving flat
- Comfortable rides home after a long inpatient stay
Not sure whether you need a stretcher, a wheelchair van, or an ambulance? We wrote an honest guide: NEMT vs ambulance, which do you need.
“Essential Transport Assistance has become my go-to for medical transport. I've used them for everything from post-surgery trips, physical therapy and to regular check-ups, including wheelchair and stretcher service, and they never disappoint. They are incredibly reliable, safety-conscious, and efficient. You can tell they have a high standard for how they treat their passengers; the staff is always professional and attentive. If you need reliable, quality transportation, I highly recommend giving them a call.”
Bed to bed, step by step
Tell dispatch about the passenger
Their condition, where they are, where they are going, and anything we should plan for, like oxygen, narrow hallways, or stairs. You get a clear quote up front.
The crew comes to the bedside
Two trained team members transfer the passenger to our stretcher, secure them comfortably, and handle every doorway and elevator on the way to the vehicle.
Settled in at the destination
We do not stop at the entrance. The crew brings the passenger to the room and into the destination bed, and makes sure they are settled before we leave.
Common questions
Do you offer stretcher transportation near me?
If you are anywhere in Broward, southern Palm Beach, or Miami-Dade, yes. Our stretcher vans start each day in Coral Springs and run throughout Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Hollywood, and the communities in between, with Miami-Dade and northern Palm Beach trips scheduled ahead. Call with the pickup address and dispatch will confirm the crew and the price.
What is a stretcher van?
A stretcher van is a vehicle fitted to carry a passenger lying down on a secured stretcher, with a trained two-person crew. It is for stable passengers who cannot sit up for the ride, not for emergencies, so there are no sirens and no medical treatment on the way. It costs far less than a non-emergency ambulance and is booked like any scheduled ride.
What is the difference between stretcher transport and an ambulance?
An ambulance is for emergencies and active medical care during the ride. Our stretcher service is for stable passengers who simply cannot sit up for the trip. It is scheduled, calm, and far more affordable than an ambulance bill. If you are unsure which one you need, call us and we will tell you honestly.
What does bed to bed actually mean?
Exactly what it says. Our crew transfers the passenger from the bed they are in to our stretcher, and at the destination they bring them to the room and transfer them into that bed. No handoffs at a lobby or curb.
Can a family member ride along on a stretcher trip?
In most cases yes, one companion can ride along. Let dispatch know when you book so we plan the seating.
My loved one uses oxygen. Is that a problem?
Tell dispatch when you book. Passengers who travel with their own portable oxygen do so regularly. We plan the securement and the transfer around it.
How much does stretcher transport cost?
Local one-way stretcher rides start at $220, with mileage and tolls included. Distance, a round trip, waiting beyond the first free 15 minutes, stairs, and trips at night, on weekends, or on holidays affect the price, and you hear the full number on the phone before booking. It is a fraction of what a non-emergency ambulance trip bills. Private pay, with facility billing available.
Read the full guide: how much stretcher transportation costs in Florida
Can you take my loved one home from the hospital on a stretcher?
Yes, that is the most common stretcher trip we run. Give dispatch the hospital, the floor or room, and the expected discharge time, and the crew comes to the bedside, transfers your loved one to our stretcher, and brings them into their own bed at home. The first 15 minutes of waiting are free, and discharges are where most waiting happens, so tell us as soon as the nurse gives you a realistic time.
Do you do long-distance stretcher trips?
Yes, we arrange scheduled long-distance trips beyond the tri-county area, across Florida and the Southeast. Call with the details and we will quote it.
More answers on our full FAQ page, or call us at 954.477.7340.
Stretcher rides from Coral Springs across Broward and the coast
Broward County. Most of our stretcher trips are hospital discharges and transfers to rehab or skilled nursing, from Broward Health, Memorial, HCA Florida, and Holy Cross to homes in Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood, Plantation, and Sunrise. For condo and apartment pickups we ask about the elevator and the hallways ahead of time, so the crew arrives with a plan for every turn.
Southern Palm Beach County. From Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach, we bring passengers home from Boca Raton Regional, Delray Medical Center, and Bethesda, often into gated communities where we clear the passenger’s name with the gate before the crew arrives.
Miami-Dade and longer trips. Stretcher rides to and from Miami, Miami Beach, and Aventura are scheduled ahead, and we arrange long-distance stretcher trips across Florida and the Southeast. If a trip home includes a flight, see how we help seasonal residents with the airport legs, and our airport stretcher and wheelchair rides page covers the pickup at each terminal. Flying in on a stretcher? Read our guide to arriving at FLL, PBI, or MIA with a wheelchair or stretcher.
Stretcher transport across the tri-county area
We cover all of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties, including these communities. Every city page lists the hospitals and medical facilities we serve there.
Other ways we can help
Wheelchair transportation
Lift-equipped vans, ride in your own chair, help door through door.
Learn moreHospital discharge rides
From the hospital room to home safely, wheelchair or stretcher.
Learn moreDialysis transportation
Standing orders that show up on time, both directions, every visit.
Learn moreAmbulatory transportation
A professional driver and a steady hand for passengers who walk.
Learn moreTherapy & rehab rides
Physical therapy, rehab, and post-surgery appointments on a standing schedule.
Learn moreAirport transportation
Assisted rides to and from FLL, PBI, MIA, and private terminals, wheelchair or stretcher.
Learn moreWant a dedicated attendant who stays through the whole appointment? See ETA Concierge, our white-glove service.
Arrange a stretcher transport
Call dispatch with the pickup, the destination, and the passenger's needs. You will have a clear price and a confirmed crew before you hang up.