Skip to main content
Call Call Dispatch at (713) 791-9000 — Preferred EMSRequest

Interfacility Ambulance Transport

Dispatch open now · 24/7

Interfacility ambulance transport in Houston

Ambulance transfers between hospitals, freestanding ERs, nursing homes, assisted living, rehab and other facilities across Greater Houston. The referring team can request BLS, ALS or MICU.

Request ambulance service

Next: date, time and your phone number. Dispatch calls to confirm. No medical details needed.

Life-threatening emergency, or not sure? Call 911.

Serving Greater Houston since 2004. Since 2004
Dispatch answered 24/7. Dispatch 24/7
Over 40 EMTs and paramedics. 40+ EMTs and paramedics
Texas EMS license 1000961. Texas EMS license 1000961
Illustrative ambulance stretcher prepared at a hospital transfer entrance

Service overview

What is interfacility ambulance transport?

We move a patient from one healthcare facility to another, including transfers from freestanding ERs to hospitals.

The referring team gives Dispatch the pickup, destination, time and level. Dispatch confirms the trip.

Common requests

When interfacility transport may be appropriate

Common facility transfers:

Hospital-to-hospital transfers

From one hospital to another.

Emergent facility transfers

Urgent transfers that a hospital, freestanding ER or nursing home books with Preferred EMS when the sending team asks for an emergent response. Preferred EMS is not a 911 service; for an emergency at home or in public, call 911.

Hospital to skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility

From the hospital to a nursing facility, rehab center or other care setting.

Transfers for specialized care or appointments

To a facility with special services, or to a scheduled appointment.

Return transfers to a healthcare facility

Back to the facility after a procedure, appointment or short stay.

Long-distance facility-to-facility transportation

Longer transfers between facilities.

Services

What we do

Call us when you need us. Dispatch answers 24/7 at (713) 791-9000.

Basic care (BLS)

  • Transfers between facilities
  • Hospital and nursing home discharges

Non-emergency trips

  • Dialysis
  • Chemotherapy
  • Outpatient procedures
  • Airport transport
  • Organ transport

Advanced care (ALS and MICU)

  • Transport to the ER
  • Ventilator patients
  • LVAD patients
  • Trach care
  • Cardiac monitoring
  • IV pumps

The care team decides the level. Dispatch confirms each trip. Calling does not guarantee a response time.

For healthcare teams

Interfacility transport for healthcare facilities

Hospitals, freestanding ERs, nursing homes, assisted living, rehab and other facilities across Greater Houston can request transfers. Dispatch answers 24/7.

You can request BLS, ALS or MICU. Dispatch confirms the pickup, destination, time and level.

For healthcare facilities

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is interfacility ambulance transport?

An ambulance transfer from one healthcare facility to another: hospital to hospital, to a nursing or rehab facility, for special care, or back to a facility.

What types of healthcare facilities does Preferred EMS transport between?

Hospitals, ERs, freestanding ERs, nursing homes, assisted living, rehab, dialysis and specialty centers across Greater Houston.

Can interfacility transportation be BLS, ALS, or MICU?

Yes. Preferred EMS provides BLS, ALS, or MICU transport for interfacility transfers. The patient's doctor or nurse chooses the level. Not sure? Dispatch will help.

Does Preferred EMS provide hospital-to-hospital transportation?

Yes. Hospital-to-hospital transfers are one of our most common trips. Dispatch works with both the sending and receiving facility.

Does Preferred EMS handle emergent facility transfers?

Yes. Hospitals, freestanding ERs and nursing homes can book emergent facility transfers with our dispatch team 24 hours a day at (713) 791-9000, as well as scheduled non-emergency transfers. Preferred EMS is not a 911 service; for an emergency at home or in public, call 911.

Is Preferred EMS dispatch available 24/7 for interfacility transport?

Yes. Dispatch answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (713) 791-9000.

How do healthcare facilities request a transport?

Call Dispatch at (713) 791-9000 or send the online request. Dispatch will call you to confirm.