Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation
Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation in Houston
Preferred EMS provides coordinated non-emergency ambulance transportation for patients, healthcare facilities, and families throughout Greater Houston. Our dispatch team helps arrange BLS, ALS, or MICU transportation based on the requested level of care and the patient's transport needs.
What Is Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation?
"Non-emergency" ambulance transportation describes transportation that is coordinated in advance rather than dispatched in response to a 911 call. It does not mean the patient has no medical needs — many patients who require non-emergency ambulance transportation still need an appropriate level of medical support during transit, whether that is Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), or Mobile Intensive Care (MICU) transport.
Preferred EMS coordinates BLS, ALS, and MICU transportation based on the request and information provided by the referring healthcare team or appropriate coordinating party. The appropriate level of transport is determined in coordination with the referring team and Preferred EMS dispatch — not independently by this website.
Common situations where non-emergency ambulance transportation may be requested include hospital discharges, interfacility transfers, transportation to and from skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, scheduled healthcare appointments, and long-distance medical transportation. Contact our dispatch team at (713) 791-9000 to discuss your specific transport needs.
When Non-Emergency Ambulance Transport May Be Requested
The following are general examples of situations where non-emergency ambulance transportation may be requested or arranged. Whether ambulance transportation is appropriate for a specific patient is determined by the referring healthcare team and Preferred EMS dispatch — not independently by this website.
Hospital discharge transportation
Transporting patients from a hospital to a home, skilled nursing facility, rehabilitation center, or other destination when ambulance transportation has been arranged at discharge.
Interfacility transfers
Moving patients between hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and other healthcare facilities when ambulance transportation has been coordinated by the referring team.
Transportation to or from skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities
Transporting patients to or from SNFs, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation centers when ambulance transportation has been requested or arranged by the appropriate coordinating party.
Transportation for scheduled healthcare appointments or specialized care
Transporting patients to or from scheduled medical appointments, specialty care, or treatment when ambulance transportation has been coordinated with Preferred EMS dispatch.
Long-distance medical transportation
Extended-range ambulance transportation for patients traveling beyond the Greater Houston area when non-emergency ambulance transport has been arranged and coordinated.
Non-Emergency Transport for Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, case managers, discharge planners, nursing staff, and other healthcare providers throughout Greater Houston work with Preferred EMS to coordinate non-emergency ambulance transportation. Our dispatch team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to coordinate transport requests and help arrange the requested level of service.
We work with referring and receiving facilities to confirm pickup and destination details, the requested transport time, and the appropriate level of service — BLS, ALS, or MICU — based on the information provided by the referring team. Our crews communicate with sending and receiving facilities throughout the transport to support continuity of care.
Healthcare facilities and care teams looking to coordinate non-emergency ambulance transportation with Preferred EMS are welcome to contact our dispatch team or visit our Healthcare Facilities page for more information about our facility transport services.
Dispatch Available 24/7
Ready to coordinate non-emergency transport?
Our dispatch team is available around the clock to coordinate non-emergency ambulance transportation for patients, families, and healthcare teams throughout Greater Houston.
Medical emergency? Call 911 immediately. This website and dispatch line are for coordinated, non-emergency transportation only.
Serving Greater Houston
Preferred EMS provides coordinated non-emergency ambulance transportation throughout Houston and the surrounding region, including Sugar Land, Katy, Pearland, Pasadena, League City, Baytown, Clear Lake, and other communities across Greater Houston. Contact our dispatch team at (713) 791-9000 to discuss your specific transport needs.
View All Service AreasFrequently Asked Questions
Other Transport Services
Basic Life Support (BLS)
BLS ambulance transportation coordinated when the requested trip calls for BLS-level service.
Learn moreAdvanced Life Support (ALS)
ALS ambulance transportation coordinated when the requested trip calls for ALS-level support.
Learn moreMobile Intensive Care (MICU)
MICU ambulance transportation coordinated when the requested trip calls for MICU-level support.
Learn moreInterfacility Ambulance Transport
Coordinated transfers between hospitals, SNFs, rehab centers, and specialty facilities.
Learn moreHospital Discharge Transportation
Discharge transport for patients transitioning from hospital to home or post-acute care.
Learn moreLong-Distance Ambulance Transport
Extended-range ambulance transport for patients traveling beyond the Greater Houston area.
Learn moreReady to request non-emergency transport?
Contact our dispatch team to discuss your origin, destination, requested level of care, and scheduling needs.
Medical emergency? Call 911 immediately.