Muhammad Irfan 
The True Post (Web News)Patients in Calgary and Edmonton Calling 811 Now Get Free Transport to Hospitals
Patients in Calgary and Edmonton who call 811 and are advised to see a doctor within 24 hours will now have access to a new support service.
According to Acute Care Alberta, a six-month pilot project under the EHS-Alberta/Health Link 811 Shared Response Program will begin Friday. It will provide alternative transport for patients who need medical assessment but do not require an ambulance.
Patients who qualify will be offered a free taxi ride by the 811 nurse to the nearest hospital emergency department or urgent care center if they have no other means of getting there.
To be eligible, patients must be over 18, able to walk safely on their own, and not require paramedic assessment. The service will be free of charge, though the return trip will be the patient’s responsibility.
Trevor Maslyk, Interim Managing Director of EHS-Alberta, said:
“By partnering with Health Link 811, we are improving patient care and keeping ambulances available for those who need them most. Patients will reach the right level of care at the right time. This will reduce system pressure, improve efficiency, and strengthen our ability to meet targets.”
This initiative builds on the Shared Response Program launched in 2023, where non-life-threatening 911 calls were redirected to Health Link nurses. Data from two years of the program revealed transportation as a barrier to care.
Nearly one-third of the 50,000 redirected 911 calls had to be sent back for non-emergency ambulance transport, even though patients did not need urgent medical attention but lacked transportation to access the recommended care.
