- Study from University of Kansas found Uber decreased ambulance rides by 7%
- Ambulance rides can costs patients or insurers thousands of dollars
- Trend could speed waits for amulances by freeing them up for serious cases
A new study has found that ambulance rides are decreasing, likely because some patients are taking Uber cars instead.
Ambulance rides by population decreased an average of 7 per cent in cities when Uber’s service was introduced, according to a study co-authored by University of Kansas economist David Slusky.
The study suggests that patients who are too sick to drive but not in a serious enough condition to need an ambulance are using the ride service instead.
‘Many patients don’t need something that can break traffic laws and don’t need something staffed by paramedics with a bunch of fancy equipment,’ Slusky said in a statement. ‘You don’t need a neurosurgeon to diagnose strep throat.’
A new study has found that ambulance rides are decreasing, likely because some patients are taking Uber cars instead (file photo)
Ambulance rides can cost patients or their insurance companies thousands of dollars, and the study authors suggest that Uber could be a cheaper alternative.
‘In order to lower health care spending while improving health outcomes, people can use the least-skilled professional who is still qualified,’ said Slusky.
To carry out the study, Slusky and his co-author Leon Moskatel, of the Department of Medicine at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, examined ambulance rates in 766 US cities across 43 states.
The academics examined the change in ambulance ride volume as Uber entered those markets from 2013 through 2015, finding and average decline of 7 per cent.
The study suggests that patients who are too sick to drive but not in a serious enough condition to need an ambulance are using the ride service instead (file photo)
An alternate explanation for the decline could be an overall reduction in the need for hospital visits due to a decline in drunk driving crashes, said Slusky.
However, he said the evidence is still too mixed to believe that less drunken driving is the primary reason for the decline.
The researchers also theorized that the use of Uber in less serious cases could reduce overall wait times for ambulances by freeing them up for those in truly dire need.
‘Given that even a reduction of a few minutes can drastically improve survival rates for serious conditions, this could be associated with a substantial welfare improvement,’ the researchers said in the paper.