At a glance
Discharge time
Agree a realistic pickup window with the hospital.
Pick-up point
State the ward, entrance or agreed meeting point.
Mobility
Provide aids and access to the destination in advance.
Arrange the discharge ride early
Whenever possible, arrange a ride after hospital discharge before the discharge day. Ask the ward or discharge-management team when the passenger is expected to be ready and which type of transport is medically suitable. PrimaFahrten provides only planned rides without medical care during the journey.
Pick-up point and accessibility
Hospitals often have several entrances and pickup areas. Provide the hospital, campus, building section, ward and a clear meeting point, as well as a phone number for changes because discharge times can shift. For entrances and access at individual Berlin hospitals, see our guide to hospital rides in Berlin.
The ward or exit, pickup time, mobility aids and access at the destination all form part of the plan.
If the discharge shifts
Discharge times can change at short notice. Agree a realistic pickup window rather than an exact minute, and report any change as early as you can. Whether we can take a same-day ride is checked case by case (see same-day rides in Berlin). PrimaFahrten reviews your details and confirms the actual arrangement.
Mobility for home and building access
Describe the wheelchair, walking aid, any required transfer and accompanying person. Also provide the destination floor, lift and stairs, which affect the route from the vehicle into the building. Where there are stairs, a separate request for the stair-chair service is required.
Clarify the prescription and costs
Whether the ride can be prescribed and covered by a German statutory health insurer depends on the individual case. Review the Federal Ministry of Health information and ask the hospital and insurer before booking. Hospital discharge alone does not guarantee reimbursement.
After discharge, the hospital can prescribe patient transport as part of discharge management; this does not apply to discharge from medical rehabilitation facilities (G-BA Patient Transport Directive, section 8b). An overview is in getting approval from the insurer.
When a scheduled transport service does not fit
If medical care or specialist patient-transport equipment is required, clarify with the hospital and the prescriber how suitable transport is arranged. In an acute emergency, call 112. See our comparison of a medical ride, qualified patient transport and an ambulance.
What belongs in your request
- hospital, building section, ward and meeting point
- expected pickup time and a phone number where you can be reached
- wheelchair or walking aid, transfer, companion
- destination address with floor, lift and stairs
Frequently asked questions
When should I request the discharge ride?
Whenever possible before the discharge day. Ask the ward or discharge management when the passenger is expected to be ready.
Who tells me which type of transport is suitable?
Clarify this with the ward or discharge management. PrimaFahrten provides only planned rides without medical care during the journey.
Will the health insurer cover the ride?
That depends on the individual case. Discharge alone does not guarantee reimbursement; ask the hospital and insurer before booking.
What applies if there are stairs at the destination?
Where there are stairs, a separate request for the stair-chair service is required. State floor, lift and stairs in your request.
By Tobias A. Kreuzig, co-founder of PrimaFahrten GmbH
Published: 27 July 2025 · Last substantive update: 26 October 2026
Example: For a discharge, the ward, pickup time, destination address, mobility aid and the route from the building to the vehicle are provided in advance.
Sources and further information
German Federal Joint Committee: Patient Transport Directive · KBV: Patient transport
