What is the difference between a stretcher and a gurney?

Nothing meaningful — 'stretcher' and 'gurney' are two words for the same wheeled, adjustable patient bed used in medical transport. 'Gurney' is more common in everyday speech and on the West Coast; 'stretcher' is the standard industry and medical term. If you're searching for gurney transportation in Virginia Beach, stretcher transportation is the identical service.

What is bed-to-bed transport?

Bed-to-bed transport means the crew handles the entire transfer from start to finish: they come to the patient's bedside, safely move the patient onto the stretcher, secure them in the vehicle, drive to the destination, and transfer the patient into their bed (or treatment surface) on arrival. The family never lifts, positions, or transfers the patient at any point — the trained crew does all of it.

How far in advance should I book a stretcher ride in Virginia Beach?

For scheduled trips like hospital discharges or facility transfers, 24–48 hours' notice is ideal — it guarantees your preferred pickup window. That said, On Time NEMT regularly accommodates same-day stretcher requests in Virginia Beach when a discharge happens faster than expected. Call 1-757-440-3015 as soon as you know transport is needed, and we'll work with your timeline.

Can a family member ride along during stretcher transport?

Yes. One family member or caregiver can ride along for a flat $25 additional passenger fee. Many families choose this for hospital discharges and hospice transfers — having a familiar face beside the stretcher makes the trip calmer for everyone, and the crew welcomes it.

Stretcher & Gurney Service · Virginia Beach, VA

Stretcher Transportation in Virginia Beach — Bed-to-Bed, On Time, Every Time

Q: How much does stretcher transportation cost in Virginia Beach?

With On Time NEMT's flat-rate pricing, stretcher transportation in Virginia Beach costs $480 for trips of 1–10 miles and $650 for trips of 11–20 miles, one-way, all-inclusive. That includes the two-person trained crew, the stretcher, and full bed-to-bed service. Longer trips across Virginia (up to 240 miles) are quoted individually. There are no broker markups, fuel surcharges, or hidden fees. Call 1-757-440-3015 for an exact quote.

Q: Do I need an ambulance or just stretcher transportation?

If the patient needs medical care or monitoring during the ride — oxygen titration, IV management, cardiac monitoring, or the possibility of intervention — they need an ambulance. If the patient simply cannot sit up but is medically stable, non-emergency stretcher transportation does the same job of safe, lying-down transport at a fraction of an ambulance's cost. Ask the discharging nurse or physician: 'Does my loved one need medical care during transport, or just safe transport lying down?' That answer decides it.

Q: Does Medicare or insurance cover stretcher transportation?

Usually not. Original Medicare only covers ambulance transport under strict medical-necessity rules — it does not cover non-emergency stretcher van transport. Most private insurance follows similar rules. Most families pay privately for stretcher transportation, which is why On Time NEMT publishes flat rates: $480 (1–10 miles) and $650 (11–20 miles) in Virginia Beach, with itemized receipts provided if you want to seek reimbursement from a Medicare Advantage or long-term care plan.

When a loved one can’t sit up for the ride, everything about transportation gets harder — and most companies can’t help at all. We can. Trained two-person crews, a fully equipped stretcher van, flat published rates, and the bed-to-bed service Virginia Beach families and facilities count on for hospital discharges, post-surgery transfers, and hospice moves.

Book Stretcher Transport → 📞 1-757-440-3015

Quick Answer

Stretcher transportation (also called gurney transportation) is non-emergency medical transport for patients who cannot sit upright and must travel lying down. In Virginia Beach, On Time NEMT provides bed-to-bed stretcher transport with a trained two-person crew for a flat $480 (1–10 miles) or $650 (11–20 miles), one-way, all-inclusive — no ambulance bill, no broker markup. Book: 1-757-440-3015.

Flat-Rate Stretcher Pricing — Published, Not Hidden

One-way, all-inclusive rates for Virginia Beach. Two-person crew and bed-to-bed service included.

🛏️ 1–10 miles $480 Trained 2-person crew · stretcher included · bed-to-bed transfer at both ends

🛏️ 11–20 miles $650 Same full service · ideal for cross-city transfers (VB ↔ Norfolk, VB ↔ Chesapeake)

Longer trips? We provide stretcher transport across Virginia up to 240 miles — see long-distance details or call for a custom quote. Family member rides along for a flat $25. Full rates on our pricing page.

The Basics

What Is Stretcher Transportation — and Is a “Gurney” Different?

Stretcher transportation is for the patient who is medically stable but physically cannot sit upright for a car or wheelchair-van ride — after major surgery, during hospice care, with severe fractures, advanced illness, or physician orders to remain reclined. A trained two-person crew brings a wheeled, adjustable stretcher to the patient’s bedside, transfers them safely, secures the stretcher in a specially equipped van, and completes the same careful transfer in reverse at the destination.

And if you’ve been searching for “gurney transportation in Virginia Beach” — you’re in exactly the right place. A gurney and a stretcher are the same piece of equipment; “gurney” is simply the more casual, everyday word while “stretcher” is the industry term. Same wheeled bed, same service, same crew.

The one question that decides everything: ask the discharging nurse, “Does my loved one need medical care during the ride, or just safe transport lying down?” Medical care en route = ambulance. Safe transport lying down = stretcher van, at a fraction of the cost. More on this comparison below.

Common Situations

When Virginia Beach Families & Facilities Call Us for Stretcher Transport

🏥 Hospital Discharges

Going home or to rehab from Sentara Virginia Beach General or Sentara Princess Anne — without waiting hours for a facility van. We coordinate directly with discharge planners and case managers.

🩺 Post-Surgery Transfers

After orthopedic, spinal, or abdominal surgery when sitting is painful or prohibited by physician order. Smooth loading, gentle driving, no jarring transfers.

🕊️ Hospice & Palliative Moves

Bringing a loved one home, or moving between care settings, with the gentleness and dignity these moments deserve. A family member always welcome beside the stretcher.

🏡 Facility-to-Facility Transfers

Skilled nursing, rehab, and assisted living moves across Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads — scheduled to the facility’s timeline, with paperwork handled professionally.

🩹 Wound Care & Specialty Appointments

Recurring trips for patients who must remain prone or reclined — wound clinics, imaging, specialist visits. Standing schedules available so you book once.

🛣️ Long-Distance Stretcher Trips

Richmond, Charlottesville, Williamsburg, and anywhere in Virginia up to 240 miles — for patients relocating, transferring to specialty centers, or coming home to family.

The Process

How Bed-to-Bed Stretcher Transport Works — Step by Step

“Bed-to-bed” means your family never lifts, positions, or transfers the patient at any point. Here’s exactly what happens:

You call, we quote — one number, two minutes

Tell us pickup, destination, and the patient’s condition. You get one all-inclusive price on the phone: 1-757-440-3015.

Our two-person crew arrives at the bedside

On time, in uniform, with a clean, adjustable stretcher. We coordinate with nurses or family on any positioning needs before we move anyone.

Safe transfer and secure loading

The patient is gently transferred to the stretcher, covered and comfortable, then secured in the van with a full locking system. A family member can ride along ($25 flat).

A smooth, unhurried drive

Our drivers are trained for stretcher transport specifically — gradual braking, gentle turns. No rushing, ever.

Bed-to-bed completion at the destination

We don’t stop at the door. The crew transfers the patient into their bed or treatment surface, confirms they’re settled, and only then is the job done.

The Comparison Everyone Asks About

Do You Need an Ambulance — or a Stretcher Van?

This is the single most common question we get from Virginia Beach families, and the answer can save you thousands. If the patient needs medical care or monitoring during the ride, book an ambulance. If the patient is stable and simply can’t sit up, a stretcher van does the same lying-down transport — professionally, safely, and at a fraction of the cost.

	Stretcher Van (Us)	Non-Emergency Ambulance
Best for	Medically stable patients who must lie down	Patients needing care or monitoring en route
Crew	2 trained transport professionals	EMTs/paramedics with medical equipment
Typical cost	$480–$650 flat in Virginia Beach	Often $1,200+ — and rarely covered for non-emergencies
Booking	Direct, same-day often possible	Through ambulance companies; scheduling varies
Family rides along	Yes — $25 flat	Varies by company and capacity

Not sure which one your situation calls for? Call us and describe it — if the patient genuinely needs an ambulance, we’ll tell you honestly and point you in the right direction. We’d rather lose a booking than transport someone who needs medical care we don’t provide.

Local Coverage

Serving Every Corner of Virginia Beach

We’re not a national broker routing your trip to whoever bids on it — we’re locally based at 3837 Larchwood Drive in Virginia Beach, and our crews drive these routes every day. Hospital discharges from Sentara Virginia Beach General and Sentara Princess Anne, transfers to rehab and skilled nursing facilities across the city, and home transports to every neighborhood:

Kempsville Great Neck Bayside Oceanfront Princess Anne Town Center Red Mill Pungo Sandbridge Green Run Salem Thalia

Also serving Chesapeake and Norfolk, with long-distance stretcher trips across Virginia. And you don’t have to take our word for the service quality — read our 5.0-star Google reviews, including from families we’ve served on some of their hardest days.

A quick honest note: we’re a private-pay company — we don’t bill Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance directly. That’s exactly what lets us guarantee the pickup time, the crew, and the vehicle with no broker middlemen. Itemized receipts provided for any reimbursement claims.

Common Questions

Stretcher Transportation FAQs

The questions Virginia Beach families ask most before booking.

What is stretcher transportation?

Stretcher transportation (also called gurney transportation) is non-emergency medical transport for patients who can’t sit upright and must travel lying down. A trained two-person crew handles the entire bed-to-bed transfer — bedside to stretcher, stretcher to secured van, van to destination bed. It’s used for hospital discharges, post-surgery transfers, hospice moves, and any condition requiring the patient to remain reclined.

How much does stretcher transportation cost in Virginia Beach?

$480 for 1–10 miles and $650 for 11–20 miles — one-way, all-inclusive, with the two-person crew and bed-to-bed service included. Longer trips across Virginia are quoted individually. No broker markups or hidden fees. See our pricing page or our full guide to what medical rides actually cost.

What’s the difference between a stretcher and a gurney?

Nothing meaningful — they’re two words for the same wheeled, adjustable patient bed. “Gurney” is the casual everyday term; “stretcher” is the industry standard. If you searched for gurney transportation in Virginia Beach, this is the identical service.

Do I need an ambulance or just stretcher transport?

Ask the discharging nurse or physician one question: “Does the patient need medical care during the ride, or just safe transport lying down?” Care en route (oxygen management, IVs, monitoring) = ambulance. Stable but can’t sit up = stretcher van, typically at a fraction of the ambulance cost. If you call us and describe the situation, we’ll tell you honestly which one you need.

Does Medicare or insurance cover stretcher transportation?

Usually not. Original Medicare only covers ambulance transport under strict medical-necessity rules — non-emergency stretcher vans aren’t covered, and most private insurance follows suit. Most families pay privately, which is why we publish flat rates. We provide itemized receipts if you want to seek reimbursement from a Medicare Advantage or long-term care plan. Full details in our guide: Does Medicare Cover Non-Emergency Medical Transportation?

How far in advance should I book?

24–48 hours’ notice is ideal for scheduled discharges and transfers — but we regularly accommodate same-day stretcher requests in Virginia Beach when a discharge happens faster than expected. Call 1-757-440-3015 as soon as you know transport is needed.

Can a family member ride along?

Yes — one family member or caregiver rides along for a flat $25. For hospice moves and hospital discharges especially, we encourage it. A familiar face beside the stretcher makes the trip calmer for everyone.

Do you handle facility bookings and recurring trips?

Yes. Discharge planners and case managers at Virginia Beach facilities book with us directly — one call, a real person, a confirmed pickup window. For patients needing recurring stretcher trips (wound care, specialty clinics), we set up standing schedules so you book once. Facilities can also set up a partner account.

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