The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has implemented a program that will allow students to have a free ride to and from any local medical facility. The program runs 24/7, and while the logistics of the program may be new, the concept is not. 

According to Dee Danser, the Chief of DPS, Dickinson has a way to take students to medical facilities for “non-emergency medical care” during the business day through medical vans run by the Wellness Center, but the Wellness Center is not open after business hours. If the Safety Shuttle is available, DPS will have the shuttle take the student to the medical facility. But the Safety Shuttle is not always a viable option, and sometimes, DPS Officers are already handling another incident when a student needs a ride.

Danser said that Dickinson used to have “a relationship with the Carlisle Car Service.” Danser said that if other options were not available, DPS would contact the Carlisle Car Service, then the driver would transport the student to the medical facility. However,  the Carlisle Car Service “went out of business.”

Danser said starting this semester, DPS “set-up a corporate account with Uber” to “essentially [take] the place of the Carlisle Car Service” for the campus. If they need to go to the hospital, students should contact DPS. The dispatcher will then let Uber know that a student needs to be transported. Danser advised that DPS will ask students for their location and phone number. She stated that “Uber needs a phone number. The students do not have to have an Uber account, but we need a phone number for the Uber driver to contact you.” 

Danser said that the original program with the Carlisle Car Service was heavily used, saying that students “go to the hospital all the time.” If a student does not have access to a phone for any reason at the hospital, Danser said that “the hospital will let you call, and we are going to ask you for the phone number you’re calling from so the driver can call you back.” Danser also added that if a student needs medical help, DPS will dispatch an officer to determine if a student needs to travel by ambulance or if the student can travel by one of the other alternative options. When a student is finished receiving care, Danser advised they should contact DPS and tell them that they are ready to return, which will then “notify the Uber.” 

Danser reminded students to “stay… at the phone until they hear back from their driver.” She said this is important because it allows students to not miss their driver’s call when they attempt to contact the student. For more information regarding the transportation program with Uber, students should contact DPS.