Florida is home to hundreds of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) — outpatient facilities that provide everything from cataract removal to orthopedic repairs without requiring an overnight hospital stay. They’re convenient, efficient, and highly regulated. But when it comes to leaving after your procedure, these centers are strict: you must have a qualified adult to take you home.
What is an Ambulatory Surgery Center?
ASCs — also called outpatient surgery centers — are licensed medical facilities regulated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and often accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) or the Joint Commission. In Florida, they serve patients for a wide range of same-day procedures, including:
- Colonoscopy and other GI (gastrointestinal) procedures
- Cataract surgery and LASIK
- Orthopedic repairs like ACL reconstruction and rotator cuff surgery
- Plastic surgery and medspa treatments requiring sedation
- Dental surgery, implants, and wisdom teeth removal
Why the Discharge Process is So Strict
Florida ASCs follow strict discharge protocols to protect patients during the vulnerable hours after anesthesia or sedation. This isn’t just about giving you a ride — it’s about ensuring you have someone who knows your situation and can help you get home, settled, and safe.
Most Florida surgery centers require:
- A qualified adult escort. This person must stay with you for a period after discharge (often 12–24 hours).
- Full name and contact information. The ASC’s documentation must list someone known to you — not a random driver from an app.
- Ability to receive instructions. Your escort should hear aftercare details, medication schedules, and signs of complications.
Why Uber, Lyft, or Taxis Aren’t Approved
It’s tempting to think you can “just get a ride” home. But for ASCs, rideshare drivers don’t meet the definition of a responsible adult escort because:
- They have no prior connection to you and no reason to monitor your recovery.
- They cannot sign paperwork or verbally confirm instructions.
- They won’t stay with you once you’re dropped off.
From the surgery center’s perspective, putting you in a rideshare after sedation is unsafe — and it can jeopardize their compliance with CMS and state licensing requirements.
The Stress on Families at Home
Even if a family member is waiting at home, they miss critical context if they aren’t at the center during discharge. Florida ASCs know that side effects like dizziness, nausea, or confusion can happen quickly, and a prepared escort makes all the difference.
Meeting the Requirement Without Burdening Friends or Family
If no one is available to pick you up after surgery, MyFredy fills the gap. We provide:
- Arrival before your procedure (or at discharge for certain cases)
- On-site waiting throughout your surgery
- Private, direct transportation home
- Assistance getting inside and settled
We’re not rideshare. We’re a professional service built for surgery-day transportation and post-procedure support.
Independent Florida Surgery Centers We Commonly Serve
While we are not affiliated with these facilities, MyFredy has assisted patients at many independent ASCs across the state, ensuring they meet the “qualified adult escort” requirement.
Orlando Area
- Advanced Ambulatory Surgery Center – Altamonte Springs
- Park Place Surgery Center – Maitland
- Book Orlando Medical Escort
Miami–Fort Lauderdale Area
- SurgiClear Surgery Center – Plantation
- Plantation Surgery Center – Plantation
- Book Fort Lauderdale Medical Escort
- Book Miami Medical Escort
Tampa Bay
- Habana Ambulatory Surgery Center – Tampa
- West Florida Surgical Suites – Tampa
- Book Tampa Medical Escort
Fort Myers
- Accredited SurgiCare Center – Fort Myers
- Book Fort Myers Medical Escort
Palm Beach & Treasure Coast
- Wellington Surgical Suites – Wellington
- Palm Beach Gardens Surgery Center – Palm Beach Gardens
- Book Palm Beach Medical Escort
Jacksonville
- Mandarin Surgery Center – Jacksonville
- North Florida Surgery Center – Jacksonville
- Book Jacksonville Medical Escort
Bottom Line: Your Ride Home Matters
Florida surgery centers take your safety seriously. Whether it’s a GI clinic in Palm Beach, an orthopedic center in Orlando, or a multi-specialty ASC in Tampa, leaving alone or with a rideshare driver isn’t allowed. Having a trusted, informed escort is as much a part of your surgery plan as the procedure itself.
