An increasing number of Americans frequently uses Uber instead of an ambulance — this is the conclusion reached by researchers.
According to the working report of the Professor of Economics Department of University of Kansas David Skaskiv and employee of the health Department of San Diego Leon Moscatel, with the advent of Uber, the number of ambulance calls decreased by 7%. In the study, experts have studied the statistics collected in 766 cities in 43 States.
Saving time and money — according to analysts, are the main factors that govern the population. As a rule, if a person is not required medical assistance on the way to the hospital, he will prefer cheap taxi road ambulance, which could cost the patient or his insurance company hundreds of dollars.
Even people in need of emergency medical care can make a choice in favor of Uber — they believe that the taxi quickly get to the medical institution, and sometimes it’s a matter of life and death.
Insurance companies also influence customer preferences — for example, some of them offer a gift card for $ 50 for refusing to call the paramedics.
The authors do not exclude that there is another reason because of which people are less likely to call an ambulance. With the advent of Uber has decreased the number of accidents related to drunk driving instead of driving after alcohol, motorists call a taxi.
Skaskiv insists on deeper study of the unintended consequences of the appearance of Uber in the U.S. market. Indeed, because of the high cost of medical care and transport services are especially valuable.
