Family demands answers after missing woman jumps from transport van
- Terri Hall, who has schizophrenia, was being transported to a mental health facility when she jumped from the vehicle.
- Her family learned about her disappearance four days later when no record of her arrival at the new facility was found.
- The incident raises concerns about the adequacy of mental health transport practices and communication between hospitals and families.
In Chicago, Illinois, a 54-year-old woman named Terri Hall, who suffers from schizophrenia, went missing after jumping out of a moving medical transport vehicle on a Thursday. Hall was being transported from UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey to MADO Healthcare Douglass Park for specialized mental health treatment following a recent medical episode. Upon being picked up by the transport service, MedEx, Hall fled the vehicle near Van Buren and Paulina. Her family only discovered her absence four days later when MADO informed them she had never arrived at the facility, prompting significant concern for her safety. The family's distress was compounded by the fact that the transport MedEx provided did not classify as ambulance transport, meaning the driver had no authority to restrain Hall within the vehicle. The transport was akin to a taxi service, and despite the driver’s attempts to keep her in the vehicle, she chose to leave. This lack of proper transportation and communication has raised questions regarding the mental health protocols observed by the hospital system. After Hall went missing, her daughter, Kenya Carr, expressed her anguish and anxiety about her mother’s safety, emphasizing the family’s urgent need for information. Thanks to the media coverage and missing person flyers, Hall was eventually found in good condition at the University of Chicago Medical Center after receiving a tip from a concerned stranger. Overwhelmed with emotion, Carr was relieved to reunite with her mother at the hospital, where Hall explained that she had spent days navigating public transportation and seeking shelter. This situation illustrates the critical need for effective communication and appropriate transport methods for individuals with mental health issues. As Hall’s family continues to seek answers regarding the apparent mishandling of her transport, they have highlighted the importance of prioritizing patient safety and well-being during medical transitions. The case raises broader concerns about how the healthcare system addresses gaps in transport and accommodation for vulnerable patients, especially those with known psychiatric conditions.