Aultman Health Foundation - Aultman Transportation Outreach

Overview

Aultman’s Transportation Outreach program serves the area’s Amish population with non-emergency medical transportation to Aultman hospital and its outlying health facilities. With transportation a particular concern for those in rural areas and others, this reliable and dependable services makes health care accessible to patients who are unable to drive or have limited mobility.

Patients are picked up from their home as well as from 200 churches in the community for their medical appointments, radiation treatments, dialysis, physical rehabilitation and hospital discharge. Family members also ride along at no charge. This on-demand, door-to-door service has routes and schedules changing daily in response to the riders’ requests, to ensure that patients and their families make it to their destination safely and on time. The program includes four vehicles, one of which is equipped to accommodate two wheelchairs as well as ramps, lifts and other safety features. The driver helps passengers board and depart the vehicle.

Impact

In 2015, the program served 3,302 people, of which 70 percent were seniors. Three vehicles traveled 119,000 miles and made about 4,400 passenger trips per vehicle. Transportation outreach is available in Aultman’s service area.

Lessons Learned

Distance and lack of transportation are barriers to accessing care. A significant number of Amish families in rural areas have come to depend on Aultman’s transportation services to make it to their medical appointments. This number continues to grow.

Future Goals

Aultman obtained a new vehicle in 2015 through a grant from the Stark County Mobility Services Committee to enable expansion of services to hundreds of people.

Contact: Vicki Haines
Senior Vice President
Telephone: 330-363-4976
Email: vicki.haines@aultman.org