(Council Bluffs) Transportation can often be a barrier to accessing healthcare. To help address this, Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) will soon launch a pilot program in partnership with Methodist Jennie Edmundson and CHI Mercy hospitals in Council Bluffs called SWI-Ride. This new program is intended to aid transportation to and from scheduled medical appointments with healthcare providers at these two hospitals. The Iowa Department of Transportation has awarded a $50,000 State Transit Assistance Special Project grant to SWITA to help with scaling up the pilot program.
“Reliable transportation is one of the most common—and most challenging—barriers our patients face when trying to access care,” said Tara Slevin, President of the Jennie Edmundson Foundation. “We see firsthand how difficult it can be for individuals to get to scheduled appointments, particularly when financial constraints limit their options. Our partnership with SWITA and CHI Mercy Hospital reflects a shared commitment to addressing that challenge. This State Transit Assistance grant, secured by SWITA, is an incredible step forward in helping bridge transportation gaps and expanding reliable access to care for patients across Pottawattamie and Mills Counties.”
SWI-Ride seeks to provide a transportation option for patients that have barriers identified by healthcare partners to ensure they have access to their medical appointments. The launch is tentatively set for mid-February and will operate Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It will initially be limited to rides within Pottawattamie and Mills Counties. SWITA, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, and CHI Mercy Hospital are providing matching funds over and above the $50,000 state grant to start the program.
SWITA is based in Atlantic and has a vehicle hub in Council Bluffs and serves 8 counties in Southwest Iowa with over 100 vehicles and approximately 70 drivers. It is Iowa’s largest rural public transit service in terms of the total number of rides provided each year, averaging 550,000 rides annually and growing. To find out more about SWITA and the services offered you can browse SWITA.com or call 800-842-8065 or 712-243-2518. Follow us on Facebook for regular updates as well.
