Lambton Elderly Outreach has four new wheelchair accessible vans as part of one-time funding announced in 2016, to improve access to medical transportation services across the region.
Sarnia-Lambton received the lion's share of just over $500,000, provided by the Erie St.Clair Local Health Integration Network, to purchase a total of seven new vans for local health care transportation service agencies.
ESC LHIN Director of Communications Shannon Sasseville says the investment is part of their vehicle replacement strategy.
"They are customized so that they are applicable to the job that they are doing," says Sasseville. "For example, they are wheelchair accessible, they have to meet certain standards, so they are custom ordered in."
In addition to the vans, funding will also enhance the CareLink scheduling software and harmonize transportation policies and procedures.
Sasseville says by improving van utilization, CareLink can help keep fragile seniors at home, reducing dependency on hospital resources, and provide a safe, dependable service.
If you require medical transportation services, you can call CareLink health transit at 1-855-728-1433.