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Transportation

MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Effective December 1, 2012

 

The Adult Center/Council on Aging has one medical van (part-time) and some volunteers to provide most of the medical transportation.  If you can make your appointments fit into the schedule noted below, you will almost always be guaranteed a ride.  Please let us know when you call in your transportation request if you have any special needs.

 

  • The medical van is on the road Monday – Friday mornings.  If possible, appointments should be scheduled between 9:00-11:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 9:00-10:15 a.m. on Fridays.  If your appointment is at another time or does not fit into the regular schedule of towns (listed on next page), it is important to give the Adult Center/COA as much notice as possible in order to try and secure a volunteer driver.  No appointments can be accommodated after 2:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, or after 10:15 a.m. on Friday.

 

  • Please be prepared to give your doctor’s name, complete address, and telephone number when you call in your appointment.  You must give this information each time, even if we have provided transportation to this doctor in the past.

 

  • Try to give Adult Center at least five business days notice of your appointment, if possible. 

 

  • If your doctor asks you to go for tests, x-rays, etc., while you are there (at the time of your appointment), it is important that you call the COA before going for these tests, etc.  Depending on the driver’s schedule, these tests may have to be rescheduled or other arrangements made to help you return home.

 

  • If your appointment is expected to take longer than a usual doctor’s visit, please let the receptionist know when you are requesting transportation.  This will assist us in planning appropriate transportation. 

 

  • Bi-weekly and tri-weekly appointments (physical therapy, dialysis, day care, etc.) are usually not possible for us to handle without help.  Patients with these requests will be referred to our social worker, Melissa Shea, who will work with seniors and their families to seek additional resources.

                                                                                                                                              

  • The driver may assist passenger from door to door (inside a facility if necessary to enable passenger to obtain help from facility staff/volunteer).  If further assistance is or will be needed, please make arrangements to bring someone with you. 

                                                                                                                       

  • Please try to plan appointments according to the following schedule:

            Monday, Wednesday, Friday              Norwood, Canton, Walpole

            Tuesday, Thursday                              Stoughton, Brockton

            Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday              Sharon

 

If your doctor is in a location other than those above, please call the COA before you schedule your appointment (if possible) to get an idea of when we may be able to accommodate you. 

 

IMPORTANT:

  1. To insure that all passengers reach their appointments on time, we ask that you be ready and waiting for the van or volunteer driver at the scheduled pickup time.  Your delay may result in others missing important appointments.
  2. If your appointment has been cancelled or the date or time has been changed, you must call the Adult Center, 781-784-8000, as soon as possible.  Voice mail is available 24 hours a day / seven days a week.

 

In order to accommodate the needs of all who request our services, we may ask you to go to your appointment earlier, be patient while waiting for return pickup, or in some cases, change your appointment to better accommodate our schedule.  We appreciate your cooperation.

 

The following fees are in effect for medical transportation, whether by the Adult Center/COA van or one of our volunteer drivers.  While no one will be denied service if they have a hardship, we ask that persons unable to afford the fees speak, in confidence, with Melissa or Kathie.   (Fees subject to change.) 

$3.00   Sharon

$4.00  Canton, Norwood, Stoughton, Foxboro, Walpole, Brockton (Oak Street, 110 Liberty Street area, Christie Drive area)

$6.00   Brockton Hospital, Brockton Center, Dedham

 

Boston medical transportation:  Seniors with medical appointments in Boston should contact the Adult Center for possible transportation resources. 

 

Winter weather reminders:  If the Sharon Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, there is no transportation through the Adult Center.  It is your responsibility to notify your doctor if you must cancel an appointment. Even if the schools are open and the Adult Center determines that the weather may be hazardous to you and/or our drivers, we may cancel transportation. In this case, we would give you as much advance notice as possible.  If your driveway and/or pathway is unsafe for you or our drivers, we may not be able to pick you up for a medical appointment. 

 

If you have any questions regarding transportation, please call Joyce Sheehan, Office Manager, at the Adult Center (781-784-8000).

 

Medical –Bus Policies:12-2012