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NCCH picks up van service for elderly, disabled of Willcox area
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
Northern Cochise Community Hospital hopes to pick up where Catholic Community Services (CCS) left off as it begins providing transportation services for seniors and the physically challenged this week.
When CCS discontinued its Willcox-area van service in April, the hospital immediately looked into taking over transportation, meeting with SEAGO that same week.
"We know that it's a need in the community and we want to fill it," Lineva Donahue, NCCH community relations director, said at the time.
The hospital has been providing transportation for the residents of Northern Cochise Nursing Home for more than four years, giving those "housebound" residents an outing on a regular basis and takings residents to physician visits as necessary.
After discussions with the hospital, Kathleen Heard, director of the SEAGO Area Agency on Aging, approached the board in September, seeking approval to award the SEAGO contract, effective Oct. 1.
The hospital estimates that it will take $12,500 more per year than the $30,000 SEAGO grant for the hospital to run the transportation service, Lineva Donahue said.
While CCS, which had provided a van service in Cochise County for more than 26 years, ultimately ran into financial difficulties, hospital officials believe their program has the ingredients for success.
"The difference is that we are an established business," said Chris Donahue, Director of Safety, Security, Risk and Facilities.
"We already have the staff, so we can take this guy and add a little bit more to his job description."
That's where someone like Fleet Services Manager Dave Reed comes in.
"I maintain the current hospital fleet," which now includes one van for the nursing home and another for transportation services.
Reed, who has worked for the hospital since April, will also be driving the transportation van one day a week.
"We've also hired Russell Perkins of Sunizona, who will drive three days a week."
The current transportation van schedule is:
Monday in Sunsites, with 9 a.m. pickup at the Sunsites Senior Center;
Tuesday in Willcox, as needed;
Wednesday in Bowie/San Simon, with 8 a.m. pickup at the Bowie Fire Department and 9 a.m. pickup at the San Simon Fire Department; and
Thursday in Willcox, as needed.
"We'd like to have two days' notice, so that we can pick up people in a timely manner and get them where they need to go," Reed told the Range News.
Seniors and disabled community members may use the van service "to go shopping, go to the post office, doctor or dental appointments - the necessities where they need to get out," he said.
The transportation van has a lift, and can accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc., said Lineva Donahue.
While it costs nothing to use this service, the SEAGO grant requires that the hospital ask for a donation.
"A one dollar donation is requested, but not mandatory," explains Chris Donahue.
He credits hospital CEO Harley Smith, "forward thinker that he is," for seeing the transportation service as part of the hospital's charter.
"I think this is wonderful for the community," Smith told the Range News, adding,
"I hope they will take advantage of it."
The number to call to schedule a ride to Willcox-area businesses is (520) 384-8575.
When CCS discontinued its Willcox-area van service in April, the hospital immediately looked into taking over transportation, meeting with SEAGO that same week.
"We know that it's a need in the community and we want to fill it," Lineva Donahue, NCCH community relations director, said at the time.
The hospital has been providing transportation for the residents of Northern Cochise Nursing Home for more than four years, giving those "housebound" residents an outing on a regular basis and takings residents to physician visits as necessary.
After discussions with the hospital, Kathleen Heard, director of the SEAGO Area Agency on Aging, approached the board in September, seeking approval to award the SEAGO contract, effective Oct. 1.
The hospital estimates that it will take $12,500 more per year than the $30,000 SEAGO grant for the hospital to run the transportation service, Lineva Donahue said.
While CCS, which had provided a van service in Cochise County for more than 26 years, ultimately ran into financial difficulties, hospital officials believe their program has the ingredients for success.
"The difference is that we are an established business," said Chris Donahue, Director of Safety, Security, Risk and Facilities.
"We already have the staff, so we can take this guy and add a little bit more to his job description."
That's where someone like Fleet Services Manager Dave Reed comes in.
"I maintain the current hospital fleet," which now includes one van for the nursing home and another for transportation services.
Reed, who has worked for the hospital since April, will also be driving the transportation van one day a week.
"We've also hired Russell Perkins of Sunizona, who will drive three days a week."
The current transportation van schedule is:
"We'd like to have two days' notice, so that we can pick up people in a timely manner and get them where they need to go," Reed told the Range News.
Seniors and disabled community members may use the van service "to go shopping, go to the post office, doctor or dental appointments - the necessities where they need to get out," he said.
The transportation van has a lift, and can accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc., said Lineva Donahue.
While it costs nothing to use this service, the SEAGO grant requires that the hospital ask for a donation.
"A one dollar donation is requested, but not mandatory," explains Chris Donahue.
He credits hospital CEO Harley Smith, "forward thinker that he is," for seeing the transportation service as part of the hospital's charter.
"I think this is wonderful for the community," Smith told the Range News, adding,
"I hope they will take advantage of it."
The number to call to schedule a ride to Willcox-area businesses is (520) 384-8575.
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