Transportation

After construction worker Robert Ives shattered his heel, fractured his ankles, and ended up in a wheelchair, he found it virtually impossible to get around Barre. Outside of the normal bus route and without transportation, the only way for him to get to the medical services he needed was with the CVMC Barre Health Shuttle.

“It saved me,” he said. “Without it, I wouldn’t be able to make it to any of my appointments.”

The free on-demand bus service, which began last February, is a partnership between the medical center and the Green Mountain Transit Authority (GMTA). It provides door-to-door service for the UVM Health Network – CVMC Barre Health Center and Granite City Primary Care. It also provides shuttle services for current patients to travel to referral appointments, the pharmacy and the grocery store.

“Whenever we conduct a community needs assessment, transportation is one of the top concerns. If we can partner with an organization like GMTA, which has the infrastructure we need, we can help fill this gap,” said Dave Turner, CVMC Vice President of Physician Services. “If there are barriers, we want to remove them for patients. We really want to be able to provide for the whole person and all of their health needs.”

Ridership has more than doubled in the past year and GMTA/CCTA Transit Planner Chris Loyer said, “It’s been a great start so far. Word is spreading about the service.” Turner hopes the route will eventually become self-sustaining and replicated in other communities with similar transportation obstacles.

For Robert Ives, the bus is a lifeline. He has the GMTA shuttle and its usual driver, Steve, programmed on his phone under “Ride.”