HOW CHI TRANSPORTATION KEEPS PATIENTS CONNECTED
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Dr. Martha Perez listens to Mary Johnson’s heart rate during check-up appointment.
On a rainy Thursday morning, Mary Johnson waits for her family medicine appointment, grateful that a Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) transportation van was able to pick her up from her home despite the heavy rain.
“I used to catch the public bus to CHI, but I stopped because walking to the bus stop became too much for me after I hurt my foot,” Johnson said. “I have been using CHI’s van for three years now, and it is so easy. They pick me up right at my house.”
For Johnson, transportation is more than a ride. It is what helps her stay connected to the care she has received at CHI for more than 20 years.
The trip from her home to the Doris Ison Health Center takes about 30 minutes. Along the way, Johnson reflects on how much CHI has changed since she first became a patient. She remembers a time when the organization operated out of trailers in Goulds and has watched CHI grow into the comprehensive health care organization it is today.
“I’ve had a few doctors here at CHI over the years who have passed away,” Johnson said. “A friend recommended Dr. Perez to me, and I have been going to her for a long while.”
Transportation has been part of CHI’s commitment to removing barriers to care since the organization’s early years. The organization has always secured transport for patients to and from the health center. Today, CHI continues to provide free transportation for patients to their health care appointments.
The service is especially important for patients who may have difficulty driving, walking to a bus stop or relying on public transportation. By providing door-to-door transportation, CHI helps make it possible for patients to get to the appointments they need and remain connected to their health care team.
CHI’s transportation fleet has grown significantly over the years, including handicap-accessible vans and minibus’, serving patients across more than 240 square miles of South Miami-Dade County.
Vice President for Facilities and Logistics, Kenneth Gould, helps oversee the operations that keep CHI’s transportation services moving.
“Transportation plays an important role in making health care accessible to the communities we serve,” Gould said. “Our responsibility is to make sure our vehicles, drivers, and daily operations are prepared to serve our patients safely, reliably, and with care. When transportation is the difference between a patient missing an appointment and receiving the care they need, we know the work our team does has a meaningful impact on our community.”
Behind every trip is a team working to coordinate routes, maintain vehicles, and ensure patients can get where they need to go. Juan Lopez, CHI’s Lead Driver, has been with the organization since 2014. For him, the role is an opportunity to give back by helping patients get to the appointments they need.
For Johnson, having reliable transportation has given her the freedom to focus on her health instead of worrying about how she will get to her appointments. Every three months, a CHI van arrives at her home and brings her to the Doris Ison Health Center, allowing her to maintain her routine visits with Dr. Perez.
Her story is a reminder that access to health care does not begin when a patient walks through the doors. Sometimes, it begins with making sure they have a way to get there.
Mary Johnson (right) stands with her longtime
medical provider, Martha Perez.
Patients wait to board the CHI Transportation van after their
appointments at the Doris Ison Health Center.
