IN PULSE Vol. 38 No. 7 | News from Waldo County General Hospital | February 2018
Maine Cancer Foundation Awards Mid-Coast Public Transportation, in collaboration with Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital, Two-Year Cancer Patient Transportation Grant The Maine Cancer Foundation has awarded a two-year grant of $49,866 to support improved access to treatment for cancer patients residing in Knox and Waldo counties. Mid-Coast Public Transportation, Pen Bay Medical Center (PBMC) and Waldo County General Hospital (WCGH) are collaborating to establish an expedited process to identify, refer and schedule cancer patients who need assistance in securing transportation for medical treatment, as well as to raise awareness in the community about these transportation supports. Individuals do not have to be a patient of PBMC or WCGH to be eligible for this program; it is
open to any resident of Knox or Waldo County in need of transportation assistance to secure needed cancer treatment. In 2017, over 500 people received a new cancer diagnosis at PBMC or WCGH. As challenging as this news is, for many, fighting cancer is only half the battle—accessing and paying for treatment is the other part. Multiple visits are generally required to diagnose, stage and treat cancer. For the majority of Waldo and Knox County cancer patients, a round trip of 20-48 miles is required for treatment. However, many patients need to travel to larger hospitals outside of the Midcoast for diagnosis, staging or treatment.
The Cancer Patient Transportation Assistance Fund at Mid-Coast Public Transportation will be used to provide arranged or reimbursed transportation for each patient and an escort to and from medical appointments, in the most resource-efficient manner that meets each patient’s individual needs. The project will also establish standardized shared work flows for referral, intake, scheduling and data collection among project partners to ensure program sustainability and success.