LOWER LAKE >> From the low ranking of Lake County in the County Health Status Profiles in 2016, a number of institutions and companies are looking to better the mark.
The Lake County Transit, is currently developing projects to benefit the people of the area and improve access to medical institutions. These programs include Mobility Management, the Pay Your Pal (PYP) Ride Assistance Program and the Non-Emergency Transportation Program.
These projects will be funded or have increased funding from a Caltrans 5310 grant the Lake County Transit is applying for.
Karl Parker, the Lake County Transit Mobility Programs Coordinator, said when it comes to getting out-of-county transportation for medical situations, the transit system can be critical.
“People sometimes don’t have a car to get the out-of-county medical attention they need, or if they have a car can’t afford to drive it or are not able to use it,” Parker said.
A transit user would have to take up to five different bus routes to get to the Santa Rosa hospital, which is the most common out of county facility used Parker said. The objective is to make it easier and more accessible to reach the hospital and cut out all the route transitioning.
The grant amount Lake County Transit is asking for is still unknown because of the various cost that still need to be taken into consideration Parker said, however, they are looking at somewhere in a couple hundred thousand. The Area Planning Council (APC) told Parker that they would be helping with the application of the grant.
One challenge County Transit is facing for the application of the grant is deciding the exact level of need for out of county transportation and how many launch days they will want to include.
“You don’t know it if you have our own transportation or don’t use it,” Parker said.
The PYP program is one that people who are elderly or disabled can utilize currently for distant nonemergency medical transportation. For this program, you must meet specific qualification Parker said, but it can take you up to 200 reimbursable trip miles for up to 35 cents a mile.
The website for this program will potentially be up and running as early as Feb. 1.
Karen Tait, lake County Health Officer said that this process is an important piece to the puzzle when it comes to restoring the County’s Health Status.
“It won’t change things overnight for the county, it is a step in the right direction though,” Tait said.
The first important step in this was getting a mobility coordinator to get the process set up and getting the focus on the county’s health Tait added. One of the main challenges that have come up for the county, are getting services to get to the health care provider.
“It doesn’t do any good to get a health care provider, and not be able to make the appointments,” Tait said.
By the time some people get medical assistance, it’s too late and they waited too long to get the medication or attention that is needed Parker said.
“We are looking to help people get earlier, easier access to medical care,” Parker said.
