By: Ryan Duey

Photo Courtesy of Ryan Duey

Clay County General Public Transportation (CCGPT) is pleased to announce that it has expanded its partnership with Clay County Medical Center (CCMC) to include not just Clay County patients, but patients in parts of the surrounding counties.

This partnership will expand CCGPT’s outreach while greatly benefiting patients of CCMC and its area Family Physician Clinics. Don Wright, Public Transportation Director, spoke of this growing partnership.  

“We have been working with CCMC about picking up patients and clients to transport to and from appointments. Recently, our surrounding community transportation agencies had asked us if we could expand a little bit to bring patients in since they were unable to.”

“So, we called the hospital and said, ‘Great news, we are now able to bring people in from portions of the surrounding counties.’”

“We’re getting even a greater number of people contacting us now. We’re also able to take those people to their local Family Physicians Clinics.”

“So, the partnership with the hospital has grown, and I think it’s paying dividends for them and us.”

Data shows that roughly 30% of Public Transportation’s ridership is for medical appointments, and this continued growth will likely increase that number. 

Byrce Dolan, CCMC Development Director, said that many patients have issues finding transportation to and from appointments, which means they are missing appointments and care. This partnership will help remove those barriers.

“One thing we’re really big on at Clay County Medical Center is removing barriers to accessing healthcare. And one of those barriers, as we all know, is transportation.”

“So, it really only made sense for us to partner with Public Transportation to support them so they could also support our communities.”

“Now, patients can not only visit our clinics, but also make it to Clay Center and visit the hospital.”

“This partnership has really only been beneficial on both ends and to everybody.”

The growing partnership has also allowed them to purchase a new state-of-the-art van, with CCMC covering 20% of the purchase price. The new van will greatly help with maintenance and transportation costs as they expand their reach.

CCGPT recently moved to a new building, located at 322 Grant Ave. They currently carry a fleet of four vans, with two being purchased with the support of the hospital.

Wright also spoke about how the new location has greatly helped their services.

“We were at an impasse, and I didn’t want to stretch the partners because our partners have been great; they’re helping us buy vans, they’re giving us reduced maintenance, and so on.”

“Our budgeting has been getting really tight, and I did not want to ask for a tax raise, or a mill levy raise to make sure that this program could exist.”

“Money was getting tight for everybody, and the County Commissioners came up and said, ‘Hey, how would you like to have the old extension building?’”

“So, we came in, we repainted, we cleaned up all the woodwork, and we remodeled much of it. And this place has been an absolute blessing.”

“The cost savings of this location have been the difference between struggling, to now we’ve got our head above water, and we’re doing okay.”

Wright said none of this would be possible without the support of the County Commissioners, the partnerships between CCMC and Glavan Ford of Clay Center, and local donors and riders.

As a nonprofit, CCGPT runs solely off grants and support of its partners and the community. Donations are always appreciated to help them continue their important work throughout the community and beyond.

Community members wanting to ask questions or get more information on CCGPT are encouraged to visit the new office during open hours.