(Atlantic, IA) – Officials with the Atlantic-based Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA), today (Friday), announced the organization was awarded a State Transit Assistance Special Project grant to help launch a pilot program to improve access to healthcare. SWITA is partnering with Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and CHI Mercy Hospital to launch a new healthcare transportation program call SWI-Ride.

Once launched, the new program will aid transportation to and from scheduled medical appointments with healthcare providers at the two hospitals. The Iowa Department of Transportation has awarded a $50,000 State Transit Assistance Special Project grant to SWITA to help with scaling up the pilot program.

In a news release, Tara Slevin, President of the Jennie Edmundson Foundation, said “Reliable transportation is one of the most common—and most challenging—barriers our patients face when trying to access care. We see firsthand how difficult it can be for individuals to get to scheduled appointments, particularly when financial constraints limit their options. Our partnership with SWITA and CHI Mercy Hospital reflects a shared commitment to addressing that challenge. This State Transit Assistance grant, secured by SWITA, is an incredible step forward in helping bridge transportation gaps and expanding reliable access to care for patients across Pottawattamie and Mills Counties.”

Photo courtesy Chris Parks, SWIPCO Communications Coordinator

SWI-Ride seeks to provide a transportation option for patients that have barriers identified by healthcare partners to ensure they have access to their medical appointments. The launch is tentatively set for mid-February and will operate Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It will initially be limited to rides within Pottawattamie and Mills Counties. SWITA, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, and CHI Mercy Hospital are providing matching funds over and above the $50,000 state grant to start the program.

SWITA is based in Atlantic and has a vehicle hub in Council Bluffs which serves 8 counties in Southwest Iowa with over 100 vehicles and approximately 70 drivers. It is Iowa’s largest rural public transit service in terms of the total number of rides provided each year, averaging 550,000 rides annually and growing.

To find out more about SWITA and the services offered you can browse SWITA.com or call 800-842-8065 or 712-243-2518. Follow SWITA on Facebook for regular updates as well.