News

Hospital Partners With Community Transit

June 12, 2009 -- Athol Memorial Hospital now offers its free Senior Transportation Service, specifically to the towns of Athol and Orange, though an agreement with Community Transit Services. Community Transit Services is a local public transportation company already providing reliable service to these two towns. The hospital no longer provide rides for residents of the towns of Erving, New Salem, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Warwick, and Wendell due to the decommissioning of its own van. The hospital van had been in service since March of 2002 and reached the point where it needed to be replaced.

“This was a difficult decision to make.” stated Steve Penka, FACHE, Athol Memorial Hospital President and CEO. “We had to take a hard look at purchasing a new van, for a cost of over $47,000, or finding an alternative. During calendar year 2008 the hospital provided 1,073 rides for our region’s residents, and only 44 of them were for towns other than Athol and Orange. It really is a matter of most effectively using our resources and allocating them to where they can have the greatest impact.”

Seniors (65 and older) in the towns of Athol and Orange who need a ride to and from medical appointments at the hospital or Medical Arts Building at 80 Mechanic Street, can still call the hospital’s transportation coordinator, Mary Mallet, at 978 249-1362 to arrange a ride. A three day advance notice is requested.

Persons in towns other than Athol or Orange, who are currently on or eligible for MassHealth transportation benefits, may call their local transit authorities for rides. The Montachusett Area Regional Transit Authority (978 353-0333) serves the town of Royalston and the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (413 774-2262) serves the towns of Erving, New Salem, Petersham, Phillipston, Warwick, and Wendell.

Athol Memorial Hospital is not-for-profit acute care and outpatient facility serving the communities of the North Quabbin region since 1950. It is designated as a Critical Access Hospital and Primary Stroke Center, licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and fully accredited by the Joint Commission.