The world of mobility and transportation has and continues to undergo tremendous growth and change. We’re grappling with the concept of private space travel, space travel for the masses, and space tourism. Every day we inch closer to seeing autonomous vehicles and other transportation technologies on our streets and roads.

Getthere continues to grow and change, too. On June 30th, Jack Salo retired as Executive Director of the Rural Health Network. It’s important to recognize and thank Jack for his role in the development of Getthere. It was Jack’s vision and incredible talent for recognizing unmet needs, identifying resources, and collaborating with community partners that lead to the birth of the solution based Getthere Mobility Management Program.

I recently stumbled on a copy of the Rural Health Network’s 2011-2012 annual report, the first report Getthere was included in. The report gave me pause and filled me with appreciation for what Jack created and what Getthere has grown into. We are proud of the amazing growth in the number of people benefiting from improved health access. Jack’s innovative approach, lead to Connection to Care (CTC), the Transportation to Employment Program (TEP), and our new comprehensive Travel Training Program. I am not sure if Jack’s vision back in 2011 is what Getthere has become today, but the improved health access and quality of life for so many people in South Central New York is exactly what Jack worked toward. The staff at Getthere would like to thank Jack and wish him the best.

As Getthere continues down the road of growth and innovation, we would also like to welcome the new Rural Health Network Executive Director, Mark Bordeau. We are excited to tap into Mark’s energy, excitement, and experience to continue the work that we do. Welcome Mark - buckle up, I’m sure there are more changes and growth on the road to come.

An older gentleman contacted Getthere’s Call Center after his doctor referred him to a Syracuse hospital for surgery. The man, not unlike many of the individuals that reach out to the Call Center, can no longer drive, does not have friends or family in the area able to transport him, and lives on a fixed income, making costly, unexpected trips difficult to budget for. He spoke with Getthere Mobility and Transportation Advocate (MTA) Roz DeRensis who was able to arrange a ride with a volunteer driver through the Volunteer Transportation Center (VTC).

The man spoke with Roz after his surgery and raved that his volunteer driver was exceptional, wore a mask, and that we should be very proud of her! He’s not alone - many of our clients report that riding with a volunteer driver feels like they’re traveling with a friend.

For many, the stress and anxiety leading up to an appointment or procedure is amplified by a lack of transportation. Without Getthere, individuals would not be able to make it to checkups, chronic disease management appointments, or vital surgeries.

Getthere is currently recruiting volunteer drivers to help our clients get to health care, food, prescriptions, and work. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a volunteer driver, sign up through the Volunteer Transportation Center today! Volunteers transport people in their own community, make their own hours, and are reimbursed for mileage!

Getthere's Transportation to Employment Program is looking for a Transportation Employment Associate (TEA). The TEA is a hard-working self-starter that is empathetic and committed to making an immediate difference in the lives of community members through transportation to employment assistance.

Click here for the position description and click here to apply!

If you are dedicated to helping others and enjoy working in a team environment, the Mobility and Transportation Advocate (MTA) position is right up your ally! MTAs assists people contacting the Getthere Call Center by exploring available transportation options and providing transportation assistance, support, and education. MTAs help older adults, people with disabilities, and lower-income individuals get to health care appointments and access food and prescriptions.

Click here for the full position description and click here to apply!

What began as a fledgling pilot project in the City of Binghamton only three short years ago has grown to encompass a six county region in South Central New York thanks to funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Getthere is proud to announce that our Transportation to Employment Program (TEP) was selected by the ARC to provide transportation assistance, education, and support to individuals in Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, and Tioga Counties.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia. Click here to learn more about the ARC.

Thank you to Southern Tier 8 for their guidance and support throughout the application process!

Many people that want to work find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place when they're unable to accept or hold onto a job because they can't pay for the cost of transportation to get to work. In order to pay for transportation to work, people have to wait to receive a paycheck. TEP helps to close that gap through short-term transportation assitance. Asssistance is provided in the form of transit passes, private rides, a network of volunteer drivers, or fuel cards - used for a personal vehicle or carpool arrangement.

Click here to learn more about 511NY and create your own rideshare account.

By Kara Fisher, Mobility and Transportation Advocate

On July 23^rd, Getthere Director Bill Wagner moderated Care Compass Network’s panel discussion 'How COVID-19 Impacted Efforts to Provide Transportation to Healthcare,’ which was introduced by Georgia Entwisle of Care Compass Network. Panelists included LeslieAnn Regan of Medical Answering Services, Ryan Tichenor of HTM MedTrans, Amber Simmons of Move Together NY, and Getthere’s own Julie Feheley. Panelists were asked to discuss how their organizations pivoted to meet the needs of their clients and customers during the pandemic, specifically highlighting changes in services.

Julie discussed Getthere’s commitment to ensuring clients felt safe while finding the most appropriate and equitable transportation solutions throughout the pandemic. Julie and other Mobility and Transportation Advocates (MTAs) helped manage expectations and ease the fears of callers by communicating the safety, cleaning, and social distancing protocols and guidelines of Getthere transportation partners.

Getthere was able to respond to the growing need for food and prescription delivery to individuals and families in quarantine, isolation, and those most at risk for COVID-19. This is a service that has continued and will remain a staple of CTC.

Shortly after the vaccine became available, Getthere began offering free transportation to vaccine sites throughout our five county region. Julie explained that Getthere was even able to partner with Tompkins County to transport their residents to a state-run Broome County vaccine site before local locations were made available.

Ciick here to watch a recording of the panel discussion.

Clockwise from the top left: LeslieAnn Regan, Medicaid Field Liaison, Medical Answering Services (MAS); Bill Wagner, Getthere Director, Rural Health Network; Amber Simmons, Regional Transportation Coordinator, Move Together NY; Georgia Entwistle, Manager of Workforce Development, Care Compass Network; Julie Feheley, Getthere Mobility and Transportation Advocate, Rural Health Network, and Ryan Tichenor, Partner, HTM MedTrans.

Getthere Website: https://gettherescny.org/

Getthere Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GetthereMM/