Life doesn’t always go as planned. A slip and fall that leads to a broken leg or knee replacement. Chemotherapy, radiation or dialysis making someone too weak to drive. Out-patient surgery or post-surgery physical therapy requiring alternative transportation arrangements.
Joel gets in one of Camarillo Health Care District’s transportation vehicles.
But rest assured, there are solutions to your transportation challenges. Camarillo Health Care District offers door-through-door CARE-A-VAN Transportation Services for non-emergency medical appointments and other instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), including to and from District programs, throughout Ventura County.
Drivers are trained in CPR and first aid, and have additional sensitivity training in transporting frail, elderly, cognitively- and mobility-challenged riders. Vehicles are equipped with hydraulic lifts to accommodate wheelchair clients, oxygen canisters, and other assistive mobility devices. Rides must originate in Camarillo, but riders can travel anywhere in Ventura County, as well as to Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center.
Costs vary, depending on the trip – whether round trip or one-way, and degrees of distance, such as Camarillo to Camarillo or Camarillo to Ventura, Westlake Village, Oxnard or Woodland Hills.
Between April 2023-2024, the District provided 3,497 rides. Most were round trip within Camarillo, followed by return trips to Thousand Oaks, Oxnard and Ventura. The majority originate from the District’s Adult Day Center, transporting clients to and from the center. However, many folks also utilized the service for oncology or mental health appointments, blood work, dialysis, physical therapy and out-patient treatment.
Hours of operation are generally 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but there are some exceptions. Service outside of these hours may be able to be accommodated occasionally under special circumstances. Advanced notice is preferred, and rides are accommodated first come, first served.
What makes the District’s Transportation Services unique is the door-through-door service. Drivers will come to your door and escort you to the vehicle and accompany you inside to your appointment to ensure you have arrived safely and on time, and your medical provider is expecting you. Also, it’s important to note that there is no window of time for drop-off or pick-up. Unless traffic conditions or other unfortunate or unforeseen circumstances intervene, drivers arrive and drop off at the scheduled times.
“The ride is tailored to the client’s needs,” said Adult Day Center and Transportation Director Mary Ann Ratto. “Drivers will walk clients to the door.
There’s no waiting at the curb. They can listen to soothing music, and enjoy a relaxing, air-conditioned ride and a friendly conversation, if that’s what they desire.”
As interim dean at Ventura College, Nenagh is a busy professional. When her husband, Joel, was released from the hospital and needed transportation to out-patient services during the day, she didn’t know where to turn. She tried calling different transportation services, support services, government agencies and searched on Google. Ultimately, she selected Camarillo Health Care District’s CARE-A-VAN Transportation Services and said it was the perfect choice for their needs.
“This service is incredible because I know my husband is safe,” Nenagh says. “For me, it has been peace of mind knowing someone would be here reliably. Joel is greeted with a smile and ‘Good Morning.’ If he stumbles, there is someone to help him. We have been fortunate to have a driver who is so charming and patient.”
Nenagh says she appreciates the customer service she receives from Transportation Coordinator Zina Malone. “She is always so lovely and makes me feel confident that everything is being taken care of, and she has been flexible as Joel’s schedule has changed from seven-hour to five-hour days.”
Nenagh worried that she may have to take an additional leave of absence to transport Joel as it would have taken two hours from her workday. But when she left a message and Zina called back, she felt immediately at ease. “Zina called me and said this is exactly what we do.”
And on May 17, 2024, when Nenagh headed off to the graduation ceremony at Ventura College that morning, she knew Joel was in good hands as his driver showed up on time, with a smile on his face and a warm greeting for Joel.
To make a ride request, please call 805-388-2529.
Michelle Rogers is Community Outreach and Education manager at the Camarillo Health Care District. She can be reached at micheller@camhealth.com or 805-388-1952, ext. 116.