Helping people get to their medical appointments when there is no other way

Medical appointments are often out of town for residents combating cancer and require regular travel to and from the city or other communities. If driving themselves is not an option, finding someone able to bring them can be a challenge. Enter the Volunteer Driver Program, which will match a patient up with a driver if they have no other possible means to get to an appointment. The Whitecourt Cancer & Wellness Society fundraises to provide compensation to drivers for mileage, parking, and meals.

Fay Arcand, FCSS Program Director for the Town of Whitecourt, said the partnership between them and the society works well. “We recruit volunteers and vet them, getting their driver’s abstract and all that other good stuff. People have to fill out an application form, and within that application are questions to make sure they understand the program and the needs.” Appointments must be within a 200km radius of Whitecourt and must be medical-related.

Arcand said they are continually recruiting drivers to have enough available. Last year, even with a hiatus from March to August due to restrictions, there were 18 drives booked, and ten were delivered. “Eight of those we couldn’t fulfill the booking for various reasons like they found their own ride or their appointment was cancelled or postponed, those types of things.”

In 2019, they had 61 drives requested, and 34 were completed. In 2018, there were 67, and in 2017, 50. “There is a need for having volunteers in place,” said Arcand. “Sometimes a volunteer has to cancel for various reasons, or sometimes a change happens on the patient’s end. The more volunteers we have signed up, the better the odds are that we can find a ride for a patient. It’s almost three a month, so the need is there. They are not all cancer patients. There are seniors with eye appointments, and there’s some that go to Barrhead, but most do go to Edmonton.”

Nine volunteers are vetted and on their fan out list, but COVID affected their availability. “When we reintroduced the program in August, there was a lot of, and understandably so, hesitation of volunteers to take patients in their car. There were also a lot of health protocols that went along with reinstating the program, like cleaning and masking protocols. Some of the volunteer drivers were not comfortable with the procedures. So that really, really honestly lowered our volunteer number. We have maybe two drivers of those taking clients in 2022. I think we had three drivers in 2021 taking drives.”

Arcand said it’s all about the comfort level of patients and drivers and noted that with restrictions relaxed, she hopes to see more volunteers step up. “We just recruited a new one which is amazing because we needed another one in there. It would be ideal to have ten volunteer drivers because then it gives a window of opportunity for scheduling and finding someone a driver.”

One hundred percent of the costs are funded by the Whitecourt Cancer & Wellness Society. “The driver is given a gas card to offset the cost of meals and parking and gas while volunteering.” Arcand said drivers need to have proper insurance for their own vehicle, a clean driver’s abstract, and a police security check.

She said there are a few caveats for who can get a ride and their capabilities. “It’s on a case by case basis, but we typically say that we won’t take someone on oxygen because it’s beyond the program’s scope and places a lot of risk on the drivers. We’ve talked to our volunteer drivers, and they don’t feel comfortable in case there’s an accident. Also, we do not take in-patients from hospitals to go to appointments in the city, and we won’t take someone for detox. We don’t want to put our volunteers in a vulnerable position.”

Arcand said that clients must also be able to maneuver themselves into and out of the vehicle and their appointment. “The client has to be able to walk in. It’s curb to curb, not door to door. The volunteer won’t help the client get into or out of the car, but they can bring a companion to help them with that part if they have mobility issues or a mobility device.”

For clients, Arcand said the more notice, the better. “We prefer two weeks’ notice because that gives more opportunity for success to find a driver. If it’s last-minute, then people’s schedules are already made, so it’s best to give as much notice as possible. It has to be a medical procedure not available in our community.”

One of the biggest pieces is that it has to be a last resort. This program is meant to help when there is no other option and is not a taxi service. “Some seniors don’t want to ask their children, so they call us first, but you do need to exhaust all options before they call us. Money is raised in our community and is funded through local donations, so we need to be cautious and be good stewards of the money.”

Arcand said that the Whitecourt Cancer & Wellness Society is a fantastic society to have in the community. “They do so much on various fronts. We are lucky to have them here. It’s a donation from our community that stays within our community and helps community members. It’s a beautiful thing.” Society President Kim Nendsa said they are grateful for the partnership. “Fay with the Town was really supportive in collaborating with us to make this program happen.”

Donations to the society help make sure that this program remains active by covering the costs for volunteers to drive. Now, they just need more volunteers to answer the call and join. “Flexible schedules are best. If you are a shift worker or have extra time, this could work well for you. It’s an email request that comes in, and if you can’t do it, then no problem. If a request comes in and aligns with your schedule, then great.” Prospective volunteers interested in more information can call Fay Arcand at 780-778-3637 ext. 417 or email fayarcand@whitecourt.ca.