Patient Views HMH Care-A-Van Transport Services as Temporary Lifeline for Care
Kathy Thorpe found herself in a situation that many of us have experienced at one time or another. A widow with limited family nearby and a car in need of repair, Thorpe was concerned about how to attend her sometimes twice weekly doctor’s appointments at Harrison Memorial Hospital.
“I had been seeing cardiology Physician Assistant Ashley Black for follow-up from three stents Dr. (Matthew) Shotwell had put in back in May. I also see Dr. Annangi for pulmonology for my COPD,” said Kathy. Combine those visits with twice weekly appointments to HMH’s Wound Care Clinic and the travel really adds up.
“I had a family member who helped take me to the hospital appointments when she could, but you know, people sometimes have other things they need to do and aren’t always available,” she said. Thorpe and her husband of 38 years, William, have one son who lives in South Carolina and two granddaughters, one in South Carolina and one in Frankfort, KY. So, relying on them wasn’t practical. Her husband, William, died in 2022.
To make matters worse, due to Kathy’s congestive heart failure, fluid began to build up in her body. The excess fluid led to an open wound on Kathy’s left outer calf. Her foot and ankle surgeon, HMH’s Dr. Sofie Pinney, referred her to the HMH Wound Care Clinic. That meant more trips to Harrison Memorial Hospital.
“It got to the point where I was going to have to cancel and miss needed appointments, because logistically I couldn’t get there,” said Kathy. One day, during her visit to the HMH Cardiology Clinic, she noticed a card in the waiting room and got curious. It was a card announcing the new Care-A-Van Transport Services offered free to Harrison Memorial Hospital patients. This was exactly the solution Kathy needed.
Care-A-Van Transport Services was introduced in 2025 as a much-need amenity for hospital patients who, for a variety of reasons, need assistance getting to and from HMH hospital and clinic appointments. The service is free and is funded through donations for fuel from community sponsors, while the Hospital provides two vans and two qualified drivers.
There are, however, some conditions for use of the service. Participants must use the service for scheduled HMH appointments at HMH facilities (excluding Emergency Department and Express Care visits). Those with an acute illness or injury are not eligible to ride. Patients also must be able to enter and exit the van without assistance. All transportation requests must be scheduled 72 hours in advance, whenever possible. Space permitting, a patient may be accompanied by an attendant. And finally, riders younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must not require a child safety restraint.
“We recognized a need in our community to make getting to and from appointments easier for some of our patients,” said HMH CEO Kathy Tussey. “And, studies show that patients who maintain consistent contact with their healthcare providers and follow treatment plans have a greater chance of seeing a healthier outcome long-term. Our Care-A-Van service seemed like a win-win for everyone involved.”
Since its inception in January 2025 through September, Care-A-Van Transport Services has completed 1, 848 trips and traveled 8,441 miles. The need doesn’t seem to be slowing down either, with the month of September achieving a record-breaking number of transports.
“Since I started receiving care at Harrison Memorial Hospital in Spring 2025, I would estimate I’ve used the Care-A-Van roughly 50 times. That’s the kind of thing that really makes an impact in someone’s life,” said Kathy. “I’ve even made two new friends in both Care-A-Van drivers. They’re polite, introduced themselves to me the first time they came for pick-up. Now, we have conversations where they ask how I’m doing and if I’m feeling better. They make you feel at home.”
Kathy points out one of the many positives to the program is that they are very consistent about arriving about one hour prior to her appointments.
“If they are running late, they will call and communicate that to me, so I don’t have to worry. I appreciate that.”
Kathy, who attends church regularly, would recommend the service to anyone who can benefit from it. “Word of mouth is great. I’ve already recommended Care-A-Van to a friend at church, as well as another at the senior citizen center,” she said.
“Had I not had Care-A-Van to rely on when I needed them, I’m certain my health would have been compromised.”
Care-A-Van operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. For more information or to schedule a ride, please call Care-A-Van Transport Services at (859) 298-2700. In the future, the intentions are for consistent expansion and availability to the surrounding communities through our sponsorship program.
If you are interested in sponsoring the program, please contact Kacey Tucker, HMH Business Development Manager, at 859-235-3737 or visit the HMH Foundation website at www.harrisonmemhospfoundation.com.
