Patricia Chung faced a loss of independence after her knee surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She was advised by her physician that she would be unable to drive for several weeks.
For her first outpatient therapy appointment, she arranged a cab to the Irving Street clinic at MedStar National Rehabilitation Network. “It was $80, round-trip, and the cab did not pick me up at the exact location or on time,” Patricia explained. “You can imagine how frustrating and expensive it might have been to continue calling cabs on my own.” Soon after her first therapy visit, she was connected with MedStar NRH’s Outpatient Transportation Program. The program, made possible through 2016 and 2017 Power to Heal Campaign, offers free Yellow Cab rides to eligible patients who cannot get to their therapy appointments on their own. “Everything was so amazing and convenient,” Patricia said. “Everyone was so professional and kind, from Ashley Benoit [patient care coordinator] to the cab company. The drivers called ahead to let me know what time I could expect them, and they always picked me up and dropped me off exactly where I needed to be.” “I’m so glad this kind of service exists to help patients like me. I’m back to driving on my own now, but when I really needed help getting to my appointments and my children weren’t available to drive me, I was so grateful I didn’t have to figure it out on my own.”