Mainebiz

L O G I S T I C S / T R A N S P O R TAT I O N Aroostook County residents without cars piece together their travel needs F O C U S VO L . X X V I N O. X X V I N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 2 0 14 P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D Missed appointments N orthern Light Health AR Gould Memorial Hospital is working with Aroostook County Action Pro- gram on solutions to get patients to medical appointments. MaineCare covers transportation- service costs for qualified enrollees. But many residents on fixed incomes don't qualify for MaineCare, can't afford a cab, and don't have some- one to take them, says AR Gould Memorial licensed clinical social worker Abbey Clair. The Aroostook Regional Transpor tation System doesn't cover all needs, she adds. Homebound patients are also impacted. Bad weather worsens the situation. "When people aren't able to fol- low up with their primary care pro- vider, it puts them more at risk of needing emergency room care," says Clair. "We also see hospital readmis- sions as an ongoing issue." P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y A R G O U L D M E M O R I A L H O S P I TA L Abbey Clair When people aren't able to follow up with their primary care provider, it puts them more at risk of needing emergency room care. I n the Aroostook County town of Mars Hill, population 1,462, Pineland Farms Potato Co. is a major employer. Just over 200 people work at the company's potato processing facility, which transforms thousands of acres of potatoes grown in the region into ready- to-cook products. Some live nearby, but many travel an hour or more from their homes to reach work. e problem is, some employees don't have cars or even a license. "ose who don't have a vehicle or a valid driver's license are car-pooling if they can," says Laurie Nelson, HR manager at Pineland Farms Potato. Aroostook County Action Program Executive Director and CEO Jason Parent, center, COO Jamie Chandler, left, and workforce development Program Coordinator Erin Benson. They have been working to address transportation challenges throughout the county. TRIBULATION Transportation B y L au r i e S c h r e i B e r

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