LAKEPORT, Calif. – Beginning June 1, qualified Sutter Lakeside Hospital patients will have a new transportation option for nonemergency medical transportation.

Sutter is partnering with the Lake County bus agency, Lake Transit, to provide supplemental transportation services for patients otherwise unable to get to Sutter Lakeside clinics.

Curb-to-curb transportation will be offered during regular clinic hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Residents of Kelseyville, Upper Lake, Lucerne, Lakeport, Nice and Finley are eligible to apply for the transportation service.

The program’s purpose is to provide transportation to nonemergency medical appointments for certified individuals who have no other means of transportation.

The service will only be available after a patient application form is returned, processed and approved.

“This is part of our commitment to deliver care to our patients with transportation challenges,” said Leeann Hadgis, director of ambulatory clinics for Sutter Lakeside. “We want to help patients get to our clinics for a full range of care.”

Lake Transit currently provides more than 600 nonemergency medical transports each month, so patients will receive an experienced, professional service.

 “We’re excited to partner with Sutter Lakeside to provide this important service to our community,” said Mark Wall, general manager, Lake Transit Authority. “We’ve been meeting Lake County’s transportation needs for more than 18 years, and are pleased to be part of a program that will have a positive influence on the health and well-being of people in our community.”

As Lake County’s insured population grows, this new transportation option is one of several ways Sutter Lakeside is working to provide more primary care services to more patients than ever before.

“Our partnership with Lake Transit will help us better meet patients’ needs,” said Sutter Lakeside Chief Administrative Officer Siri Nelson. “This is a great example of how we’re constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our community,”

Patients should call Sutter Lakeside’s Family Medicine Clinic at 707-262-5088 or Sutter Lakeside Community Clinic at 707-263-6885 to arrange transportation.