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Source: Town of Norwood website. A grant to the Town of Norwood from Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham helps operate a free shuttle service to transport residents to health-related appointments.
9-15-2023 12:23am
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham Awards Norwood $92,000 in Grants for Equitable Access to Care
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Thanks to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham (BID Needham) has awarded $92,000 in grant funding, over three years, to the Town of Norwood to support the town's free shuttle service for residents who need assistance traveling to and from health-related appointments.
The funds will enable Norwood to cover a portion of the operating costs of expanded shuttle service.  This year, together with the Norwood Council on Aging, the town purchased a third vehicle to add to its fleet.
"The transportation services will be offered for any scheduled medical appointment, regardless of the entity or provider," said Stacey Lane, director of Norwood Public Health. "The goal of this program is to provide equitable access to care to necessary health-related and medical appointments for traditionally underserved populations in Norwood."
"It is our privilege to award this grant to help with a very basic healthcare need - a ride to the doctor's office," said John Fogarty, BID-Needham president. "Forgoing healthcare because you don't have transportation shouldn't happen. Our aim with this grant is to improve the health of our community one ride at a time."
The funding is part of a Community-based Health Initiative at BID-Needham and was awarded by the hospital's Community Benefits Advisory Committee, based on discussions with Norwood officials and town residents who identified equitable access to transportation as a top priority for the town.
