shuttle

Riverside Health Care is making it easier for patients in the west end of the Rainy River District to access its Medically Stable Patient Transportation (MSPT) Program.

The program was established in 2021 and provides transportation to patients with medical appointments in Thunder Bay.

Until now, patients living in the district’s west end had to travel to Fort Frances to catch the shuttle bus that runs daily to Thunder Bay.

Riverside now has new transport vehicles stationed in Emo and Rainy River to pick them up at the door and bring them to Fort Frances.

“If someone’s living in Pinewood, Rainy River or Sleeman, and they need to get into Thunder Bay for an appointment, our medically stable patient transport vehicle that will be stationed in Rainy River can pick them up in the morning and then have them at the departure location, which is La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, to get to Thunder Bay for that appointment that day,” says Dave Black, Vice President of Transportation Services.

“If the appointment is within the time frame, we can actually return them that same day and then have them back at home in Rainy River. If they do need overnight accommodation, we can arrange and coordinate to have them back to Rainy River the next day with another shuttle trip.”

A similar service is already available to patients living in Fort Frances and Atikokan.

Black says provincial funding of up to $1.6 million over the next three years is allowing for the expansion.

“People living in a rural and remote district like ours, getting to an appointment can be just as challenging as getting the care itself,” says Black.

“So the expansion is about making sure transportation isn’t the barrier that stands between someone and the healthcare they need.”

Since it was established five years ago, Riverside’s shuttle service has grown from 148 transports in the first year to well over 1,000 in 2025.

Riverside increased service a couple of years ago to seven days a week with extended hours.

Black foresees more regional expansion in the future as new regional MRIs come into service.

“We already are transporting people to Dryden and Kenora for specialty appointments,” says Black.

Details regarding the expanded service to Rainy River and Emo, such as schedules, eligibility, booking processes and launch dates, will be made public once implementation planning is completed.