The Dallas County Health Department is collaborating with an Iowa company to assist with transportation.

The health department is partnering with the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) Public Transit for a Health Connector. Community Health Administrator Abigail Chihak tells Raccoon Valley Radio that HIRTA was given one of five grants through the United States Department of Transportation to design a solution for a need in Dallas County. Chihak reveals the greatest concern that’s been reported to the health department.

“Our community health assessment showed that people were struggling to get to their medical appointment, and they often marked as a reason why (being a) lack of transportation.”

The health department is hosting a Health Connector Media Day at the Dallas County Hospital that will give people insight of the work that’s been happening behind the scenes for the last three years, according to Chihak. She shares that the new technology tool will allow people to set up appointments with their doctors and rides to get there. Chihak pinpoints the types of issues that existed prior to this new strategy.

“Previously, people would call their doctors, get an appointment set up, and then just hope that they could get transportation to get there. Or they couldn’t get something put together for transportation, so they ‘no showed.’ And if you ‘no showed’ too many times to the doctors office, they don’t really like that.”

The media day event will take place on Monday from 10am-noon including a presentation, ribbon cutting, and a chance for questions. Depending on the weather, the program will happen at either the North entrance or inside the conference room. The meeting is open to the public with any questions being directed to the Dallas County Health Department at (515)-993-3750.