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In conjunction with the Catalina Island Medical Center's medical and social services staff, the Rotary Club of Avalon has recognized a continued great need in our community that we hope the grant committee will consider funding. Our island community has a small "critical access" classified hospital and outpatient clinic that cannot provide surgical or specialty services such as kidney dialysis, administration of of chemotherapy/radiation for cancer treatment, or care by specialists. A great number of people needing these services cannot afford the boat fare and therefore cannot get some of the medical treatment recommended by their physicians. If this District Grant is approved, we will be able to provide round trip boat fare for qualified community members for their medical appointments on the mainland. The applicant is screened by the Catalina Island Medical Center Business Office and Social Services Departments once their medical appointment is confirmed. The Medical Transportation Grant Committee. comprised of members of the Rotary Club of Avalon, will purchase the boat fare and distribute the tickets to those qualified community members. Our Rotary Club members also offer free transportation to and from the boat terminal here on the island as a community service. The boat ticket will display the Rotary International Seal and be accompanied by a letter describing Rotary's focus on Disease Prevention and Treatment. The budget would include the cost of the boat tickets. Envelopes, stationery, and Rotary Seals have been donated by a club member. Transportation to the boat terminal will be provided by electric golf cart (if requested).Project Start Date: After grant approval, a press release explaining the grant and the application process will be sent to both local newspapers: The Catalina Islander and the Avalon Bay News. The staff at Catalina Island Medical Center and Catalina Island Medical Group (Clinic) will have the information communicated in the Medical Staff meeting so that they can make referrals for their patients that need specialty care on the mainland.
Project Completion Date: When all the purchased Catalina Express Gift Cards have been dispersed to qualifying recipients.
Transportation: Catalina Express is the only passenger boat that travels between Avalon and Long Beach (in addition to San Pedro and Dana Point). In addition, they have several boats arriving and departing daily. The other carrier, Newport Flyer, travels only once a day, between Avalon and Newport, which would cause an overnight stay for Islanders traveling for a doctor's appointment or medical treatment. Island residents are given a subsidy card for a discount on a "commuter book" with Catalina Express that is good for 5 round trip boat trips. Normally the subsidy card limits the purchase to 1 special commuter book per month. The Catalina Express waives that restriction for residents with documentation from a physician that more frequent medical travel is required for their condition. The cost of subsidized commuter book gift cards is $192.50 (a discounted price of $38.50 per trip). Gift cards purchased for single round trip fares are at regular fare of $74.50.
Gift cards will be purchased in increments of $1000 as the need arises. There will be a mixture of gift cards with a value of $192.50 for subsidized commuter books and a value of $74.50 for single round trip fare. Recipients requiring more frequent trips for chemotherapy/radiation, dialysis would be given the higher value gift cards. Recipients going for surgery or a specialist appointment would receive the gift card for a round trip fare.
Mainland Transportation: At present, the grant recipient has arranged transportation from the Catalina Express Terminal on the mainland. Most have family meeting them on the mainland or they frequently utilize public transportation. The social services department at Catalina Island Medical Center has been working with Long Beach Memorial on developing a shuttle or some form of transportation to and from the Long Beach terminal. Mainland transportation would be difficult for this grant to include since recipients travel to various places and distances. The Catalina Island Women's Forum is aware of this proposed Medical Transportation Grant and has expressed an interest in possibly providing some resources for the mainland travel piece.
Budget: A budget of $5000 would provide for approximately 18 commuter book gift cards @ $192.50 and approximately 21 Round trip gift cards at $74.50. The type of cards purchased would be dictated by patient need.
It is difficult to project how many grant recipients would be utilizing the commuter books versus the single round trip fares. The social services department at Catalina Island Medical Center notifies the Rotary Committee Chair in charge of purchasing the tickets when a need arises and the number of appointments or treatments that are planned. Gift cards remaining at the completion of the grant can be converted to single cards or combined into a commuter book gift card, depending on need.
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