Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) is pleased to announce the launch of its new Patient Transportation Service, made possible by both the dedicated employees at HMS fulfilling its mission and the New Mexico Rural Healthcare Delivery Fund aimed at expanding access to care for underserved communities. This new service will provide eligible HMS patients with reliable, safe, and compassionate transportation to and from their scheduled HMS medical, behavioral health, dental, and Community Health Worker (CHW) appointments.
HMS has added two ADA-compliant transport vans, one dedicated to Hidalgo County and one to Grant County. Each vehicle is equipped with a wheelchair lift and designed to support patients with mobility needs. The program is intended to reduce transportation barriers, ensuring patients can access timely primary care, behavioral health, dental, and other essential services at HMS clinics.
"Reliable transportation is a significant barrier to care for many individuals in our rural communities," said Dr. Dan Otero, HMS CEO. "Through this new program, HMS is strengthening our commitment to high-quality, accessible health care by helping patients get to their appointments safely and on time."
The HMS Transportation Program will schedule and transport established HMS patients directly between their residences and HMS clinic locations. All transportation will be provided in HMS-owned vehicles that offer a safe, respectful, clean, and confidential environment for every patient. "Our promise to each patient we transport is to provide safe, caring, kind, and compassionate services," stated Aaron Holmes, Director of Transportation and Security Services.
To qualify for HMS Transportation Services, individuals must meet the following criteria: they must be an established HMS patient, have an expressed transportation need with the inability to obtain otherwise, and live within the HMS service area while accessing care at the nearest clinic offering the needed service.
With one van serving Hidalgo County and another serving Grant County, HMS aims to enhance access to care across a wide geographic region. The addition of transportation services is part of HMS's broader strategy to address social determinants of health, improve health outcomes, and reduce barriers to care for vulnerable populations.
To learn more about HMS Transportation Services, please visit www.hms-nm.org/transportation.
Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) has provided high-quality, patient-centered primary care, behavioral health, dental, and community-based services to southwestern New Mexico for 30 years. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, HMS is committed to improving the health and well-being of individuals and families through accessible, affordable, and compassionate care. HMS is a Federally Qualified Health Center 330 Grantee under 42 USC 245b and a deemed Public Health Service Employee under 42 USC 233(g)-(n).
