About six months ago, Judy (not her real name), 62, lost her apartment, her car and many of her belongings in a fire.

Not long after that, pain in her stomach became so intense it interfered with her ability to work. Her physician, Dan Friedland, MD, of Lincoln Medical Partners (LMP) Wiscasset, scheduled a procedure at Maine Medical Center in Portland in which a physician would use specialized equipment to determine the cause of the pain.

Because she had lost her car in the fire, the staff at LMP Family Medicine Wiscasset, helped her find a ride to Portland through KVCAP (the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program). In Portland, the surgeon was not only able to diagnose the problem; he was able to repair it.

In rural areas like Lincoln County, having transportation can be the difference between being able to access preventative medical care and not having access.

Making sure families have access to the care they need is the reason Lincoln County Healthcare, the parent company of Lincoln Medical Partners, is working with local partners like KVCAP and independent physician practices Full Circle Family Medicine in Damariscotta, Lifespan Family Healthcare in Newcastle and Medomak Family Medicine in Waldoboro, to address gaps in the existing transportation network.

A new $50,000 transportation grant from the Maine Medical Center Physician-Hospital Organization will help ensure that any patient of a participating practice will have transportation to medical appointments.

The goal is to help patients access preventative care so they can avoid the medical problems that can cause them to miss work or lose their independence, according to Julie Carroll, Project Manager at Lincoln County Healthcare.

“This is aimed at helping people get into the doctor’s office before they have to go to the Emergency Department,” she said.

In order to help as many people as possible, the funds from the Maine Medical Center PHO grant will only be available to patients who do not qualify for other programs.

People who are covered by MaineCare, for example, can arrange transportation to their doctor’s office by calling Mid-Coast Connector at 855-930-7900.

Families with incomes at or below 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Level can receive transportation through Coastal Trans Inc. by calling Coastal Trans, Inc. Transportation at 207-596-6605, option 2.

Patients of participating practices, including all Lincoln Medical Partners practices, Full Circle Family Medicine, Lifespan Family Healthcare and Medomak Family Medicine, who do not qualify for other transportation assistance can call Julie Carroll at 207-563-4156.

“If you need help please let us know,” said Carroll.