Facing transportation barriers can be a significant challenge, especially for expectant mothers and parents of young infants needing to attend crucial medical appointments. Recognizing this critical issue, the Detroit Health Department has launched an innovative program named “Rides to Care,” designed to provide Free Transportation To Doctor Appointments for pregnant women and caregivers of babies up to one year old in Detroit. This initiative aims to ensure every child in Detroit gets the healthiest possible start to life by removing transportation obstacles to essential healthcare services.
The Rides to Care program, enthusiastically announced by Mayor Mike Duggan and Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo, is available six days a week, Monday through Saturday. It covers rides to healthcare providers within Detroit and even extends up to five miles beyond city limits. This comprehensive service addresses a fundamental barrier preventing many Detroit families from accessing consistent prenatal, postpartum, and pediatric care.
“Every expectant mother and new mom in Detroit deserves the security of knowing they can get to their prenatal or postnatal appointments, ensuring their baby’s best start in life,” Mayor Duggan stated. “With Rides to Care, missing a vital medical appointment due to transportation issues is no longer a concern. Free roundtrip transportation to every necessary doctor’s visit is now an automatic benefit for Detroiters.”
This vital service is a collaboration between the Detroit Health Department and Uber Health, utilizing a HIPAA-compliant platform to deliver reliable non-emergency medical transportation. Denise Fair Razo, Chief Public Health Officer, emphasized the program’s core mission: “Rides to Care enhances access to essential healthcare by offering convenient and dependable transportation for expectant mothers and infant caregivers. This allows them to concentrate on what truly matters – maintaining their health and the health of their babies.”
Who Qualifies for Free Transportation to Doctor Visits?
The Rides to Care program is available to:
- Pregnant women who are residents of Detroit.
- Mothers, primary caregivers, or guardians residing in Detroit who are caring for an infant under one year of age.
- Mothers needing transportation for postpartum check-ups, for up to a year after giving birth.
Which Healthcare Appointments are Covered by Free Transportation?
Rides to Care offers free transportation to a range of essential appointments:
- Prenatal Appointments: Ensuring both mother and baby remain healthy throughout the pregnancy.
- Postpartum Appointments: Covering healthcare visits for mothers for up to one year following childbirth.
- Newborn Pediatric Appointments: Supporting your baby’s health for the first year of life.
How to Arrange Your Free Ride to Medical Appointments
Booking your free transportation to doctor appointments through Rides to Care is straightforward:
- Simply call the Rides to Care call center at 313-876-0000.
- The call center is open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday, 8 AM to 2 PM.
- When you call, you will need to provide your name, contact details, home address, and the address of your doctor’s office to schedule your ride.
- Rides can be booked from one hour up to a week in advance of your appointment.
- Pick-up times are scheduled to ensure you arrive on time for your appointment. Please allow sufficient travel time when booking.
- Rides are available during normal clinic hours.
The Detroit City Council approved a $650,000 contract with Uber Health to fund these transportation services for an initial year. Rides to Care expands upon the foundation laid by the SisterFriends program, which previously offered limited transportation for prenatal visits and one postpartum appointment.
Anastasia Lewis, a former SisterFriends client who utilized rideshare services during her pregnancy, shared her positive experience: “It has been incredibly helpful for attending my appointments and ensuring I am punctual. Sometimes I even arrive early, and when my appointment finishes ahead of schedule, I can return home immediately without delay. I haven’t had to reschedule any appointments thanks to this service. Previously, I often had to cancel appointments if family transportation wasn’t available due to work commitments. I strongly encourage every expectant mother or new mom in Detroit to take full advantage of Rides to Care.”
Dr. Claudia Richardson, Medical Director for the Detroit Health Department, emphasized the long-term benefits of prenatal care: “Maintaining good health during pregnancy is the most valuable gift a mother can give her unborn child. This is especially critical during the first and second trimesters, as this is when the baby’s brain and nervous system are developing most rapidly. I urge all expectant mothers in Detroit to prioritize their health throughout their pregnancy to give their babies the best possible start in life.”
For further details about the Rides to Care program, please call (313) 876-0000 or visit detroitmi.gov/RidesToCare. Take advantage of this valuable resource to ensure you and your baby receive the healthcare you deserve.
