St. Luke's Collaborates with Ride TFT for Service Expansion
In a significant move to address transportation challenges faced by patients, St. Luke's Magic Valley hospital has partnered with Ride TFT, a local transportation service. This partnership aims to provide reliable rides for discharged inpatients, addressing common issues such as patients lacking transportation or being unable to afford a ride.
The partnership, initially a pilot program, has proven to be tremendously important, according to Kyli Gough, community health and engagement director for St. Luke's Magic Valley and Jerome. A Ride TFT van parks outside the hospital's discharge center at 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, waiting for patients without transportation.
Maxine Durand, who served as the city's transit coordinator for the past two years, played a key role in facilitating this partnership. However, Durand resigned in late June and has announced her candidacy for governor in 2026 as an unaffiliated candidate. It's worth noting that Durand confirmed she stopped working for the city before her campaign went public.
St. Luke's is currently considering expanding the partnership with Ride TFT to include patients at the emergency department and cancer centre. In addition, the city has plans to swap out the original fleet of seven Ride TFT vans with new Toyota Siennas.
The pilot program, scheduled to end in September, has been successful in ensuring discharged inpatients have a way home. Inpatients cannot leave their rooms until their ride is outside the hospital. The city of Twin Falls has provided a public transportation option through Ride TFT since 2023, with a standard fee of $3 per ride.
The Federal Transit Administration funding requires a 35% local match, and the city is currently filling in the transit coordinator position as they recruit a new one. Ride TFT is inviting local businesses to advertise on the vans with a vehicle wrap, and the College of Southern Idaho has sponsored a wrap on the windows of one van.
Patients at St. Luke's hospital regularly use Ride TFT vans for transportation. The partnership between St. Luke's and Ride TFT is a significant step towards improving patient safety and reducing readmission rates by ensuring patients can leave the hospital and reach their homes or follow-up appointments without transportation barriers.
For more detailed and specific information about how St. Luke's Magic Valley hospital implements this partnership, we recommend checking their official website or contacting the hospital directly. A $3 million grant from the Idaho Transportation Department funded the first two years of Ride TFT, and now the city is pursuing Federal Transit Administration funding to continue the service.
- As part of the expansion, St. Luke's Magic Valley hospital is considering including patients from the emergency department and cancer center in the partnership with Ride TFT.
- The city plans to replace the existing fleet of seven Ride TFT vans with new Toyota Siennas.
- The city's public transportation option through Ride TFT charges a standard fee of $3 per ride.
- The partnership between St. Luke's and Ride TFT addresses issues of patients lacking transportation or being unable to afford a ride, which contributes to improvements in patient safety and reducing readmission rates.
