Health Connections coach service to visit Sault Ste. Ma

First-ever community-based, non-emergency medical transportation to be previewed in Northern Ontario 

Pacific Western Transportation (PWT) announced today that it will preview its successful Health Connections service in Sault Ste. Marie on July 12, 2011. 

A community-based, non-emergency medical transportation
service, Health Connections would offer residents of Sault Ste. Marie safe, reliable and high-quality transportation from their hometowns to their out-of-town medical appointments. 

Health Connections is based on a highly successful service that PWT currently operates in British Columbia. 

The July 12 event will be held at the Station Mall (Bay Street - side parking lot) at 11 a.m. 

PWT, is the largest privately owned people transportation company in the country, they adhere to the fundamental principles of safety and customer service. 

The focus of our 2,800 employees across the country is the successful outcome of every passenger’s journey. 

Whether it’s delivering children safely to school in Prince George, getting travellers to Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport in time for departure or transporting workers to a plant in Fort McMurray, our key to success is simple - we believe in people. 

We believe in the thousands of folks who ride with us every day. 

We believe in our business partners and the value of a relationship. 

We believe in our employees - the ambassadors of all our services. 

“Health Connections has already proven itself to be a major success in British Columbia, and I am delighted that we’re having an opportunity to preview the service in Sault Ste. Marie. A safe, reliable and comfortable service, we strongly believe that Health Connections would be a welcome option for residents traveling to medical appointments in other towns or cities,” said Dean Wright, general manager, PWT.

“We’d very much like to build our business in the North, and Health Connections would represent PWT’s most significant investment in Ontario to date. This service would provide an economic development opportunity for Sault Ste. Marie through the hiring of local staff, the leasing of local property and the purchasing of parts and supplies from local vendors.” 

Quick facts

PWT’s luxury Prevost motor coaches would provide long- and short-distance service. 

Specially designed for Health Connections, these coaches feature the only wheelchair-accessible washroom in a highway coach available in North America. 

In addition, each coach has a wheelchair lift, track flooring to accommodate wheelchair and scooter tie-downs, reclining seats with foot rests, air conditioning, and on-board entertainment (e.g., satellite radio, DVD player, WiFi and LCD monitors). 

PWT’s coaches are fully•equipped for winter travel, taking the stress away from seniors, passengers and their families who need to travel for medical appointments during the winter months. 

As part of a tour of Northern Ontario, the Health Connections coach is visiting five communities in July: Sault Ste. Marie; Thunder Bay; Sudbury; North Bay; and Parry Sound. 

For more information on the health connections bus please visit:

http://www.ontariohealthconnections.com/