By
connecting the airline's service with the hospital's care, this
program alleviates the financial burden of air travel for families
who are facing serious illness by providing complimentary, roundtrip
airline tickets to nonprofit hospitals and medical organizations. The
nonprofit hospitals and medical organizations have the freedom to
provide the tickets to patients who must travel to receive needed
medical care. For 2013, Southwest will provide more than $2.8 million
in free transportation to caregivers and patients seeking medical
treatment. Now in its sixth year, Southwest's Medical Transportation
Grant Program has provided more than $10 million to organizations in
24 states. To see a full list of the 2013 recipients, please visit:
www.southwest.com/medicalgrant.
"We
are proud to partner with world-renowned hospitals across the nation
such as The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and new
recipient, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and give the gift
of flight for patients to get the best medical care available,"
said Linda Rutherford, Southwest Airlines Vice President of
Communication and Strategic Outreach. "After more than four
decades of giving from the heart, our commitment to community is
stronger than ever, and we are humbled to help ease the difficulties
these patients and families are facing through this unique program."
In
addition to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, new
2013 recipients in the Medical Transportation Grant Program include
three medical organizations in Atlanta—Emory University Hospitals,
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, and Shepherd Center. To learn more about
the Medical Transportation Grant Program, visit www.swamedia.com to
see an infographic illustrating how the program works.
The
impact of the Medical Transportation Grant Program has touched the
lives of more than 26,000 patients since the program's inception.
Visit the NUTS About Southwest blog to read stories from some of the
patients and families who have benefitted from the program.
To
learn about qualifications for travel assistance through the
designated organizations, please contact the Social Work,
Travel/Concierge Service, or Patient Assistance Department directly
at each location, as each have unique guidelines for administration
of tickets.
