Columbia VA Health Care System Expanded Veteran Transportation Services with New DAV Van
In continued effort to ensure that Veterans receive timely & accessible healthcare, the Columbia VA Health Care System’s (VAHCS) Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE) secured a new Disabled American Veterans (DAV) van to enhance transportation services.
The Columbia VAHCS collaborates closely with DAV to provide reliable transportation for Veterans from Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Rock Hill, Florence, Sumter, and Orangeburg. The newly acquired van, a 2025 Ford Transit 12-passenger vehicle, is the result of a partnership involving the York County VA, CDCE (Center for Development and Civic Engagement), and DAV. Local donors also significantly contributed to this initiative, helping to ensure that Veterans maintain access to essential medical services.
Yolaunda Mincey, Columbia VAHCS chief of CDCE, emphasized the significance of this partnership: “One way that CDCE WAVES (We Appreciate Veterans Every Day) is by aligning with VHA Health Care Priority #1—Providing Veterans to the Soonest and Best Care. This is accomplished by transportation for Veteran patient appointments.”
Ronnie Mack, Columbia VAHCS assistant medical center director, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative: “Ensuring that Veterans have access to safe, reliable transportation is essential to providing them with the care they deserve. This program is a testament to our commitment to removing barriers and making healthcare more accessible for those who served our nation.”
With the addition of this new vehicle, Rock Hill patients will have an improved transportation option for their appointments at the Dorn VA Medical Center campus in Columbia. The centralized scheduling system, managed by the Volunteer Hospital Service Coordinator, allows Veterans to book their rides in advance. Veterans needing transportation can call Judy Hubbard at 803-776-4000, ext. 57199, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rides must be scheduled at least one week before the appointment date.
The new van is set to make a significant difference in Veteran transportation. If utilized for 20 days each month, accommodating 10 to 12 patients per trip, it could potentially save Veterans an estimated $201,168 annually in transportation costs.
As part of this initiative, the Columbia VAHCS will relocate a previous van to the Orangeburg CBOC. This move is a response to the inoperability of the existing Orangeburg van, which had exceeded 220,000 miles. The reassigned vehicle will provide transportation for Orangeburg-area Veterans who require specialty care services such as optometry, cardiology, oncology, dialysis, and endocrinology at Dorn VAMC. Additionally, CDCE partnered with local transportation providers to assist disabled Veterans within city limits in accessing primary care, lab services, and mobile prosthetics at the Orangeburg clinic.
To support this expansion, the CDCE successfully recruited 16 vetted drivers to operate the new DAV van. Recruitment efforts included outreach through emails, local Veteran organizations such as Rolling Thunder, and partnerships with DAV leadership in Lancaster and Chester counties. Once selected, drivers underwent comprehensive training, including coursework in the DAV Drivers Handbook, Defensive Driving Fundamentals, Fleet Card training, and Government Vehicle Operators Guidelines.
Our volunteer drivers play a crucial role in Access to Care by providing free transportation for Veterans to their essential medical appointments, alleviating concerns about travel from rural areas. These dedicated drivers pick up Veterans from a designated location, take them to their appointments, and remain at the medical center to ensure their safe return after the visit.
The Columbia VAHCS remains committed to expanding its transportation services. Efforts are already underway to recruit additional volunteer drivers for Sumter, Orangeburg, and Columbia campuses. Additionally, plans are in motion to secure a new DAV van for the Orangeburg CBOC, further enhancing the transportation network for Veterans in need.
The Columbia VAHCS’s transportation initiative exemplifies its dedication to ensuring equitable access to healthcare for Veterans. As part of the broader mission of the Veterans Health Administration, this program underscores the commitment to improving the Veteran experience through streamlined services and enhanced accessibility.
With the ongoing support of dedicated volunteers, DAV, and local community partners, the Columbia VAHCS continues to WAVE—We Appreciate Veterans Every day—by prioritizing their healthcare needs and ensuring they receive the quality care they deserve. Mincey reaffirmed this mission, stating, “Simplifying and centralizing the scheduling of needed transportation to medical appointments is only one of the many ways in which the Columbia VA provides equitable and effective access to services to improve the Veteran experience.”
For more information about what’s going on at the Veterans medical center, clinic locations and other services available to Veterans in and around Columbia, visit the website https://www.va.gov/columbia-south-carolina-health-care/ and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, keyword: VAColumbiaSC.