Providing Medical Transportation Services
Cascade Medical Transports, (CMT) was started in 2008 by a group of Bend physicians who recognized a need for additional medical transportation services in Central Oregon. As physicians in the local health culture they witnessed firsthand the complications arising when non emergency medical or disabled patients needed to be moved with no dedicated transportation vendors to call upon.
With public safety services and private ambulance companies only available for emergency services none of them provided non-emergent transportation services. Led by Dr. Gavin Noble the physicians group formed Cascade Medical Transports to fill the transportation gap for residents of Central Oregon. CMT operated successfully until 2010 when the company shut down and was put up for sale.
In September 2012 mother and son, Dixie and Patrick Hannon, purchased the assets and company name from the physicians group and CMT is now known as Cascade Medical Transport of Oregon, LLC (CMTO). Dixie serves as CEO and Patrick as general manager.
Dixie says, “We had a great deal to accomplish during the restructuring phase, so we didn’t open for business until November 2012.”
Patrick has set a vision for the company building on the idea that CMT is different than other ambulance services, “We only provide non-emergent ambulance service. We don’t provide 911 service. Although we can help the 911 services if they are overloaded with calls. Our service is unique in that we are helping all the local Fire/EMS services in the Central Oregon area by taking calls that might keep them from responding to real emergencies. When you call 911 you don’t want to wait for an ambulance. We transport stable patients in between medical facilities so that the fire and EMS departments are freed up to respond to 911 calls.”
As a former CMT employee, Patrick feels he has the background and experience to steer CMTO into a full service multi-state medical transport company. “I worked for the original CMT as a paramedic but owning and running your own business is much more hectic and time consuming. Now that we have reopened and expanded the area we serve, most of our transports are within Central Oregon, with regular transports to Portland hospitals. We also transport out-of-state. We have done transports to California, Idaho and Washington. CMTO of Oregon provides Non-Emergent ambulance transports, stretcher transports and now wheel chair transportation.”
The Hannons wanted to expand the CMTO services to offer full time wheel chair transports and have invested in a new wheel chair mini-van equipped to hold two chairs. Patrick explains, “As of December we are now offering 24/7 wheelchair service. We are looking forward to serving more people who need wheelchair transports. We provide inter-facility ambulance transports between medical facilities care centers or private homes.”
CMTO is equipped with two additional medical transport vehicles, one a major medical transport box van with emergency room facilities and a traditional ambulance van.
Oftentimes transport patients need advanced facilities when they are moved and CMTO is prepared to provide that says Patrick. “CMTO can provide facilities in our larger fully equipped medical transport vehicle for advanced life support and critical health conditions…For basic life support the ambulance van services are available when there is no medical need and the patient just needs to be transported in a position of comfort.”
The family owned business does not take their new ownership lightly, as Dixie says, “CMTO is dedicated to serving the Central Oregon community with the highest level of care possible. Our plan is to continue to offer a quality transport service to patients and their families. As our community grows and changes, CMTO will grow, continually striving to be a strong and respected community partner.”
Patrick adds, “It is also more rewarding knowing that what we are doing is helping others. CMT of Oregon is trying to become part of Central Oregon, we are giving back to the community the best that we can. We recently made a donation to Partners in Care Hospice and helped sponsor a fundraising golf tournament for St. Charles in Redmond.”
CMTO has successfully operated this past year and it has the Hannons excited about the future. Dixie concludes, “As a young business, we look forward to 2014 as a year of opportunity with new and renewed partnerships, growing community involvement and satisfied clients and patients. We like all medical providers will have to see how the new healthcare laws will affect us. We live in uncertain times when it comes to health coverage. What I do know is we will continue to provide the highest quality ambulance and transportation service at the best price possible. This can only happen with our highly qualified and loyal crew of EMT’s and paramedics. They are the best.”
CMTO
Cascade Medical Transports of Oregon
90 SE Bridgeford Blvd. Suite F, Bend, OR 97702, 541-408-2855, www.cascademedicaltransports.com
CEO/Owner: Dixie Hannon, CEO / Patrick Hannon, General Manager
No. Employees: 3 full time • 15 part time
Year Established: Originally 2008 • Reopened 2012
Product/Service: Non-Emergent ambulance transports, stretcher transports and now wheel chair transportation. Inter-facility ambulance transports between medical facilities, rest homes, senior care centers and private homes.
Hot News: New Owners Dixie and Patrick Hannon reopened CMT and renamed it to CMTO, Cascade Medical Transport of Oregon LLC, Serving all of Oregon, with medical transports to Idaho, Washington and California. As of December 2013 CMTO offers 24/7 wheel chair transport service for residents in Central Oregon.
Outlook for Growth: CMTO looks forward to 2014 as a year of opportunity with new and renewed partnerships, growing community involvement, and satisfied clients and patients. We will strive to expand the 24/7 wheel chair transports, multi state medical transportation needs and serving Central Oregon Residents with the highest quality ambulance and transportation service at the best price possible.
