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VAN SERVICES FOR VETERANS DAV SERVICES DAV van resources work with county Veterans Affairs directors to provide transportation for Veterans to and from Veteran health care facilities for

scheduled medical appointments. These vans transport Veterans throughout central and western Massachusetts. Each month, between 1,500 and 1,700 Veterans receive DAV transportation. ARRANGE A

DAV VAN RIDE If you’d like to schedule a DAV van ride, contact the hospital service coordinator who serves your county. EDWARD P. BOLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER Leo Vance, Jr. Building 1 Room  

1079 Map of Edward P. Boland VA Medical Center campus PHONE: 413-582-3078 Please note that DAV vans can only provide rides to ambulatory passengers (passengers who are able to move around

without the driver’s help). For information on accessible transportation options, review our other Veteran shuttle services. OTHER VETERAN SHUTTLE SERVICES VA CENTRAL WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS 

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Other Veteran-specific transportation services, including buses, shuttles, and wheelchair-accessible transport, are available to patients. Please contact these providers

directly to schedule a ride. Schedule a ride at www.vetride.va.gov/ SHUTTLE SERVICES: To book your shuttle appointment, please call 413-584-4040 X6710 OR X6711. BENEFICIARY TRAVEL

Beneficiary travel benefits include round-trip transportation from your home to the medical center, mileage reimbursement, or special mode transport.  Find out if you qualify for beneficiary

travel benefits You can also contact your local Beneficiary Travel Department at 413-584-4040 X6827 for more information. NOT ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFICIARY TRAVEL? Are you not eligible for

Beneficiary Travel, but need a ride to an appointment? We may be able to help using our local Van Service or shuttles. Please contact us at 413-584-4040 X6710 OR X6711 for more information.

CONTACT: JONATHAN PENNA Email: [email protected] Phone: 413-584-4040, ext. 2000 LOCAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS Many medical centers and clinics are also served by other local

transportation services. To find those, review the transportation services information for the facility you want to visit. GUIDELINES FOR USING DAV VANS DAV van passengers are expected to

follow certain guidelines, established by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the DAV National Headquarters. These guidelines include the following: * All riders must be ambulatory (able

to board and exit the van without the driver’s help). * The DAV van driver is only allowed to stop the van for rest stops, emergencies, and to pick up and drop off passengers. Passengers

should not ask the driver to make side trips to take care of their personal business. * Passengers are not permitted to smoke, chew tobacco, drink alcohol, use foul language, or bring

weapons, drugs, or any illegal substance on the van. Van drivers are not required to provide transportation to any Veteran who is intoxicated, abusive, or who poses a threat to the driver or

other passengers. * Passengers should not do anything to distract the driver. * Passengers should wear seatbelts at all times. Any passenger who refuses to wear a seatbelt will be denied

transportation. * If a Veteran needs another individual (for example, a caregiver) to ride in the van with them, they need to get authorization from their VA attending physician or

VA-certified nurse practitioner. * Veterans being discharged or granted passes can ride on a DAV van during the van's trip back to its home county only if space is available. The

Veteran must be ready to leave when the van leaves the VA medical center. * Veterans should be dressed and ready to leave for the hospital at the time specified. Drivers can’t wait for

Veterans who aren’t ready to leave at the appointed time. * Veterans can only bring with them items that they can hold on their lap or store under the seat. * The DAV van is not an emergency

vehicle. The driver may refuse to transport any Veteran who appears to be too ill to ride the van. * Veterans who use the DAV Transportation Network will not be eligible to receive

reimbursement for travel expenses. (M-1, Part 1, Chapter 25, July 8, 1991)