S.A.B.E.C. – Services d’Accompagnement Bénévole et Communautaires
SERVICES D’ACCOMPAGNEMENT BÉNÉVOLE ET COMMUNAUTAIRES
C.P. 90034 1493-2, ROUTE 138 GODMANCHESTER, QC. J0S-1H0
Tel/Fax: (450) 264-1131 Toll free: 1-866-764-1131
About us
Founded in 1998, S.A.B.E.C. is a non-profit organization made up of volunteer drivers whose mission is to transport and accompany patients to their medical appointments. Residents of all ages from the MRC Le Haut-Saint-Laurent are eligible to apply for this service.
The MRC Le Haut-Saint-Laurent covers a territory of 1,170 square kilometres and includes the following 13 municipalities: Dundee, Saint-Anicet, Sainte-Barbe, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Hinchinbrooke, Elgin, Franklin, Havelock, Saint- Chrysostôme, Ormstown, Très-Saint-Sacrement, and Howick.
The service is currently made possible by the organization’s 81 volunteer drivers. The board of directors is made up of seven member/volunteers that are elected by the membership. S.A.B.E.C.’s offices are open five a week and driver services may be available seven days a week depending on the circumstances.
Patients that have been referred by their physician or other health professional for medical appointments are eligible to use the service. Those patients are n need of : chemeotherapy, radiology, diabete clinic, mammography, heart clinic, pre and/or post operation, one-day surgery, physiotherapy, eye treatments, etc.
The volunteer’s expenses are partially paid for by the patients with the balance being assumed by S.A.B.E.C. who in turn depends upon donations. The donations that make up the shortfall come from Centraide, Centre Intégré de Santé et Services Sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest, local municipalities, The Betty Riel Foundation, private companies and individuals.
Number of transports continues to increase:
Year | Transports | % | Clients | Total Kms | Volunteer/ hrs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003-2004 | 813 | 130 | 128,645 | 3,348 | |
2018-2019 | 5,513 | 700% | 749 | 651,800 | 25,425 |
2019-2020 | 6,000 | Estimate | 800 | 735,000 | 27,000 |
The demand for medical transports has grown over the years as the MRC’s population ages and the number of referrals has increased.