The Wheels of Wellness program announced today the retirement of Director, Tom Fraser.

10/22/15

BREWTON, AL - The Wheels of Wellness program announced today the retirement of Director, Tom Fraser. The Wheels of Wellness program provides transportation services for healthcare appointments and treatments of pediatric patients and expected mothers without other means of transportation. These transportation services are offered for both local healthcare appointments as well as healthcare appoints at larger medical facilities for medical treatments not available in Escambia County.¬

"The Healthcare Authority is deeply thankful for the years of service provided by Mr. Fraser," said Ruth Harrell, Chairman of both the Healthcare Authority and the Coalition for a Healthier Escambia County. "We wish Tom the best in retirement for him and his family."

With the retirement of Fraser, the Wheels of Wellness will continue under the leadership of new program director, Chad Hartley. Hartley previously worked in a chemical laboratory at a local carpet manufacturer. He is a graduate of Troy University, Jefferson Davis Community College and T.R. Miller High School.

"I would like to thank Tom for his dedication to the program," said Chris Griffin, D.W. McMillan Hospital Administrator. "I also look forward to the relationship we will be building with Chad and the positive enthusiasm he has already displayed about the program."

The Wheels of Wellness program started as a way to transport children safely to health care services not available in the local area and later expanded to include transportation for expected mothers. The Coalition for a Healthier Escambia County, The Escambia County Healthcare Authority and various other community organizations collaborated to start the program in October of 2006. Since the inception of the program, Wheels of Wellness has provided approximately 1,400 trips, which total over 166,000 miles traveled.

The program operates on an average monthly operating budget of about $2,500, or $30,000 annually. Thankfully, various individuals and community based organizations have sponsored ongoing financial support of the program, with the Escambia County Healthcare Authority also making ongoing operating support contributions. The Wheels of Wellness program is constantly looking for financial support and anyone who has interest in supporting it can make a financial contribution as follows:

Wheels of Wellness
C/O Escambia County Healthcare Authority
PO Box 908
Brewton, AL 36427.