The blessing of hospice transport

“We are the only hospice we know of who is able to arrange our own transportation,” Mesilla Valley Hospice Chief Operating Officer Mario Prieto said Sept. 24, after MVH’s first ever non-emergency transport vehicle received a blessing and became available for use.

With MVH staff and volunteers on hand, the transport vehicle was blessed Thursday morning, Sept. 24, at MVHS, 299 Montana Ave., by Father George Szal, who provides spiritual guidance as a member of the MVH staff.

The vehicle was donated to MVH in March by the Mesilla Valley Fire Department. Using a vehicle wrap, the one-time fire truck was refitted with MVH’s colors, logo and contact information, and was brought into full compliance as a transport vehicle. 

“We are so grateful to the Town of Mesilla, the Fire Department, Mesilla Fire Chief Greg Whited and Will Martinez of the department for the donation,” Prieto said.

Having the vehicle means MVH can transport patients to the hospice from a hospital or a private home, Prieto said, which provides another important service to the families of MVH patients, and it means hospitals won’t have to hold a bed for a patient while waiting for transport or be responsible for the transport.

For MVH, it means patient transports from hospitals can take place immediately, Prieto said, rather than a wait of four-six hours for an ambulance to become available.

The hospice has 12 in-patient rooms, and its La Posada Assisted Living facility has 18 residential rooms. Residents also have access to an activity room, a beauty salon, family common areas, a dining room, a community kitchen/bistro area and multiple enclosed gardens. MVH opened its doors in 1982 and remains the community’s only locally based, nonprofit hospice service. La Posada opened in 1998.

For more information, visit mvhospice.org.