Lake County DAV Transportation Network

The DAV Transportation Network is the only way many veterans are able get to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities for needed treatment.  They're men and women who answered our country's call in times of war.  Many lost limbs, sight, hearing, or good health.  And many live a great distance from a VA hospital. 

With fixed incomes, the cost of transportation to a VA hospital is just too high.  They're left with two choices.  They could go without the treatment they need, or skimp on food or other necessities to pay for transportation. 

Veterans disabled in our nation's service should never face such dire options.  So DAV and Auxiliary volunteers respond, driving vets to and from VA hospitals and clinics.  Other grateful Americans are helping too. 

The network is administered by DAV Hospital Service Coordinators (HSCs) at the VA's 172 medical centers.  The DAV has also donated vans, where needed, to make the program work.  All DAV van drivers are volunteers and do not receive payment for the services they provide. 

Across the nation, more than 196 HSCs operate more than 180 active programs at VA hospitals and outpatient clinics.  These HSCs have recruited a corps of nearly 5,000 volunteer drivers whom they coordinate to provide transportation for veterans needing this service.  Additionally DAV Departments and Chapters purchase and donate most of the vans to the VA medical facilities for use in the Transportation Network.  DAV HSCs also help veterans file claims for VA benefits, and refer veterans to DAV National Service Officers for professional benefits assistance.

All DAV van drivers are volunteers and do not receive payment for the services they provide.

Contact Information

Be a Volunteer Driver

1. Contact the local coordinator at (605) 291-9423
2. Complete these forms: (all four required)
3. Send the completed application forms to:  
   Lake County Veterans Service Officer
   200 E Center St
   Madison SD 57042

Form #	Form Name	Online Form Link
VA Form 10-7055	Application for Voluntary Service
VA Form 10-5345	Request for and Authorization to release Medical Records or Health Information
OF 345	Physical Fitness Inquiry for Motor Vehicle Operator
xxx	Supplemental Volunteer Application Form (no current form number)

Procedure information for riding the Lake County DAV van

1. Please call the County Coordinator (605)291-9423 as far in advance of your appointment as you can.  This helps the coordinator know how many times the van will be going in a week’s time.
2. If you need a spouse or care helper to ride the DAV van this also must be mentioned.
3. Pickup and departure will be from the North Parking Lot of the Lake County Courthouse, located at 200 E Center St, Madison SD.
4. If an appointment is cancelled it is your responsibility to notify the DAV Van Coordinator.  Call (605) 291-9423 to cancel your ride on the van.  Do this as soon as you are notified of the cancellation or you decide not to keep your appointment.  If you do not notify the coordinator this will count against you for future rides in the van.  Three counts of not notifying the coordinator of a cancellation or missing the van and you will be off future listings.
   
   The volunteer drivers are here to provide you with this service.  Your cooperation with the above procedures is greatly appreciated.

Rules and Regulations to Ride the DAV van

The following Rules and Regulations have been established by the VA and DAV National Headquarters – Not by the volunteer drivers.

• The DAV van driver is not to lift or attend medically to any patient.
• The DAV van driver is only permitted to stop the van at rest stops and/or emergency and to pickup and discharge passengers.  Passengers should not request the driver to make side trips to take care of their personal business.
• Passengers are not permitted to smoke, chew tobacco, drink alcohol, or use foul language or bring weapons, drugs, or any illegal substance on the van.  Further the van driver may not provide transportation to any veteran who is intoxicated, abusive, or poses a threat to the driver or other passengers on the van.
• Passengers will not engage in any activity that will distract the drivers’ attention.
• Passengers will wear seat belts at all times.  Any passenger refusing to buckle-up will be denied transportation on the van.
• All trash must be placed in the proper trash receptacle.
• Individuals other than the veteran will be permitted to ride in the van with the veteran on only two cases.  Any exceptions to this policy must be authorized by the patients attending physician;
1. A veteran’s spouse who has a “Spouse Permission to Travel” slip from the patients doctor, or
2. A caregiver who is authorized by the VA to provide the veteran with “Aid and Attendance.”
• Patients being discharged or granted passes may be transported on a DAV van during the van’s trip back to its home city only if space is available.  The patient must be ready to leave when the van departs the VA Medical Center.
• Patients should be dressed and ready to leave for the hospital at the time specified.  The driver can not wait for patients.  It is the responsibility of the veteran or his/her family member to contact the DAV HSC as soon as possible regarding appointment cancellations or changes.
• Only articles small enough to be held on the veterans lap or put under the seat will be transported in the DAV van.
• The driver may refuse to transport any veteran who he feels is too ill to ride the van and the driver may request a written statement from a VA physician stating it’s permissible for the veteran to travel.
• Patients utilizing the DAV Transportation Network will not be eligible to receive reimbursement for travel expenses (M-1, Part 1, Chapter 5).

Driver Reference Materials

Motor Vehicle Trip Log
Veterans Patient Log
Permission Travel Slip