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Nolanville unveils new ENDEAVRide taxi, telemedicine service

Posted at 9:27 PM, Nov 06, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-07 08:59:31-05

NOLANVILLE, TX — ENDEAVR Institute, a nonprofit organization founded by a group of professors at Texas A&M University, is looking to launch a new taxi and telemedicine service in Nolanville.

Many people in Nolanville are having a tough time making it to the doctor’s office.

“We’ve had so many church members driving people with our cars, or people that are disabled and need to go to the doctor...dialysis, blood work, trauma. There’s not enough of us to take them,” said Nolanville First United Methodist Church Pastor Patricia Warden.

This is especially true during the pandemic.

“It’s just really difficult for people to get into the taxi’s, Ubers. It’s way beyond what they can afford.”

Now, Nolanville is introducing a new free service.

“We put taxi service and telemedicine vehicle in the same vehicle,” said Dr. Wei Li, Associate Professor of Transportation Planning at Texas A&M University and one of the volunteers at the ENDEAVR Institute.

The self-driving ENDEAVRide is the first of its kind in the nation.

Residents can get unlimited taxi service to places within 20 miles of Nolanville City Court. They can also get free virtual doctor visits.

“Get your temperature, blood pressure, oxygen, saturation level and weight...all these vital signs can be taken,” said Li.

“Many people here don’t have internet. It’ll really be a big help they can pull up and take it there,” said Warden.

You can also listen to your heart, check your lungs and ears in the vehicle.

The self-driving technology was donated by WOCSOR LLC. An assistant will travel in the vehicle to help patients as needed. They plan to begin the service later this month.