Statistics & Facts
The Absence of Transportation Results in Missed Medical Appointments
Last year, as per the research conducted by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, nearly 21% of adults in the United States encountered inadequate access to transportation, which resulted in them being unable to receive essential medical treatment. These findings demonstrate the significant impact of transportation barriers on healthcare utilization.
It’s not enough for services to be available; they must also be affordable and within reach. Unfortunately, transportation issues can prevent patients from receiving the care they need, seriously affecting their long-term health. There’s still much to learn about the relationship between national transport models, public transportation, and healthcare access and how these factors impact health equity.
By examining public transportation accessibility, researchers gained valuable insights into the transportation-related challenges faced by those seeking healthcare, indicating the significance of equitable healthcare access. By analyzing survey data nationwide, it was found that individuals who were minorities, disabled, low-income, insured by public health insurance, resided in rural communities, and healthcare transportation obstacles disproportionately impacted those lacking household transportation. Furthermore, over 20% of individuals without personal transportation reported passing up healthcare due to difficulty with transport, even if they lived in a neighborhood with excellent or poor public transportation.
The report found that those who lacked transportation tended to miss medical appointments more frequently than those with access to public transit options in their neighborhood. Skipping appointments was reported by a significantly more significant percentage of these people (9%) than those with nearby transit services.
For adults who don’t have a vehicle, the ability to find adequate transportation can be a hindrance to accessing necessary healthcare. In areas where public transit is evaluated as fair or poor, 21 percent of individuals reported that difficulties with transportation prevented them from getting the care they needed. On the other hand, of those who reside in neighborhoods with excellent, very good, or reasonable access to public transit, only 9 percent faced this issue.
For those who do not have a car, residing in areas with limited public transportation access has been shown to inhibit access to necessary healthcare services. Individuals who reported living in neighborhoods with fair to poor public transit access were significantly more likely to miss appointments due to transportation difficulties than those who said good or excellent neighborhood access.
Access to Healthcare for Individuals Without Transportation Can Be Improved With Various Solutions.
To ensure access to health care, it’s crucial to have not just affordable care but also one that’s within reach. Skipping or foregoing medical visits due to transport barriers can severely impact overall health. We must comprehend the national transportation patterns and how public transit affects accessibility to medical care to ensure health equity. The significance of transportation for long-term health is not ignored.
This research delves into transportation obstacles to accessing healthcare, emphasizing the significance of public transit in ensuring equitable access to treatment.
Based on a nationally representative survey, the analysis reveals that these obstacles mainly burden individuals with low incomes, disabilities, public health insurance coverage, residence in rural areas, and inadequate vehicle access. Furthermore, Black and Hispanic/Latinx communities are disproportionately impacted. Remarkably, we found that over 20% of adults residing in areas with substandard public transit, who don’t have access to a vehicle, miss out on necessary medical care because of transportation challenges.
Citation
1. Lack of transportation often leads to skipped medical care. (n.d.) Retrieved May 4, 2023, from www.medicaleconomics.com
2. Poor Access to Transportation Often Leads to Missed Medical Care. (n.d.) Retrieved May 4, 2023, from www.patientcareonline.com
3. More than One in Five Adults with Limited Public Transit Access Forgo Health Care Because of Transportation Barriers | Urban Institute. (n.d.) Retrieved May 4, 2023, from www.urban.org
4. Report: 20% of Americans Skip Healthcare Due to Transportation Barriers. (n.d.) Retrieved May 4, 2023, from hitconsultant.net
Originally published at https://www.newsbreak.com.
