The American Hospital Association said in 2017 that almost 4 million individuals in the United States mostly don’t seek medical attention for health conditions because they do not have access to reliable and safe rides.
In a related development, the findings of a previous meta-analysis of research on the relationship between rides and health revealed that up to 50% of patients in each of those studies indicated that rides were a significant barrier to receiving medical care. When it comes to those from socioeconomically disadvantaged levels, transportation issues are more severe, which is one of the primary reasons why the American Medical Association believes access to rides is a threat to health.
Throughout this article, we’ll discuss how lack of transportation may negatively impact a patient’s rehabilitation issues, as well as some of the ways that institutions and healthcare providers are supporting the removal of this challenge to high-quality patient treatment.
What Is the Relationship Between Access to Ride and Rehabilitation?
The term “ride disadvantaged” refers to more than just a lack of transportation options, whether private or public. Lack of funds for transportation, parking, or other fees might be a contributing factor. Having a difficult time getting about because of a lack of pedestrian or bicycle-friendly facilities is one example of this. If you have access to a vehicle and yet live in an area where the availability of medical resources is virtually impossible, you are also at a disadvantage.
A ride is needed for more than simply visiting a specialist; it is also necessary to go to a drugstore, have radiology or laboratory tests done, and go to a gym to work out comfortably.
If a patient is unable to get a ride throughout their rehabilitation, they are at greater risk of developing a variety of health issues in the future. Delaying or skipping visits with a primary care specialist might hurt rehabilitation patients’ ability to control their diseases and lower the likelihood of a significant relapse. Patients in poor socioeconomic status have a greater risk of developing health issues, according to studies. As a result, these individuals may be subjected to more expensive trips to the ER and longer stays in rehabilitation centers.
Patients who are unable to get a ride to and from their primary care doctor’s office may also have difficulty adhering to their doctor’s healthcare program and pharmaceutical routine that is advised to manage symptoms. This is less likely to be followed by rehab patients who are unable to travel consistently to and from a drugstore. Workout plans will be difficult for those who can’t go into a gym or other safe outdoor places.
Efforts to Improve Access to Rides
When it comes to getting medical treatment, many rehabilitation patients have to deal with ride-related barriers. There is no quick fix. Many examples exist of how businesses, governments, and non-profit groups are striving to tackle some of the issues. In need of in home care? Contact us!
Health Outreach Partners (HOP) produced a study in 2016 that recommended enhancements in five core areas:
Increasing the quality of ride services:
. Patients who are unable to leave their homes to visit rehab centers on their own might make use of special ride services provided by healthcare facilities. Patients who use public rides to go to and from their medical appointments may also benefit from these services, which may include offering rebates or tickets to those who use public rides to get to and from their medical appointments. Complete Care Transportation aims to continuously provide that excellent services for its clients.
. Instead of bringing the patient to the health center, this category comprises processes that deliver medical experts to the patients. Primary healthcare facilities at schools and workplaces, as well as mobile clinics and home health care, are all examples of this. As an alternative to a nice ride, e-health may be a community-based location for patients and providers alike.
. One option is to provide alternative working hours so that patients who are unable to attend their sessions between the typical 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. workdays can receive a timely diagnosis during the day, late afternoon, or on holidays. The idea is to reorganize facilities so that patients may meet all of their medical requirements under one umbrella (like we do at ChenMed), including a doctor’s appointment, laboratory tests, test results, and medication fulfillment.
In addition to the obvious health advantages, reducing mobility obstacles for our patients also has a positive impact on the financial line of local communities.
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