With home healthcare, there are times when a patient's case is closed or they are discharged due to a lack of follow-up with their PCP after hospitalization. Home health services are covered by insurance or Medicare, which often require a PCP to oversee the care plan. Various factors can impact a patient's access to healthcare. One is the lack of reliable transportation. The lack of access to transportation can cause harm. But how do the two relate?
1. Missed Appointments and Delayed Care
Patients who struggle with transportation might miss or delay their medical appointments. For those with chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, regular check-ups are essential. Missing these can worsen their health and lead to more serious problems. As healthcare providers, it's crucial to recognize this and help find solutions, like coordinating rides, offering telehealth options, or being flexible with scheduling.
2. Increased Emergency Room Visits
When patients can’t get to regular appointments due to transportation issues, they often end up in the emergency room for problems that could have been handled earlier. This increases healthcare costs and puts extra pressure on emergency services. For patients, it can mean longer waits and less personalized care. As healthcare providers, recognizing this can help you advocate for better support systems so patients receive timely and appropriate care.
3. Mental Health Impacts and Social Isolation
Lack of transportation can lead to mental health issues and isolation, especially for elderly or disabled patients. Regular medical visits provide essential social interaction, and without them, patients may become depressed or anxious, worsening their health. Home health therapists can help by spotting isolation and connecting patients with community support.
Below are some resources that my colleagues and I have previously used to help patients access free or low-cost transportation options.
New York, NY:
https://angelcareny.com/non-emergency-medical-transportation-services-in-new-york/
https://home.nyc.gov/site/dfta/services/transportation.page
Central Florida:
https://wecarecentralflorida.org/project-ride-to-health-2/
https://www.sunshinehealth.com/members/LongTermCare/BenefitsAndServices/transportation-services.html
Baltimore, Maryland: