Rideshare services for transportation assistance in gynecologic oncology: a quality improvement study
Abstract Objective Transportation barriers can lead to delays in care and suboptimal treatment. Our objective was to assess the utilization of a novel transportation pilot intervention in gynecologic oncology. Methods Since May 2022, we have provided donor-funded transportation to patients receiving...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12296-6 |
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| author | Anna Jo Smith Sam Pancoe Mary Pat Lynch Megan Wachlin Kristina Powell Stefanie N. Hinkle Nathanael C. Koelper Meredith Doherty Justin E. Bekelman Fiona Simpkins Emily M. Ko |
| author_facet | Anna Jo Smith Sam Pancoe Mary Pat Lynch Megan Wachlin Kristina Powell Stefanie N. Hinkle Nathanael C. Koelper Meredith Doherty Justin E. Bekelman Fiona Simpkins Emily M. Ko |
| author_sort | Anna Jo Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective Transportation barriers can lead to delays in care and suboptimal treatment. Our objective was to assess the utilization of a novel transportation pilot intervention in gynecologic oncology. Methods Since May 2022, we have provided donor-funded transportation to patients receiving gynecologic cancer treatment at 5 University of Pennsylvania practices. Patients are screened for transportation barriers at first visit and re-screened during care. Patients who screen positive are referred to the intervention, a HIPAA-compliant ride-sharing service. There are no income or insurance restrictions; distance was limited to 25 miles. We report descriptive statistics on ride completion, distance traveled, and cost. Results In the 15-month pilot, 133 of 4,376 patients (3%) screened positive, and 48 (1%) patients received rides. Of 85 patients who screened positive, but did not receive ride-sharing, 43 (51%) had transportation assistance through their insurance, 12 (14%) lived more than 25 miles away, and the remainder (30; 35%) identified alternative transportation. Patients who received transportation assistance were more likely to be older, self-identify as a race other than white, have Medicare or Medicaid insurance, and have a higher ECOG score than the overall patient population. Eight patients received a single ride, and the rest (n = 40) received multiple rides (range 2–30) for total of 417 rides. The mean time via ride-sharing was 19.5 min shorter than public transportation, and mean cost of a one-way trip was $25.75 (range $13.83–129.91). Conclusion A rideshare service served a socially-vulnerable population and reduced commute times to oncology visits, which may contribute to more equitable access to cancer care. Further research on clinical outcomes is needed to understand the impact of transportation assistance on equitable cancer care delivery. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-69d879b17bfe423fb38b30d89db3a23e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-69d879b17bfe423fb38b30d89db3a23e2025-08-20T02:48:17ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-02-012511810.1186/s12913-025-12296-6Rideshare services for transportation assistance in gynecologic oncology: a quality improvement studyAnna Jo Smith0Sam Pancoe1Mary Pat Lynch2Megan Wachlin3Kristina Powell4Stefanie N. Hinkle5Nathanael C. Koelper6Meredith Doherty7Justin E. Bekelman8Fiona Simpkins9Emily M. Ko10Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Health SystemsThomas Jefferson UniversityAbramson Cancer Center, Pennsylvania HospitalAbramson Cancer Center, Pennsylvania HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Health SystemsDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Health SystemsDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Health SystemsLeonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Health SystemsLeonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Health SystemsDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Health SystemsDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Health SystemsAbstract Objective Transportation barriers can lead to delays in care and suboptimal treatment. Our objective was to assess the utilization of a novel transportation pilot intervention in gynecologic oncology. Methods Since May 2022, we have provided donor-funded transportation to patients receiving gynecologic cancer treatment at 5 University of Pennsylvania practices. Patients are screened for transportation barriers at first visit and re-screened during care. Patients who screen positive are referred to the intervention, a HIPAA-compliant ride-sharing service. There are no income or insurance restrictions; distance was limited to 25 miles. We report descriptive statistics on ride completion, distance traveled, and cost. Results In the 15-month pilot, 133 of 4,376 patients (3%) screened positive, and 48 (1%) patients received rides. Of 85 patients who screened positive, but did not receive ride-sharing, 43 (51%) had transportation assistance through their insurance, 12 (14%) lived more than 25 miles away, and the remainder (30; 35%) identified alternative transportation. Patients who received transportation assistance were more likely to be older, self-identify as a race other than white, have Medicare or Medicaid insurance, and have a higher ECOG score than the overall patient population. Eight patients received a single ride, and the rest (n = 40) received multiple rides (range 2–30) for total of 417 rides. The mean time via ride-sharing was 19.5 min shorter than public transportation, and mean cost of a one-way trip was $25.75 (range $13.83–129.91). Conclusion A rideshare service served a socially-vulnerable population and reduced commute times to oncology visits, which may contribute to more equitable access to cancer care. Further research on clinical outcomes is needed to understand the impact of transportation assistance on equitable cancer care delivery.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12296-6Cancer care deliveryTransportationSocial determinants of healthGynecologic oncologyMedicaid |
| spellingShingle | Anna Jo Smith Sam Pancoe Mary Pat Lynch Megan Wachlin Kristina Powell Stefanie N. Hinkle Nathanael C. Koelper Meredith Doherty Justin E. Bekelman Fiona Simpkins Emily M. Ko Rideshare services for transportation assistance in gynecologic oncology: a quality improvement study BMC Health Services Research Cancer care delivery Transportation Social determinants of health Gynecologic oncology Medicaid |
| title | Rideshare services for transportation assistance in gynecologic oncology: a quality improvement study |
| title_full | Rideshare services for transportation assistance in gynecologic oncology: a quality improvement study |
| title_fullStr | Rideshare services for transportation assistance in gynecologic oncology: a quality improvement study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rideshare services for transportation assistance in gynecologic oncology: a quality improvement study |
| title_short | Rideshare services for transportation assistance in gynecologic oncology: a quality improvement study |
| title_sort | rideshare services for transportation assistance in gynecologic oncology a quality improvement study |
| topic | Cancer care delivery Transportation Social determinants of health Gynecologic oncology Medicaid |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12296-6 |
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