The Rural Health Care Transportation Dilemma

  • Author: A Conrick
  • Date: July 10, 2018

It is no surprise that mobility barriers vary greatly by geographic location. Communities in rural and urban areas face different sets of challenges when accessing affordable and reliable transportation.

In particular, it is critical to understand the impact that an individual's zip code can have in regards to mobility options for accessing health care and other social services. The shifting landscapes of health care in these communities have serious impacts on residents’ mobility and ability to access critical health care services. In recent years, rural hospitals and patients have experienced a loss of specialists to urban areas, and a growing number of local hospitals or clinics closing their doors, which leads to individuals having to go further and further to receive necessary care.

When mobility suffers, health declines. A recent info card from the Community Transportation Association of America discusses this connection, the shifting health care landscape, and ideas for steps mobility managers can take when addressing these issues. Read the info card here.

Image Credit:Valdosta-Lowndes MPO, Flickr, CC BY 2.0

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