Transportation Needs
Transportation touches many aspects of a person’s life, adequate and reliable transportation services are fundamental to healthy communities. Transportation issues can affect a person’s access to health care services
Transportation is one of the most overlooked factors in the social determinants of health (SDOH). Because of the lack of transportation, 3.6 million Americans missed their health appointment(American Hospital Association, 2019). Transportation plays a crucial role in an individual's access to healthcare services, education, employment status, nutritional options, and more.
The availability and accessibility of transportation can have a tremendous impact on health outcomes. Individuals who face challenges in transportation will struggle to attend medical appointments, checkups, and access to care (Gupta, 2018). As a result of this, it can result in delayed diagnoses, poor management of chronic diseases, lack of annual checkups, and overall bad health outcomes.
Key Points and Resources
References
Gupta, R. S. (2018). Bridging gaps to promote health equity: The role of allergy and immunology. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 6(2), 399–403.
United States Congress. (2015). Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, Pub. L. No.1 14-94, 129 Stat. 1312.
Transportation Research Board. (2005). Does the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity? Examining the Evidence—Special Report 282. National Academies Press.
American Hospital Association. (2019). Transportation and the Role of Hospitals. https://www.aha.org/system/files/2019-11/aha-transportation-report.pdf