Erie VAMC offers new transportation program for medical care to local Veterans
PRESS RELEASE
May 31, 2023
Erie , PA — Pennsylvania Veterans are now able to participate in VA Uber Health Connect — an initiative which provides supplemental transportation to eligible Veterans needing access to and from medical care.
Based on survey feedback from 2,300 Veterans between March 2022 to January 2023, 83% of Veterans stated they would not have been able to access their medical care without the program.
"The VA Uber Health Connect Initiative bridges the transportation gap by ensuring Veterans have reliable transportation for their health care needs,” said National Lead of VA Uber Health Connect Indra Sandal, Ph.D. “By offering ridesharing as an additional means of transportation, VA is helping Veterans receive access to the best and soonest possible care — while still achieving cost savings.”
The VA Uber Health Connect Initiative launched as pilot program in 2022 at ten VA Medical Centers. From January 2022 to March 2023, VA Uber Health Connect completed more than 30,000 Uber rides across 408,529 miles for Veterans. These rides have increased access, improved clinical engagement and saved VA an estimated $35 million. The cost savings are in part from faster emergency department and inpatient discharges as well as closing the gap on an estimated 28,000 missed appointments.
This year, UBER Health Connect is expanding to nine new Veteran Integrated Service Networks and 60 VAMCs – Erie VAMC is in the preliminary stages of initiating the program.
According to the American Hospital Association, 3.6 million people in the United States do not obtain medical care due to transportation challenges. Children, older adults and Veterans are especially vulnerable to transportation barriers due to social isolation, underlying medical conditions and have a greater need for frequent clinician visits.
"Under the Beneficiary Travel program, this rideshare option offers transportation outside of normal business hours," says Erie VAMC Mobility Transportation Specialist Arthur Malecki, "it can help stranded patients with after hours appointments or those seeking treatment at the Urgent Care Center."
Learn more about Veterans Transportation Program (VTP)