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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Amber Schickedanz, MPH, Monica L. Wendel, MA, MPH, James N. Burdine, DrPH, and Angela Alaniz, BA. Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1266, 979-458-8057, schickedanz@srph.tamhsc.edu

Transportation need is ranked as the number one barrier to accessing healthcare for rural residents surveyed in the Brazos Valley. Across a seven-county region, consisting of an urban center and six rural counties, rural residents report traveling an average of 25.6 miles for medical services, one-third (30.5%) of which travel forty-five minutes or more. The availability of affordable, consistent transportation in the rural counties is a concern not only felt in Central Texas, but across the nation.

The Brazos Valley Health Partnership (BVHP) was formed in 2002 and has since been working to address a variety of health needs, one being the lack of transportation, in the rural counties of the Brazos Valley. BVHP's transportation system has been in operation since March 2004. What started in one county with two volunteers has grown to encompass three counties and numerous volunteers. The system operates with the use of trained volunteer drivers, a centralized dispatcher, and a single minivan in each county. Originally, BVHP planned to provide 500 rides in the first year of operation. The expectation has been surpassed as over 4600 rides have been given to date (December 2005).

The issues of implementation, sustainability and liability are constantly being addressed by the BVHP. The BVHP plans to offer some type of transportation assistance in each of the six rural counties of the Brazos Valley in the coming future. They also hope to share their model as a best practice for others across the State of Texas and the nation.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe the need for transportation assistance in rural areas.
• 2. Identify methods and resources necessary for the development of a rural transportation system.
• 3. Describe implementation, sustainability and liability issues associated with a volunteer based transportation system.

Keywords: Access to Care, Community Collaboration

Related Web page: www.bvhp.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation