Lifeline transportation project to improve health care access in district with excess hospitalization for chronic disease

Department of Public Health (DPH) staff assisted the Bayview Hunters Point Foundation for Community Improvement (BVHPF) to launch the Partnership to Improve Bayview Hunters Point Community Transport to Health Care Settings and Health-Related Services. The SF County Transportation Authority awarded BVHPF three years of Lifeline Transportation grant funds totaling $924 thousand, to begin in spring 2007. The award funds a Community Shuttle for access to clinical care and health-related services within BVHP and access to subspecialty care at the SFGH Medical Center, 3 miles from this district. Other services include taxi voucher access to clinical care appointments outside of BVHP with the purpose of promoting improved chronic disease management for 90 patients/year with asthma, COPD and diabetes. The Partnership includes the participation of a variety of community and local health service providers as stakeholders, as well as DPH, the Hospital Council and its African American Health Disparity Project. Sustained structural change beyond the grant period is desired through demonstrating the public transit needs of this community for health care access, both to locations within and apart from the geographic district. The public transit entities planning for the long-term efficiency of public transit will be engaged to consider health care access issues. Clinicians will be engaged in referring patients with chronic disease into transportation services. Social marketing strategies will be employed to gain community support for using the services and advocating for their sustainability.