Roadblocks to Rural Health: State Transportation Policies' Impact on Health Care Access in Virginia's Rural...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities Research
• Rural Health

Background:

• Transportation barriers significantly contribute to health disparities, particularly in rural settings.
• Access to healthcare services, like cancer screening, can be hindered by logistical challenges.
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serve vulnerable populations often facing transportation issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and address unexpected transportation barriers impacting cancer screening at rural FQHCs.
• To evaluate the effect of improved road signage on patient access and screening rates.
• To demonstrate the value of engaging nontraditional partners, such as transportation agencies.

Main Methods:

• A community-based participatory project was conducted between 2021-2022 in rural Virginia.
• Identified Department of Transportation policy on road signage as an actionable barrier.
• Advocated for and implemented improved signage directing patients to a rural FQHC.

Main Results:

• Successful advocacy led to the installation of road signs for a rural FQHC.
• Cancer screening rates at the FQHC showed an increase following the signage improvement.
• This intervention highlights the impact of regulatory and infrastructure-related barriers.

Conclusions:

• Addressing regulatory-level transportation barriers is crucial for reducing health disparities.
• Engaging nontraditional partners, like transportation departments, can yield significant public health improvements.
• Policy changes related to infrastructure, such as road signage, can improve healthcare access and utilization.