New Jersey hospital network expands transportation assistance program

RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey is helping patients who struggle with transportation to medical appointments. The hospital network teamed up with Uber Health to provide free rides for underserved patients. The project started after Balpreet Grewal-Virk, a senior official at RWJBarnabas, listened to local nonprofits and residents about the difficulties many face in reaching healthcare services. Many patients do not have cars and find it hard to access doctors, pharmacies, and healthy food options. With $25 million in state funding, the partnership began in November 2023 at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Since then, the program has expanded to five more hospitals, using an additional $50 million in funding. So far, the initiative has provided over 47,440 rides, helping patients keep their appointments and pick up medications. Harry Hartfield from Uber praised the collaboration for improving patient care. Researchers agree that access to transportation is crucial for health. They note that those with better access to transit have improved health outcomes. Mark Jackson, a patient who benefited from the rides, shared his experience. He found it difficult to reach his housing shelter due to bronchitis but is grateful for the help. He was connected to a community health worker after his emergency room visit. The worker assessed his needs and enrolled him in the program to access Uber rides. RWJBarnabas plans to expand this service to more communities later this year. The initiative aims to address various barriers that keep individuals from being healthy, showing that hospitals can play a key role in their communities' well-being.