Abstract
Health care policymakers have cited transportation barriers as key obstacles to providing health care to low-income suburbanites,
particularly because suburbs have become home to a growing number of recent immigrants who are less likely to own cars than
their neighbors. In a suburb of New York City, we conducted a pilot survey of low income, largely immigrant clients in four
public clinics, to find out how much transportation difficulties limit their access to primary care. Clients were receptive
to the opportunity to participate in the survey (response rate = 94%). Nearly one-quarter reported having transportation problems
that had caused them to miss or reschedule a clinic appointment in the past. Difficulties included limited and unreliable
local bus service, and a tenuous connection to a car. Our pilot work suggests that this population is willing to participate
in a survey on this topic. Further, since even among those attending clinic there was significant evidence of past transportation
problems, it suggests that a population-based survey would yield information about substantial transportation barriers to
health care.
particularly because suburbs have become home to a growing number of recent immigrants who are less likely to own cars than
their neighbors. In a suburb of New York City, we conducted a pilot survey of low income, largely immigrant clients in four
public clinics, to find out how much transportation difficulties limit their access to primary care. Clients were receptive
to the opportunity to participate in the survey (response rate = 94%). Nearly one-quarter reported having transportation problems
that had caused them to miss or reschedule a clinic appointment in the past. Difficulties included limited and unreliable
local bus service, and a tenuous connection to a car. Our pilot work suggests that this population is willing to participate
in a survey on this topic. Further, since even among those attending clinic there was significant evidence of past transportation
problems, it suggests that a population-based survey would yield information about substantial transportation barriers to
health care.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-010-9410-0
- Authors
- Diana Silver, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University, 35 West 4th Street, Room 1216, New York, NY 10003, USA
- Jan Blustein, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, 295 Lafayettte Street, New York, NY 10012, USA
- Beth C. Weitzman, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University, 82 Washington Square East, New York, NY 10003, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912