Transportation Considerations for Implementing Chronic Disease Management Programs

Transportation presents a challenge to chronic disease management in rural communities. For detailed information, see Barriers to Transportation in Rural Areas in the Rural Transportation Toolkit.

Implementing a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model, where patients see primary care providers and multiple specialists in one medical facility during their visit, can reduce patient travel burden. Primary care and specialty providers can help increase patient access by offering transportation services as part of the program. Rural communities may consider working with a local transportation authority to support non-medical transportation. If public transportation is not available within the community, rural programs may seek to coordinate ridesharing among program participants.

Mobile care services or mobile health clinics also offer a way to bring chronic disease management specialists such as endocrinologists or respiratory therapists into rural communities.

For more information about transportation considerations and successful strategies, see the Rural Transportation Toolkit and Transportation to Support Rural Healthcare topic guide.