Geisinger Takes Aim at Rural Patient Transportation Issues with Pilot Program

Danville, Pennsylvania-based Geisinger has created a transportation program with rabbittransit, a public transportation provider for patients in York, Pennsylvania, who need help getting to and from medical appointments.

The pilot program was announced by Jaewon Ryu, MD, executive vice president and CMO of Geisinger at a company-sponsored event earlier this month. Geisinger is proposing two pilot transportation projects: an urban program in northeast Pennsylvania and a rural program in central Pennsylvania, both made possible by community partnerships.

A referral from staff will initiate the process, after which a mobility manager will review and assess the information and screen the applicant. The health system will then send trip requests and reserve rides for patients via phone, form, or digital portal, and staff will perform follow-ups at three months and six months to assess client needs.

Geisinger also plans to extend transportation options for nonclinical, health-related activities, such as obtaining social services, getting to grocery stores, traveling to a pharmacy to pick up medication, or applying for government benefits.

Spurred by a tremendous rate of appointment no-shows, Geiser sought solutions in spite of the challenges of creating and managing a transportation program like this one.

The first pilot will hit the streets of Pennsylvania in April. 

Read more at Becker’s Hospital Review