Rideshare Service Eases Access to Gynecologic Cancer Care and Mitigates Barriers for Patients

A study led by PC3I Faculty members Anna Jo Smith, MD, MPH, MSc and Emily M. Ko, MD, MSCR found that a rideshare service helped reduce commute times and addressed transportation barriers for socially vulnerable oncology patients, improving access to cancer care. Because transportation barriers can lead to missed appointments, treatment delays, and suboptimal treatment, this study explored how a rideshare pilot program could help gynecologic oncology patients get to their appointments faster and more consistently. 

Findings published in the BioMed Central (BCM) Health Services Research found that the rideshare-based transportation assistance program helped reduce commute times for gynecologic oncology patients facing transportation barriers by an average of 19.5 minutes compared to those using public transportation. The program primarily served socially vulnerable populations by providing 417 rides to 48 patients over 15 months, helping alleviate barriers to cancer care. To be integrated into broader clinical practice, further research is needed to assess the program’s impact on clinical outcomes and to explore scalability across diverse health system settings. For more information, visit the Transportation Assistance in Gynecologic Oncology project page.