Unpacking transportation barriers and facilitators to accessing health care: Interviews with care coordinators

Abstract

Care coordinators—which include social workers, nurses, and other professionals who address health-related social needs—have unique perspectives on transportation barriers to health care. They understand both the transportation challenges that individuals may face, and also the facilitators (i.e., solutions) available to help overcome these challenges. We conducted in-depth interviews with care coordinators in North Carolina to expound upon the multiple transportation barriers to accessing health care identified in previous studies, as well as the specific facilitators being employed to alleviate them. Analyzing these interviews using a flexible coding approach, we found that no single facilitator can address all of the various transportation barriers. Instead a multi-pronged approach is required. The findings also provide insights on how care coordinators can broaden their support offered to individuals experiencing transportation barriers to accessing health care.

Keywords

• Care Coordination
• Health
• Interviews
• Transportation Disadvantage