‘Teleportation Can’t Be the Only Way:’ Improving Transportation Equity for Medical Appointments in Hampton Roads Using QI Interventions.
Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
Transportation can impact whether patients receive medical care or not. To better understand transportation equity from the patient’s perspective, our team embarked on a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) study in Hampton Roads (HR). This presentation highlights Phase 1 qualitative findings and the resulting Phase 2 intervention plan for the project. In Phase 2, we developed a QI-focused intervention using a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework to improve access to care and to evaluate whether specific elements of the intervention were more beneficial to patients facing barriers.This prospective, CBPR mixed-methods study was conducted in partnership with the Hampton Roads Community Collaborative (HRCC). From June–December 2024, adults ≥18 years were recruited through convenience sampling at HR, free community events and EVMS-affiliated Medicine clinics. In addition to quantitative data, three forms of qualitative data were collected from community members and EVMS patients and included questionnaires (N=252), semi-structured interviews (n=27), and public observations (n=24) of transportation used for medical appointments. Qualitative data were coded via first (i.e., descriptive, In Vivo) and second round codes (i.e., SDoH barriers, supports, equity) with iterative refinement and triangulation across three sources. Qualitative data analysis identified three major themes: Disconnection, Personal Strategy, and Human Assistance. Structural/system barriers were the most frequently reported transportation challenges (192-interviews; 44-HRCQ; 9-observations). Human assistance and personal strategy emerged as key supports, mitigating barriers. Phase 1 findings highlighted complex transportation barriers that patients face in Hampton Roads and informed the initial plan for the project’s intervention (Summer 2026). Phase 2 data collection (transportation driver interviews) will inform future iterations of the intervention as quality improvement. In collaboration with the HRCC, the intervention plan is to advance transportation equity through electronic resource flyers, interactive maps, and short form videos to empower patients as they navigate transportation and outpatient clinic access - before they arrive for their appointment. During the implementation, further data collection for QI purposes will refine the interventions to optimize their impact on the multifaceted issues of this complex problem in healthcare for both patients and ambulatory clinics.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Julie D Sill, PhD
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
silljd@odu.edu
College/School Affiliation
Eastern Virginia School of Medicine
Student Level Group
Medical
Presentation Type
Poster
‘Teleportation Can’t Be the Only Way:’ Improving Transportation Equity for Medical Appointments in Hampton Roads Using QI Interventions.
Transportation can impact whether patients receive medical care or not. To better understand transportation equity from the patient’s perspective, our team embarked on a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) study in Hampton Roads (HR). This presentation highlights Phase 1 qualitative findings and the resulting Phase 2 intervention plan for the project. In Phase 2, we developed a QI-focused intervention using a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework to improve access to care and to evaluate whether specific elements of the intervention were more beneficial to patients facing barriers.This prospective, CBPR mixed-methods study was conducted in partnership with the Hampton Roads Community Collaborative (HRCC). From June–December 2024, adults ≥18 years were recruited through convenience sampling at HR, free community events and EVMS-affiliated Medicine clinics. In addition to quantitative data, three forms of qualitative data were collected from community members and EVMS patients and included questionnaires (N=252), semi-structured interviews (n=27), and public observations (n=24) of transportation used for medical appointments. Qualitative data were coded via first (i.e., descriptive, In Vivo) and second round codes (i.e., SDoH barriers, supports, equity) with iterative refinement and triangulation across three sources. Qualitative data analysis identified three major themes: Disconnection, Personal Strategy, and Human Assistance. Structural/system barriers were the most frequently reported transportation challenges (192-interviews; 44-HRCQ; 9-observations). Human assistance and personal strategy emerged as key supports, mitigating barriers. Phase 1 findings highlighted complex transportation barriers that patients face in Hampton Roads and informed the initial plan for the project’s intervention (Summer 2026). Phase 2 data collection (transportation driver interviews) will inform future iterations of the intervention as quality improvement. In collaboration with the HRCC, the intervention plan is to advance transportation equity through electronic resource flyers, interactive maps, and short form videos to empower patients as they navigate transportation and outpatient clinic access - before they arrive for their appointment. During the implementation, further data collection for QI purposes will refine the interventions to optimize their impact on the multifaceted issues of this complex problem in healthcare for both patients and ambulatory clinics.