Abstract
Transportation as a major barrier to obtaining health care is well documented in literature. It is a major contributing factor to health disparities in urban and rural areas in the United States. A lack of transportation to and from a doctor’s office or other ancillary health care services worsened the medical conditions of individuals over time. The cost to society by inefficient use and distribution of health resources to promote the general wellbeing of communities is enormous. New technologies in the automobile industry have the potential to eliminate transportation as a barrier to receiving health care services regardless of a person’s socioeconomic status. Automotive technologies including autonomous, driverless and semiautonomous vehicles have the potential to improve how patients get to the doctor to receive health care services more efficiently and timely. However, government, especially public health, must play a critical role at this stage of these new technologies by being at the table to provide guidance on how the new technologies should benefit population and community health.
Highlights
The U.S Department of Health & Human Services defines a health disparity as a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage
Automotive technologies including autonomous, driverless and semiautonomous vehicles have the potential to improve how patients get to the doctor to receive health care services more efficiently and timely
A lack of access to health care services contributes disproportionately to poor health outcomes for urban and rural dwellers, and transportation is a major barrier for members of these communities in accessing health services
Summary
The U.S Department of Health & Human Services defines a health disparity as a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. Health disparities significantly affect urban dwellers, minority communities, and the poor, who have little access to transportation services. A lack of access to health care services contributes disproportionately to poor health outcomes for urban and rural dwellers, and transportation is a major barrier for members of these communities in accessing health services. Health disparities claim approximately 83,000 lives annually [2]. Everyone pays for the cost of health disparities either directly or indirectly, including businesses and governments [3]
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