The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey has awarded a $50,000 grant to goHunterdon to continue the organization’s successful Hunterdon Healthcare Transportation Access Project. The project, launched in January 2020, addresses the transportation barriers of adult and older adult patients of Hunterdon Healthcare, who have been identified as transportation dependent and at risk of missing appointments.

The goals of the project are to reduce the number of missed patient appointments, improve patient compliance with follow up care and health outcomes, and reduce emergency department visits and hospital readmissions.

Patients referred by care coordinators at Hunterdon Healthcare affiliated practices are provided with free rides to appointments. Nearly 500 rides have been provided to date. This grant award will allow the program to continue through 2023.

The program is meeting its stated goals. As a result of this project, less than 1% of patients missed appointments due to a lack of transportation as compared to 7% in the prior year. However, the impact on patients goes beyond keeping appointments. One participant had been told that her treatment plan would require weekly follow up visits. The patient, who did not drive, was concerned that she would need to miss appointments if she could not afford the cost of transportation. When informed that the Horizon grant would cover the rides and that goHunterdon would make the ride arrangements, the patient cried, knowing that she would not have to worry about the cost or getting to her needed appointments.

“goHunterdon is proud to play a part in improving access to healthcare and expanding transportation options for Hunterdon residents who are unable to drive or do not have friends or family to provide a ride,” says Tara Shepherd, Executive Director. “We are grateful to the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey for recognizing this need in our community and entrusting us to facilitate the program for those in need.”

The mission of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is to support organizations that make New Jersey healthier. Since its formation in 2004, The Foundation has awarded more than 1,500 grants and more than $56.9 million in support of non-profit organizations that have improved public health and the quality of life in New Jersey.

For information about the Hunterdon Healthcare Transportation Access Project, contact Tara Shepherd, tshepherd@gohunterdon.org.