Transportation remains one of the greatest barriers to increasing Veterans’ access to health care. Veterans may face a wide range of transportation challenges ranging from not having access to transportation to relying on a caregiver who may be unavailable or to needing a long-distance drive to their nearest VA.
Following a successful pilot at 10 VA medical centers in 2022, the VHA-Uber Health Connect (VUHC) Initiative is now expanding to 60 new VAMCs to continue addressing this challenge. Eligible Veterans in 18 states and Puerto Rico will have access to supplemental transportation to and from their medical care, expanding access to the soonest and best care.
The start of the VHA-Uber Health Connect Initiative
In collaboration with VHA Innovation Ecosystem (VHA IE), the Veteran Transportation Program and Uber Health, VUHC first launched across 10 VAMCs between January 2022 and April 2023. Dr. Indra Sandal started VUHC as a 2021 Entrepreneur in Residence Fellow with VHA IE. The program proved a success with more than 32,000 rides completed across over 450,000 miles.
“My main goal was to improve Veterans’ mobility experience and access to care, but there was the added bonus of saving VA money with this program,” said Dr. Sandal, national lead for VUHC and chief of innovation at James A Haley VA in Tampa, Florida.
Survey feedback from 2,300 participants shows that 83% of Veterans would not have been able to access their medical care without the VUHC program.
Program reaches phase two
Since expanding in April 2023, VA staff have been eager to offer the program as another means of transportation for eligible Veterans. Jennifer Gerrib, assistant director for Malcom Randall VA in Gainesville, Florida, said, “I first heard about the program a year ago and I knew we had to have this program at our facility. I am very excited to have it here in Gainesville.”
From April to June 2023, VUHC completed more than 5,700 rides, making an immediate and tangible impact on Veterans’ access to care. “We are seeing an incredible impact already. Facilities in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Southern Nevada have already reached over 600 rides in those three months alone,” said Dr. Sandal.
Helping Veterans reach their VA care
Veterans continue to share positive feedback about their VUHC experiences. One Veteran at South Texas VA said, “The flexibility to request a ride when I am ready with a quick turnaround has been a game changer for me as an elderly Veteran.”
Ishmael Kwakwa, mobility manager for Pittsburgh VA, credited the early success of the program to teamwork, including his facility’s transportation staff who worked carefully to ensure a smooth roll out.
As the program expands, more Veterans across the country will have increased access to reliable transportation and fewer barriers to care. Eligible Veterans needing access to and from medical care may contact their primary Beneficiary Travel point of contact to learn more about VHA Uber-Health Connect Initiative at their facility.
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