Rural Healthcare and Transportation Deployment Planning (Report No. CR2C2-2025-P1-2)

Despite impressive growth in telehealth services over the past 10 years, the overwhelming majority of health care visits are still conducted in person. Getting to a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital can be challenging for individuals who are unable to drive, either because they have a medical condition that prevents them from doing so or they are dealing with personal circumstances that prevent them from accessing a vehicle. When patients miss appointments due to transportation barriers they suffer worse health outcomes, and it results in lost revenues for health care facilities. Rideshare services or shuttle services offer a promising avenue for improving health care access for people who require assistance getting to appointments. Combining statistical analysis and simulation modeling, this report evaluates the costs and benefits of introducing a shuttle service at UK HealthCare, which is one of the largest health care providers in the state of Kentucky. Its facilities in Lexington draw patients from across the state. By applying smart scheduling techniques, the net benefit of establishing shuttle services at UK HealthCare could reach up to $4.2 million per year while reducing missed appointments and improving health outcomes.