Challenge

Transportation barriers directly impact health provider quality, cost, and performance metrics, because they contribute to “no-shows,” hinder chronic disease control and reduce access to preventive care. In a broader sense, mobility is a key indicator of capacity to thrive – providing access to fresh foods, social connection, education, and employment. Transportation is not equally accessible to all; and these disparities in transportation feasibility, reliability and access directly impact health and wellness. Missouri Foundation for Health‘s Access to Care initiative is focused on protecting and improving how Missourians receive care. This includes examining the “Five A’s of Access” (Availability, Acceptability, Affordability, Accommodation, Accessibility) that help consumers get care when and where they need it. In the context of exploring and elevating new and innovative approaches to improving access to health care, MFH heard from grantees and other stakeholders who identified transportation as a barrier to care in urban, mid-sized and rural communities across the MFH service area. To facilitate a multi-region and cross-sector dialogue, MFH wanted to convene stakeholders interested in health and transportation to discuss best and emerging practices, share ideas, and identify paths forward to reduce transportation-related barriers to care statewide.

Solution

• Silver Arrow Strategies worked collaboratively with MFH to clarify the goals and priority stakeholders for the convening, then crafted unique expert panels that included both industry leaders and residents with lived experiences.
• Our team contacted panelists, organized panel topics, conducted panelist orientation/norming, solicited and analyzed attendee expectations, developed pre-convening preparation tools and library of resources, synthesized findings and disseminated convening outcomes to participants, stakeholders and the MFH team.
• Together, participants engaged in facilitated discussions, collaboration, and exploration of potential solutions, remaining challenges, and tactical next steps.
• The convening served as an opening dialogue to: (1) promote common understanding of the unique constraints and priorities of transportation and health sector stakeholders, (2) share promising practices and lessons learned across geographic regions, (3) demonstrate opportunities to influence transportation system investments and policies, and (4) catalyze and promote cross-sector communication, collaboration and planning.
• The agenda included four moderated panel sessions with 24 expert panelists offering insight, challenges, solutions and lessons learned; participant Q&A with each panel; and a focused networking and reflection time in which participants, speakers and MFH staff explored potential solutions, identified remaining challenges, and advised tactical next steps.
• Deliverables included a resource library and public-facing outcomes report.

Grant Awards