Markey receives grant to help patients overcome transportation barriers

The UK Markey Cancer Center has been awarded a new transportation grant from the American Cancer Society. These funds will be used to address the transportation needs of cancer patients traveling to Markey for treatment.

“Some patients don’t have access to transportation at all or are too fatigued or sick to drive themselves,” said Joan Scales, program director for Markey’s psych-oncology services. “Access to care is a big problem in our country, with low-income people of color and those living in rural communities suffering the most from disparities. Transportation programs are vital for these patients to get the treatments they need and deserve.”

An estimated 25,990 Kentucky residents will learn they have cancer this year, and getting to their scheduled treatment might be one of their greatest roadblocks. To help patients get the critical care they need, American Cancer Society community transportation grants are awarded at a local level to health systems, treatment centers and community organizations. These grants are available in select communities through an application process and focus on addressing unmet transportation needs of cancer patients, particularly vulnerable populations experiencing an unequal burden of cancer. 

“Disparities predominantly arise from inequities in work, wealth, income, education, housing and overall standard of living, as well as social barriers to high-quality cancer prevention, early detection and treatment services,” said Kelsey Lewis, mission delivery program manager at the American Cancer Society. “The society collaborates with community health partners to reach individuals in areas with higher burdens of cancer and limited or no access to transportation because even the best treatment can’t work if a patient can’t get there.”