Va transportation program through uber health connect | va pacific islands health care | veterans affairs

honolulu , HI — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 21, 2023 VA Uber Health Connect HONOLULU — Veterans in the Hawaiian Islands are now able to participate in VA Uber Health Connect — an initiative

which provides supplemental transportation to eligible Veterans needing access to and from medical care. Based on survey feedback from 2,300 Veterans between March 2022 to January 2023, 83%

of Veterans stated they would not have been able to access their medical care without the program. "The VA Uber Health Connect Initiative bridges the transportation gap by ensuring

Veterans have reliable transportation for their health care needs,” said National Lead of VA Uber Health Connect Indra Sandal, Ph.D. “By offering ridesharing as an additional means of

transportation, VA is helping Veterans receive access to the best and soonest possible care — while still achieving cost savings.” The VA Uber Health Connect Initiative launched as pilot

program in 2022 at ten VA Medical Centers. From January 2022 to March 2023, VA Uber Health Connect completed more than 30,000 Uber rides across 408,529 miles for Veterans. These rides have

increased access, improved clinical engagement, and saved VA an estimated $35 million. The cost savings are in part from faster emergency department and inpatient discharges as well as

closing the gap on an estimated 28,000 missed appointments. This year, the program is expanding to nine new Veteran Integrated Service Networks and 60 VAMCs. Veterans or transportation teams

interested in learning more about the program should contact their local facility. For VAPIHCS, contact Hector Maxwell at [email protected]. For more information regarding VA health

care in the pacific call: 1-800-214-1306.  -VA- MEDIA: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COVER THE EVENT, CONTACT AMY ROHLFS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER VA PACIFIC ISLANDS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AT 808-208-5544