FORT WAYNE, IND. – JUNE 30, 2022 – The Parkview Cancer Institute has received a $5,000 transportation grant from American Cancer Society (ACS) to support patients facing a cancer diagnosis.
The ACS recently awarded $5.7 million in transportation grant funding to 400 health systems to alleviate the financial burden of transportation for cancer patients. Based on assistance provided through previous grant funding, the ACS grants will provide more than 228,000 rides to treatment for nearly 17,000 people.
“Some patients don’t have access to transportation or are too fatigued or sick to drive themselves,” said Dr. Kathy Goss, regional vice president of Cancer Control for the American Cancer Society. “The Society collaborates with hospital partners to reach individuals in areas with high 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. ACS patient support initiatives, such as transportation grants, fill critical gaps and are aligned with the ACS goal of improving lives for patients with cancer, caregivers, and the community.”
“Cancer treatments often require weekly or even daily trips to a provider over the course of several months, so transportation challenges create a barrier for many patients,” said Neil Sharma, MD, president, Parkview Cancer Institute. “We are grateful for the support of the ACS as this grant helps improve access to specialized cancer care, especially for our rural residents and underserved populations. It also complements the other assistance programs we offer to support patients throughout their care journey.”
The American Cancer Society is working to increase access and remove barriers to timely, high-quality cancer care for patients and families. The transportation grant program provides funding directly to local health systems and partners who deliver assistance directly to their patients when and where it’s needed most.
The American Cancer Society believes all people should have a fair and just opportunity to live a longer, healthier life free from cancer regardless of how much money they make, skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or where they live. This means providing specific tools and resources based on individual needs to allow everyone the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.