HPM Seminar Series

Travel and Treatment among Breast Cancer Patients: A Population-Based Study

Colleen Longacre
HSRP&A PhD Student
Division of Health Policy & Management

The distance patients need to travel to care facilities is a recognized barrier to accessing health care. Using SEER-Medicare linked claims data from 2004 – 2014 and novel methods of calculating travel distance using Google Maps and ArcGIS, I examine the relationship between patient travel distance and patient choice of treatment strategy, adherence to that treatment strategy, and treatment outcomes among breast cancer patients in the Medicare population. This research highlights the need for policymakers and patient advocates to explore social support and service delivery models aimed at reducing travel burden and improving guideline-concordant treatment. It also contributes to larger discussions surrounding the impact of consolidating health care markets and improving access to needed services for rural and remote populations.

Everyone is welcome to attend this seminar. Light refreshments served.
Unfortunately, live streaming is not available.