In 2022, Eskenazi Health announced our health equity zone initiative, a $60 million project that establishes three health equity zones in Indianapolis neighborhoods. These three health equity zones — which we plan to implement at Eskenazi Health Center sites by 2025 — include Eskenazi Health Center West 38th Street–International Marketplace, Eskenazi Health Center East 38th Street–Northeast Corridor and Eskenazi Health Center Grassy Creek–Far Eastside.
Through this initiative, we are focusing on social determinants of health in order to increase the life expectancy of residents in the three health equity zones. Social determinants of health are, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes.” The social determinants of health that Eskenazi Health is focusing on include:
• Food as medicine — Eating healthy and nutritious food
• Mental health wellness — Fostering resilience and healthy mindset
• Healthy lifestyles — Creating the conditions for healthy living
• Transportation and connectivity — Connecting to health, education and employment
• Housing — Supporting quality affordable and safe housing
• Community connectedness — Building social capital and connection
• Safety — Living free of violence, including intimate partner violence and child abuse
• Economic opportunity — Creating pathways to economic self-sufficiency
While we consider all these social determinants of health to be important, transportation and connectivity is a crucial one. Without transportation, patients who live too far away may be unable to access doctor’s appointments, obtain prescriptions, and, as a result, do not receive the vital health care that they need. Those who do not visit a primary care physician may miss out on important care such as screenings.
Transportation is a critical social determinant that can have a significant impact on the physical and mental health, overall wellbeing of individuals and communities and access to essential services such as health care and social services, educational and employment opportunities.
The lack of reliable and safe transportation options can hinder individuals’ ability to meet their basic needs.
There is a need for transportation and public health policies to implement interventions to overcome transportation barriers, improve existing infrastructures and promote the understanding of population health outcomes related to transport options.
Although a lack of transportation adversely affects the connectivity between patients and their providers, advancements in telehealth — as used by Eskenazi Health — have helped to bridge that gap. Established Eskenazi Health patients with Internet access may visit with their providers and get much of the care and attention they need through video e-Visit connections via computers or mobile devices by utilizing Eskenazi Health MyChart.
Common conditions for e-Visit appointments with Eskenazi Health physicians include: Sinus issues (congestion, ear pain, sneezing), sore throat cough, eye redness or irritation, diarrhea, heartburn, back pain, pain when urinating and vaginal discharge.
Always available 24 hours a day, Eskenazi Health MyChart provides patients a convenient method to access their medical records and helps them participate in their health care. It also provides an efficient way to communicate directly with Eskenazi Health care providers.
Eskenazi Health has been serving communities for over 160 years, and we are focused on the prevention of these transportation barriers. We have a variety of options to ensure that our patients can access the care that they need. First, e-visits and MyChart video visits are available. Second, our health centers are strategically located near public transportation to make it easier for patients without their own vehicles to seek care. Eskenazi Health also has a Neighborhood Resources webpage for community programs that assist with payments for gas, bus passes and cars. Additionally, Eskenazi Health community health workers can go directly to patients to help facilitate care and resources. Eskenazi Health is committed to addressing transportation and social barriers to health in order to provide excellent, patient-centered care to our community.
For more information, please visit eskenazihealth.edu/patients/neighborhood-resources.
By Nydia Nunez-Estrada, M.D., family medicine specialist with Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington