American Heart Association Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Brown and her husband Gary, granted the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund $100,000 to Ride Health’s transportation solution to further its mission of breaking transportation barriers that impact individual’s ability to access quality health care and basic social needs. Pictured is the late Bernard J. Tyson.
Photo provided by the American Heart Assocation
According to published data, transportation challenges prevent many Michigan residents from accessing critical healthcare treatments, from routine checkups to specialized treatments like dialysis. As a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives and a champion of health equity, the American Heart Association is committed to advancing cardiovascular health for all, including identifying and removing barriers to health care access and quality, through its Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund.
Each year, more than 3.6 million people in the United States do not receive medical care due to transportation issues. Despite Michigan’s historic roots with the auto industry, too many Michiganders have limited access to a reliable ride. Twelve percent of Michigan residents of driving age do not have a license, and even among those that do have one, a license alone isn’t a guarantee of a vehicle. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, lack of transportation is often cited as a barrier to health care access. Transportation barriers can lead to rescheduled or missed appointments, delayed care and missed or delayed medication use, leading to poorer health outcomes when preventative care is not maintained.
With a personal gift from American Heart Association Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Brown and her husband Gary, – natives of Michigan – the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund granted $100,000 to Ride Health’s transportation solution to further its mission of breaking transportation barriers that impact individual’s ability to access quality health care and basic social needs. Brown worked in the Association’s Metropolitan Detroit office during a career with the organization that has spanned three decades.
“The choices people make about their health, or the health of their children is based on the options they have available,” said Brown. “That’s why it is vital to meet people where they are with solutions that can increase access to health care. By standing up solutions community by community across the nation, we can help dismantle systemic barriers and move the United States toward health equity.”
Ride Health partners with health care organizations and transportation providers to manage transportation benefits, strengthen enterprise transportation programs and drive intelligent transitions of care. It blends technology and data with a human approach to break down access barriers and solve some of the biggest transportation challenges that care coordinators, providers, and payers face. The organization’s platform maps out each patient’s unique needs and preferences for the best ride experience across clinical and social needs, ensuring greater access, improved efficiencies, lower costs, and better outcomes.
“This personal gift from Nancy and Gary helps to expand our work in Michigan and improve health care access in under-resourced areas,” said Imran Cronk, CEO and Founder, Ride Health. “This investment is a testament to the leadership and commitment of the American Heart Association to focus on community-level solutions to improve health outcomes.
AHA’s Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund is a national fund with a local investment focus supporting and investing in evidence-based, locally led solutions that are breaking down the social and economic barriers to health equity.
“Bernard was a visionary leader who cared passionately about the health and well-being of everyone, and he was my very dear friend,” concluded Brown. It’s a privilege to honor his memory by furthering his lifelong pursuit of affordable, equitable health care
and social justice to improve and extended lives throughout the U.S. and around the world.”
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Additional Resources
- AHA President’s Advisory: Structural racism causes poor health, premature death from heart disease and stroke
- More than $230M committed to support equitable health for all
- Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs: Removing Barriers
- AHA News story: Meet the innovator reaching those considered unreachable
Connect with AHA on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
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