Providence Montana Cancer Center at St. Pat’s was awarded $15,000 from the American Cancer Society to provide transportation and lodging assistance to cancer patients people during treatment. The grant is part of a nationwide investment of $9 million that is expected to provide nearly 60,000 eligible patients with an estimated 700,000 transportation and lodging services.
“Because Montana is a rural state, some of our cancer patients must travel many miles to receive treatment,” says Kirk Bodlovic, Providence Montana Interim Chief Executive. “Transportation obstacles or the cost of a hotel room should not be barriers to patients who need life-saving medical treatment. This grant will help us provide fuel and hotel gift cards to those who need it.”
Access to high-quality cancer treatment impacts cancer outcomes. A lack of transportation and lodging needed to receive quality care can lead to missed appointments, treatment interruptions, and delays in follow up care. In a 2023 Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) study, American Cancer Society researchers found that delayed care due to lack of transportation is associated with increased emergency room use and mortality risk among adults with and without cancer history.
For more information about supporting cancer patients at the Providence Montana Cancer Center, please contact the Providence Montana Health Foundation.
About the Author
More Content by Providence News Team
