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UKnowledge > College of Public Health > Journal of Appalachian Health > Vol. 7 (2025) > Iss. 1

 

Corresponding Author

Kristy Ward MD MAS (kristy.ward@hsc.wvu.edu)

Author Affiliations

  1. Kassandra Whitfield, MD: Resident Physician, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, West Virginia University (Morgantown WV)
  2. Ariel Cohen, MD: Resident Physician, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, West Virginia University (Morgantown WV)
  3. Krista Pfaendler, MD, MPH: Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, West Virginia University (Morgantown WV); ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7382-3209
  4. Kristy Ward, MD, MAS: Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, West Virginia University (Morgantown WV); E-mail: kristy.ward@hsc.wv.edu; ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3895-9690

Author Area of Expertise

gynecologic oncology, women's health

Abstract

Introduction: West Virginia is a rural mountain state; access to medical care, especially specialty care, can be difficult for patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the geographic status and transportation times of new gynecologic oncology patients.

Methods: Home zip codes for new patient gynecologic oncology patients were analyzed for drive times to the cancer center. Zip codes of oncology providers in the state were compared to the location of patients.

Results: A total of 1,097 new gynecologic oncology patients lived within a 240-minute drive of MBRCC; nearly half (48.9%) of them drove greater than 60 minutes. There are large geographical areas of West Virginia without an oncology practice location.

Implications: West Virginians face barriers to gynecologic oncology care secondary to drive times.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.13023/jah. 0701.08

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Whitfield K, Cohen A, Pfaendler K, Ward K. Drive-time analysis of new gynecologic oncology patients at West Virginia University. J Appalach Health 2025;7(1):125-131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13023/jah.0701.08

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