Health care providers' perspectives on medical travel in northwestern British Columbia

Background: Rural patients frequently travel long distances to receive medical care. Our objective was to explore their challenges with medical travel. Methods: In this qualitative study, we inter- viewed 10 health care providers in northwest-ern BC about the experiences of rural patients when undertaking medical travel. We used the-matic analysis and patient partners to identify key themes, challenges, and ways to improve patients' experiences. Results: Health care providers' insights on the challenges with medical travel were based on the cumulative stories of patients'experiences. Six key themes were identified: travel delays, financial impact, travel logistics, uncertainty about urban environments, family impact, and inability to travel.Conclusions: Rural patients' experiences with medical travel could be improved by provid-ing more support for travel costs, making travel arrangements for patients, considering the patient's personal context when book -ing appointments and planning discharges, and increasing telehealth services and visiting specialist services.