Ride-share program to help people with diabetic eye disease get to eye appointments (PRONTO-EYE)
Official title: Using implementation science to adapt a targeted transportation intervention for patients with diabetic retinopathy (PRONTO-EYE)
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11285425 · Data updated 2026-05-14
This study is no longer in our active list. It may have stopped recruiting or finished. The details below are as of 2026-05-14 and are kept for reference. Check NIH RePORTER for its current status.
This project adapts a ride-share transport program to help adults with diabetic retinopathy who have Medicaid get to their eye appointments on time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285425 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with diabetic retinopathy who are patients in the participating health system and who have Medicaid or face transportation barriers are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetic retinopathy, those who already have reliable transportation, or patients outside the participating clinics/geographic area may not benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would be invited to help design and test a ride-share transportation service adapted from an existing hospital program so getting to eye clinic visits is easier. The research team will use human-centered design methods and implementation science to work with patients and clinic staff to shape the service. They will run a small pilot of PRONTO-EYE for Medicaid patients with diabetic retinopathy and track whether more people attend their scheduled ophthalmology visits. The goal is to fold a successful approach into the regular clinic workflow to reduce missed visits and prevent vision loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could increase appointment attendance and lower the risk of preventable vision loss for people with diabetic retinopathy on Medicaid.
How similar studies have gone: Other non-emergency ride-share and transportation programs have improved appointment attendance in some healthcare settings, but tailoring this approach specifically for diabetic eye care and Medicaid patients is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scanzera, Angelica — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Scanzera, Angelica
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.