ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES
- Mobile health clinics— in vans, under tents or at tables— reach underserved populations by reducing barriers to care like where patients live and lack of transportation, time, or money.
- Staffed by local health care providers or public health nurses, mobile health clinics can be a cost-effective tool to fill gaps in critical primary care services.
- Mobile health clinics can provide patients with access to primary care providers or a way to sign up for health insurance. They are one way to reach populations that might otherwise fall through the cracks.
- In turn, mobile health clinics give health care providers data about:
- Patient attendance indicating scope of reach.
- Health screenings performed.
- Surveys measuring patient access to primary care.
FOLLOW THEIR LEAD!
With over 50 partner organizations, the Trenton Health Team created the Wheels to Wellness mobile health clinic to close the gaps in access to health care. The clinic provides free-of-charge preventive care to Trenton residents at community events who otherwise would not have access to it.
ACTION STEPS
Get Started
- Contact interested partners to create and staff the mobile clinic.
- Decide on the most appropriate location and the type of clinic, depending on available resources and most needed services.
- Get the word out through local media and partners.
- Set up the mobile health clinic and deliver care.
Offer Services Including:
- Blood pressure screenings;
- Body mass index screenings;
- Blood glucose screenings;
- Health education materials;
- General and specialized health assessments; and
- Referrals to health services and other social services.
Place Your Mobile Health Clinic at Events
- Health fairs, 5k runs/walks, farmers markets and other community events provide great opportunities to reach the community.
MORE RESOURCES
Trenton Health Team “Wheels to Wellness” Mobile Health Clinic
Start A Mobile Health Clinic: Tips & Tools
The Scope & Impact of Mobile Health Clinics
Mobile Health Units: Review of the Literature