The scope and impact of mobile health clinics in the United States: a literature review
Yu, Stephanie W. Y.; Hill, Caterina; Ricks, Mariesa L.; Bennet, Jennifer; Oriol, Nancy E.
Why this matters
A single reference for the state of the sector is useful when writing a proposal. A review of 51 articles concludes that mobile clinics reach vulnerable populations, adapt their services as community needs change, and produce cost savings as a link between clinical and community settings.
Abstract
As the U.S. healthcare system transforms its care delivery model to increase healthcare accessibility and improve health outcomes, it is undergoing changes in the context of ever-increasing chronic disease burdens and healthcare costs. Many illnesses disproportionately affect certain populations, due to disparities in healthcare access and social determinants of health. This article examines the available literature on Mobile Health Clinics (MHCs) and the role that they currently play in the U.S. healthcare system. Based on a search in the PubMed database and data from MobileHealthMap.org, the authors evaluated 51 articles with evidence on the strengths and weaknesses of the mobile health sector in the United States. Current literature supports that MHCs are successful in reaching vulnerable populations, by delivering services directly at the curbside in communities of need and flexibly adapting their services based on the changing needs of the target community. As a link between clinical and community settings, MHCs address both medical and social determinants of health. Furthermore, evidence suggests that MHCs produce significant cost savings and represent a cost-effective care delivery model that improves health outcomes in underserved groups.