The use of mobile medical units for populations experiencing homelessness in the United States: a scoping review

Abstract

With annual point-in-time counts indicating a rise in unsheltered homelessness in the United States, much attention has been paid to how to best provide care to this population. This scoping review examined 50 studies (from an initial 294 papers, 1980-2023) on MMU provision of medical services for populations experiencing homelessness in the USA. The majority utilized descriptive (40%) or observational methods (36%), with no completed randomized controlled trials. The studies suggest MMUs can facilitate effective treatment of substance use disorders, provision of primary care, and services for severe mental illness among people experiencing homelessness. MMUs have potential to provide community-based healthcare services, but further research is needed to understand if MMUs are more effective than other care delivery models.