North Carolina Health News examined how mobile healthcare programs, including Mission Mobile Medical’s MARCUS platform, could help rural communities address long travel distances, transportation barriers, staffing shortages, and limited access to specialty care.
The report notes that nearly 3 million North Carolinians lived in rural counties in 2020. The state has 96 rural health clinics, and Hurricane Helene placed additional strain on healthcare access in western North Carolina.
Reporter Grace Vitaglione spoke with leaders from the Community Care Clinic of Dare, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Duke researcher Emily D’Agostino, and the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. Their perspectives show both the potential of mobile care and the need for sustainable staffing, financing, maintenance, and community partnerships.
The article also describes MARCUS, which is being developed through the ARPA-H PARADIGM program. Its shared-service model is intended to give rural providers access to advanced clinical capabilities without requiring each organization to purchase and operate the platform on its own.
Read the full report from North Carolina Health News, or learn more about MARCUS.
