Mobile health vehicles, also known as mobile clinics or healthmobiles, are medical vans and trucks outfitted to provide healthcare services directly to patients. They expand access to medical care by bringing services to underserved communities.
Mobile health vehicles serve a vital purpose in providing healthcare services to those who otherwise may not have access, such as low-income neighborhoods, rural areas, and homeless populations. They help eliminate transportation barriers so patients can conveniently receive medical care right in their communities.
The use of vehicles for healthcare delivery has a long history, dating back over 50 years. Early healthmobiles focused on bringing pediatric care and immunizations to children in rural areas. Over time, mobile health vehicles expanded services to include adult primary care, chronic disease management, dental care, vision exams, mental healthcare, and more.
Key benefits of mobile health vehicles include:
Improving healthcare access and health equity
Delivering care directly to underserved populations
Providing a range of medical services conveniently and locally
Saving patients time and transportation costs
Flexibility to serve different locations as needed
Ability to quickly deploy medical services when needed
Today, mobile health vehicles play an important role in community health programs, disaster relief efforts, medical research, and reaching vulnerable populations. They continue to evolve as an innovative care delivery model improving access to medical services.