Mobile Clinics Expand Rural Healthcare
According to the Census Bureau, 80% of the U.S. population resides in urban regions, while the remaining 20% are in rural areas. In fact, more people live in the eight most populous urban areas than all of rural America combined. It’s no wonder then why so many underestimate or are unaware of the difference between urban and rural healthcare. In many rural areas across the United States, residents face significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Limited availability of medical professionals, long travel distances to healthcare facilities, health insurance status, and the high costs of hospitalization all impede accessibility to care.
From Boston to Tennessee: Mark & Sarah’s Experience
The best way to understand the difference between urban and rural healthcare is a quick tale of two cities. Take Mark’s experience in bustling Boston, in contrast with Sarah’s in rural Tennessee. When Mark has chest pains associated with his chronic heart condition, he leaves work knowing that help is just around the corner. He steps outside, hails a cab, and within 10 minutes, he’s at a state-of-the-art hospital receiving attention.
When Sarah begins to feel similar symptoms at home, her nearest hospital is over two hours away by car. She hesitates to call for help because she knows the ambulance ride alone could be prohibitively expensive, and she’s unsure if her insurance will cover the costs. With no public transportation options, and feeling isolated, Sarah must rely on a neighbor to drive her to the hospital, during which she worries about her health and the strain on her tight budget.
The Importance of Mobile Clinics
The great news is mobile clinics could be a game-changer for Sarah. These clinics have emerged as a transformative solution in rural areas where medical professionals are scarce. Mobile clinics are vans fully-equipped with a range of medical supplies and diagnostic equipment and staffed by registered nurses or other clinicians.These clinics cater to diverse populations in towns with fewer than 20,000 people, bringing essential mobile healthcare services directly to those who need them most. Mobile clinics can move on a set schedule to maximize the geography and number of patients it can access. Even if a community’s demand may not support a five-day-a-week, brick-and-mortar clinic, mobile clinics can provide services one or two days a week that allow residents of rural communities to have the same access to services.
Mobile clinics offer more than you might imagine, including primary and urgent care, chronic disease management for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, plus preventive health screenings and various specialty services. On-site clinicians provide physicals, routine checkups, vaccinations, lab testing, diagnostics like EKGs, and wound care. By operating close to where people live, mobile clinics minimize the need for long-distance travel, making healthcare more accessible and affordable. While it can take time to gain the trust of the community, mobile clinics help provide fair access to healthcare for a wide range of underserved groups, including uninsured and low-income populations.
Enter DocGo – Helping Democratize Access to Healthcare
A notable pioneer of mobile clinic operation is DocGo, a provider known for its innovative approach to mobile healthcare. DocGo, a “last-mile” provider, sends clinicians to provide mobile healthcare that would typically require patients to visit a physical clinic. DocGo can support rural communities by offering traditional medical services and integrating health technology solutions like advanced diagnostic equipment to support virtual care and close care gaps. This approach has enhanced the scope and efficiency of healthcare delivery, allowing for real-time data collection and remote consultations, which are crucial in areas with fewer healthcare providers. Mobile clinics like DocGo On-Demand work with Medicaid, Medicare, public health agencies and select commercial insurance plans.
The Future of Mobile Clinics
Mobile healthcare and mobile clinics are vital in addressing the healthcare disparities faced by rural Americans. They offer practical solutions to a range of public health challenges, providing targeted and adaptable services tailored to the specific needs of rural communities. These clinics are uniquely positioned to travel directly to locations where medical care is scarce; building trust, fostering long-term partnerships within communities and ensuring that even the most remote areas have access to necessary health services. By delivering consistent, accessible care, mobile healthcare providers can create a more inclusive healthcare system, driving the future of proactive care in rural America.
