Mobile Urgent Care Reaches An Under-Served Population

By Dominique Martin


New legislation has provided a way for many people without health insurance to obtain affordable coverage, but there is still a sizable population falling between the cracks. These individuals often live under severe economic hardship, and a standard doctor appointment may not a be realistic option. Mobile urgent care is designed to bring high-quality medical facilities and personnel to the neighborhoods and people that need them the most.

Brick-and-mortar urgent treatment centers have traditionally been a recommended alternative for patients seeking a less-costly option to visiting a standard emergency or trauma center located in a hospital. Without insurance, the cost of emergency treatment skyrockets, wait times routinely last multiple hours, and there is little follow-up. Urgent need centers routinely treat common ailments and injuries, have access to lab tests and x-rays, give physicals, and more.

A moving unit provides a better and more cost-effective way to reach people who choose to forgo standard treatment for economic reasons, and is often housed in a recreational vehicle remodeled to make way for modern medical center equipment. Units may be staffed by nurse practitioners under the guidance of doctors, with additional staff available when size and budgets allow.

Even though economics in many areas have improved, many people are beginning to pay a steep price for neglecting common but chronic health issues for years. The current explosion of diabetes has created a sense of impending crisis for individuals aware they have the disease, but who have not yet developed debilitating long-term effects. Traveling centers provide them important ongoing care and monitoring.

Most centers exercise few limitations on who may or may not receive care. From schoolchildren who need vaccinations or help with common problems such as ear infections, to aging citizens with dwindling resources, there are generally no restrictions regarding qualifications for help. Areas coping with an influx of immigrants often set aside political scapegoating in order to build a better health foundation at all levels.

In addition to immediate medical concerns, some centers help recently hospitalized individuals who may receive little or no treatment post-discharge. Having this support can cut lengthy recovery times, reduce the incidence of post-surgical infections, and provide encouragement for family caregivers. For those who live alone, knowing they have this option reduces worry and increases mental health.

Without traveling units, many patients would receive little personalized medical information. Nurses and doctors not only treat active symptoms, but also can provide the latest information regarding diet and nutrition, give prenatal advice, and address the need to keep childhood immunizations current. They may provide STD and safer sex information for younger people, and some even feature dental services.

A single modified vehicle services more than four thousand patients in a year, and demand shows few signs of diminishing. Educational material and health screening for people not actively ill helps people avoid future problems while holding down basic costs. Whether people are coping daily with the problems of aging and poverty, or have had trouble affording standard insurance, bringing care to the patients who need it most helps eliminate that gap.




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