Promising Programs in Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health and Health Care Addressing... researched and compiled by Sarah McCloskey, Erin Kennedy, and Michele Sloan December 2004 and updated November 2007
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Delaware | Illinois | Nevada | New York | Rhode Island | Tennessee
Background
Mobile medical services represent an innovative approach to preventative and
diagnostic care by bringing these services to communities that would not have
easy access to them otherwise. By providing care in an underserved community
at little or no charge, these services are not only attempting to improve the
accessibility to health services, but are also trying to break down the cultural and
possibly financial obstacles that these people would face in traditional medical
centers.
State Programs
Many state programs that implement mobile outreach healthcare services focus
their efforts on reaching people without insurance or who are enrolled in
Medicaid programs. In addition, many of these state-implemented programs not
only focus on care, but also on educating people about preventative measures and
education on other healthcare plans and options available. In addition, many
states support outreach programs through hospitals located in underserved
communities. Furthermore, state programs focus on crisis outreach as well as
testing in minority areas known to have a high disease-prevalence rate.
DelawareSt. Clare’s Medical Outreach Van, Wilmington – The purpose of this van is to provide and deliver medical services to the homeless, poor, and other medically underserved people in the Wilmington area. It visits dining halls that feed the hungry, homeless shelters, and other sites around Wilmington four days each week. It provides services to people without medical coverage, and if necessary further care is provided at St. Francis hospital. Since 1992, the van’s personnel have provided service to over 80,000 people and average about 120 visits per week. The program also provides social work functions, helps people who need to apply for Medicaid, interpreter services, and refers people to places that provide abuse counseling, food, and shelter. This program is funded through the St. Francis Philanthropic Foundation and subsidized by the hospital. www.stfrancishealthcare.org/html/patientdocs/ps_longterm_stclare.html
IllinoisMobile C.A.R.E. Foundation, Chicago – The Mobile C.A.R.E. Foundation in a nonprofit organization that provides free asthma care and education to children in the underserved areas of Chicago through the use of mobile asthma-treatment vans. This organization has realized that asthma rates of Chicago school-aged children are higher for Puerto Ricans and African Americans and seeks to help lower these disparities. The Foundation believes that, through mobile care and using schools in low-income neighborhoods as delivery sites, it can deliver proper asthma diagnosis, care, and education to families. www.mobilecarefoundation.org
NevadaTake Care-A-Van, St. Mary’s Mission Outreach Programming, Reno – St. Mary’s provides medical and dental outreach programs to the underserved population in Reno. The mobile dental office provides preventative and restorative care to children and travels to give educational lectures at high-risk schools. The medical outreach program uses the Take Care-A-Van as part of their Knock ’n’ Talk Program, in which a team consisting of a law enforcement officer, a nurse, and a social worker knock on the doors of people who live in an underserved community. In many instances the nurse refers the resident to go to the Take Care-A-Van to receive medical care, get immunizations, and receive other health services. www.saintmarysreno.com/mission
New YorkMobile Dental Van, New York City – Developed through a partnership between the Children’s Aid Society and Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery, the Mobile Dental Van brings primary and preventative dental services to undeserving children in northern Manhattan. The van services approximately 4,500 children annually, many of whom are in the Head Start Daycare Program. www.childrensaidsociety.org/locations_services/healthservices/dentalvan
Rhode IslandWomen and Infants Hospital Family Van – This program addresses the following barriers to health care; improving health care among minority populations through education, prevention, screenings, and community outreach; and address existing medical and social service agencies through referrals and education regarding utilization of the healthcare system in Rhode Island. Its purpose is to implement a culturally sensitive comprehensive health outreach program designed to address health disparities in minority communities by bringing services directly to people in need. The program will provide health education, information and referrals relating to cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, infant mortality, HIV/AIDS, family planning, STDs, access to care. They currently have a $27,000 grant from the OMH to continue their services. www.carenewengland.org/body.cfm?id=7&action=detail&ref=61
TennesseeBaptist Memorial Health Care Operation Outreach Health Care Van for the Homeless – An outreach van that provides health information, medical exams, referrals, and preventative care by nurse practitioners to the homeless in Memphis. This van acts as a mobile healthcare unit, which has replaced the project HOPE healthcare center in Memphis. Because the van can operate in different locations on different days, it is able to treat as many patients in a day as the HOPE clinic treated in a week. www.baptistonline.org/services/community/mobile_clinic.asp
For more information, contact Eric Jacobson (302-831-1711).
photo on this page courtesy of the Administration on Aging
