Population Considerations for Mobile Health Programs

Mobile health programs can be implemented and tailored to effectively meet the needs of different populations, including older adults, individuals without health insurance, frequent emergency medical service (EMS) users, unhoused individuals, and youth.

Older Adults

Older adults are at greater risk of having limited mobility or transportation challenges and can benefit from mobile health programs. Mobile health programs can travel to a private residence, assisted-living facility, faith-based organization, or other community space to deliver services to older adults.

To increase access to care for older adults, mobile units may consider design aspects to improve physical accessibility, including ramps and wide doorways for easy access to the mobile unit. Mobile health programs that utilize technology, such as telehealth, remote monitoring devices, and mobile applications, should consider the resources necessary to ensure that patients are adequately trained and comfortable using these technologies.

Uninsured Individuals

Uninsured individuals are a key population served by rural mobile health programs. These programs often reach people who face significant barriers to accessing traditional healthcare and may otherwise have limited interaction with healthcare providers. Therefore, mobile health programs should be prepared to offer a broad range of services to assess and address patients’ physical, mental, and social needs. To ensure accessibility, mobile health programs can offer services for free or at a reduced cost, leveraging funding from government agencies, philanthropy, or health systems. Mobile health programs can also leverage community health workers or healthcare navigators to connect uninsured individuals with other free or low-cost services or provide direct assistance in enrolling in coverage programs.

Frequent Users of Emergency Medical Services

Frequent users of EMS are people who make repeated emergency calls, approximately five or more emergency calls in a month or twelve or more in three months. These calls may not be due to an acute medical issue but rather driven by underlying factors such as lack of access to a primary care provider, unmet or unmanaged health or social needs that cause distress, or loneliness and social isolation.

Mobile health programs are uniquely positioned to address the needs of frequent users of EMS. Mobile health program staff and providers can meet with individuals in their homes or communities, connecting them with non-emergency services, like mental health services, for more targeted support that addresses the patient's needs. This can help ensure a plan for comprehensive care, helping individuals effectively manage their conditions and ultimately reducing the need for EMS calls.

To identify frequent users of EMS, programs can typically find information on call frequency in a local 911 call database or the local hospital electronic health records (EHR) system. Access to these data often occurs through established partnerships and data-sharing agreements between EMS agencies, health systems, and public health organizations, and must comply with privacy regulations, such as HIPAA, to ensure secure and appropriate use of patient information. Mobile health programs can deploy community paramedics or other clinicians to work proactively with frequent EMS utilizers to identify and address the root cause of their 911 calls.

Unhoused Individuals

Unhoused individuals often face barriers accessing consistent healthcare, which can contribute to high rates of emergency department utilization. Mobile health programs are essential for bringing critical care to this population, delivering a wide range of services including crisis response, health screening, wound care, needs assessment, and primary care services.

Mobile health programs help reduce unnecessary emergency department visits by providing accessible services. Mobile health programs also improve healthcare engagement with unhoused populations, by building trust through having an established presence, providing consistent care, offering reliable resources, and involving community navigators with lived experience.

Since mobile health programs may be the only point of contact with healthcare and social services for unhoused individuals, they are uniquely positioned to address a wide range of needs, including access to food, hygiene supplies, clothing, and transportation assistance. Mobile health programs can also provide referrals and support for other social needs, such as mental health care and substance use treatment.

Youth

Mobile health programs serve youth in various settings, including school-based healthcare, community centers, and youth organizations. These programs can help ensure that children receive necessary and timely care, including preventive care like vaccinations and health screenings, dental care, and mental health services.

Mobile health programs serving youth must consider legal and administrative factors, such as obtaining consent before delivering care to minors. Programs that provide services in schools should use a proactive approach, for example, by establishing clear mechanisms at the beginning of the school year to obtain parental/guardian consent and inform families about the available services. Mobile health programs serving youth should also be prepared to communicate with parents and guardians about their child’s care plan, including the need for referrals and resources. Programs must also balance confidentiality standards for minors.

Resources to Learn More

Building Trust Through Integrated Outreach and Mobile Clinics for People Experiencing Homelessness: Tips for Providers
Document
Provides guidance on delivering services to unhoused populations, building trust, identifying needs, providing immediate care, and launching a mobile clinic.
Organization(s): Center for Health Care Strategies
Date: 3/2025