Are you trying to reduce health disparities in remote Native reservations?
Are you a private or public healthcare provider looking for a way to meet your patients where they are, eliminating the need for them to travel to receive treatment?
Do you need a custom clinic layout specifically designed to suit your community’s needs?
Then you may be looking for a mobile clinic van.
At AVAN Mobility, we have 4 different kinds of mobile medical units: the Mobile Outreach Van, the Mobile Response Van, the Mobile Clinic Van, and the Mobile Overdose Prevention Van.
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the Mobile Clinic Van (MC Unit) to determine if it’s the right mobile medical unit for your organization.
What is a mobile clinic?
Think of a Mobile Clinic Van as a doctor’s office on wheels.
It’s a van that’s been converted into a mobile medical treatment space.
Mobile Clinic Vans are a way to provide primary healthcare and other services to underserved populations. They often serve people who are otherwise unreachable by typical healthcare methods.
Why are Mobile Clinic Vans used?
The MC Unit from AVAN Mobility is used to take health services to patients who cannot access a health center or hospital. They help to reduce health disparities.
A person may not be able to access a health center for many reasons. These include:
- Mobility issues
- Lack of transportation
- Remote location
- Financial restraints
- Language barriers
- Wait times
A person who cannot get primary healthcare is more likely to suffer from undiagnosed health conditions.
This leads to late diagnoses and more advanced health issues in patients. Treating advanced yet preventable health conditions is costly for the healthcare system.
The MC Unit is not only used to provide basic healthcare but also personal services such as:
- Addictions treatment
- Mental health counseling
- Prenatal, postnatal, and infant care
- Outreach services to homeless and vulnerable populations.
What are the advantages of having a Mobile Clinic Van for your organization?
There are many advantages to getting a Mobile Clinic Van for your organization.
1. They prevent emergency room visits by providing a safe, non-emergency treatment option for clients
A mobile medical unit prevents an estimated amount of 600 emergency room visits per year, according to Mobile Health Map, by providing healthcare to individuals where they are–eliminating the need for them to find healthcare elsewhere.
2. They provide accessible healthcare to remote communities
People in rural areas typically have to travel a long distance to get the services they don’t have access to in their communities.
The MC Unit can alleviate this issue because people don’t have to travel long distances to get the healthcare they need–the van can come to them.
3. They improve health outcomes by providing healthcare before health issues become an emergency
Mobile Clinic Vans can help patients treat health issues early, which means the issues won’t get increasingly worse–and even untreatable–over time.
How much does a mobile clinic cost?
The MC Unit from AVAN Mobility can cost between $125,000 to $225,000, which includes the cost of the van, specialized medical equipment, delivery, and more.
What’s included in a mobile clinic?
The MC Unit includes:
- “Doctor’s office on wheels” setup
- Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry
- Patient bed with under-bed storage
- Options for sink and fridge
- Power supply
- Rear Heat & Air Conditioning
- Clean, comfortable environment
You can also add the following equipment onto your MC Unit:
- High capacity heat & air system
- Winter tire package
- Remote start
- Advanced medical equipment
Who are Mobile Clinic Vans right for?
Mobile Clinic Vans are used by many different groups, including:
Native reservations
In many Native communities, patients are located too far from a health center to have access to basic health care.
You can use the MC Unit to visit patients at their homes or nearby locations.
You can also use it for mental health counseling, sexual health programs, and other services that require a culturally-appropriate approach.
Housing and homeless societies
Initiatives that work to end homelessness need a way to address their client’s needs right where they are.
We equipped the MC Unit with a private space to give these programs a safe working environment in underserved places. Social workers can have an on-demand treatment space, with supplies and personnel to best serve their clients.
Behavioral health services
Behavioral health services are often offered in traditional facilities…
The MC Unit provides a safe, private, approachable space for people to get help without the possible stigma of going into a clinic.
NEMT services
Mobile Clinic Vans are a medical space for non-urgent medical needs such as bloodwork, physical exams, first aid, and stretcher transportation are all possible in a custom Mobile Clinic Van.
Industrial safety companies
Industrial safety companies that respond to workplace accidents require a mobile treatment space that carries the supplies, equipment, and personnel needed–all of which are available in a Mobile Clinic Van.
Your next steps to securing a Mobile Clinic Van for your organization
You came to this article to discover if a Mobile Clinic Van is right for your organization.
Now, you’ve learned everything you need to know about it to make this decision.
If you’re unsure if the MC Unit is right for your organization, talk to an AVAN Mobility expert today.
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