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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Rural mobile health unit: outcomes.

The Mobile Health Unit was implemented to increase access to nursing services, to improve and/or maintain functional status and health status, and to increase health promotion behaviors of rural elderly residents experiencing difficulty obtaining health care due to illness, transportation problems, or financial factors. For 222 project participants 1,773 encounters were completed, with a mean number of visits per individual of 7.9. Participants in the project demonstrated increased breast and cervical cancer screenings, increased immunization rates for influenza, pneumonia and tetanus, and decreased utilization of the emergency room. This project represents an alternative model of health care delivery in a rural area with limited resources and health care providers.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Factors to consider when buying a mobile health unit.

Purchasing a mobile unit to deliver healthcare services can be an expensive undertaking, and there is little information in the literature on planning or designing these vehicles. The authors discuss guidelines to help nurse administrators make better decisions regarding the purchase of mobile health units (MHUs). The guidelines resulted from a synthesis of the literature, correspondence with the chief executive officers of firms that manufacture MHUs, and onsite visits to agencies with an MHU.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2000

Thinking about a mobile health unit to deliver services? Things to consider before buying.

Purchasing a mobile unit to deliver health-care services can be an expensive undertaking for anyone interested in pursuing this option. Yet, little information is found in the literature on planning or designing such vehicles. A set of guidelines could help administrators to make better decisions regarding this approach for delivering healthcare. This article focuses on mobile health units (MHU). It provides a synthesis of the literature in addition to information from written and oral correspondence with the chief executive officers (CEO) of firms that manufacture MHU. On-site visits to agencies using an MHU were made by one of the authors (DM) to glean their perspective. The combined sources led to the development of guidelines and checklists that can assist administrators in planning the function, design and operation of an MHU to deliver health-care services to remote rural sites.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1996

Community outreach: rural mobile health unit.

With the increased emphasis on cost containment, hospital administrators are investigating community outreach projects to remain economically viable. The authors describe the planning and implementation of a mobile health unit for rural elderly residents. This project represents an alternative model of healthcare delivery in a rural area with limited resources and healthcare providers.

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PubMed2006

Mobile health unit for minority obesity education: local residents' attitudes and perceptions.

OBJECTIVE: To provide educational material to the Bronx community in their places of recreation as well as uncover attitudes and perceptions about the obesity epidemic. METHODS: Our medical team equipped a mobile health unit, called Vehicle Assisted Nutrition (VAN), with educational material and drove it to seven recreation sites in the Bronx. At these sites, participants completed a short survey, and our staff took body mass index (BMI) measurements. The medical team also distributed patient education materials pertaining to lifestyle modification and obesity. BMI and survey responses were compared and analyzed with statistical software. RESULTS: Obesity rates at these sites averaged 29.9% normal weight, 40.2% overweight, 18% class-1 obese and 11% class-2 obese or greater. Only 22.2% of normal weight, 23.3% of overweight and 43.6% of class-1 obese respondents stated that their weight was a problem (p<0.001). Most (80.6%) of the class-2 obese or greater respondents, however, stated that their weight was a problem (p<0.001). More than 44% of normal weight, 59.4% of overweight, 71.3 of class-1 obese and 90.3% of the class-2 obese or greater participants stated they were willing to do something about it (p=0.006). Of those surveyed, 37.5% of the normal weight, 54.7% of the overweight, 56.9% of the class-1 obese and 63.6% of the class-2 obese or greater indicated that they would like our help (p=0.035). More than 66% of normal weight, 41.8% of the overweight, 56.9% of the class-1 obese, and 68.9% of the class-2 obese or greater stated that they would be interested in a class to lose weight (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Medical practitioners need to recognize the role of patients' attitudes about weight loss and clarify for patients the definitions of exercise.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1999

Screening assessment of persons 40-59 years of age in rural Thailand by a mobile health unit.

This paper reports a screening survey using a mobile unit to determine the prevalence of chronic disorders among persons aged 40-59 years in rural Thailand. A total of 4,812 persons from all the 54 rural villages in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, northern Thailand, were interviewed and examined in 1995. A higher proportion (59.3%) of men were current tobacco smokers than among women (40.4%). A higher proportion (69.6%) of men were current alcohol drinkers compared with women (38.6%). Cutting/piercing was the most frequently reported injury, followed by falls. About half (47.9%) of the persons surveyed had a body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 24.9 and only 2.6 per cent had a BMI of 30 or over. The overall prevalence rates of hypertension and diabetes in the persons surveyed were 13.3 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively. Of the persons screened, 28.8 per cent had borderline-high blood cholesterol (200-239 mg/dl) and 12.9 per cent had high blood cholesterol (> or = 240 mg/dl). About 61 per cent of hypertensive persons, 92 per cent of diabetic persons, and nearly all of those with dyslipidaemia were first detected during this screening programme. Five women with breast cancer and 22 with benign breast disorders were also identified during the survey. A screening programme using a mobile unit may be useful in identifying treatable disorders in rural areas, where existing screening services cannot effectively cover the population at risk.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Mobile health units. Design and implementation considerations.

The decision to provide health care services with a mobile van is one which educational and service facilities are increasingly pursuing. The benefits include: The potential to increase the availability of services to underserved populations where access to care is perceived to be one reason for underuse of available services. The opportunity to increase and broaden the educational experiences of students in a training program. The opportunity to develop a sense of social responsibility in the health care provider. The process of deciding to pursue a van purchase is complicated, and administrators may best be served by obtaining experienced consultants to help them fully comprehend the issues involved. After the decision to purchase a mobile unit is made, it is necessary to focus on van requirements and design to meet federal, state, and city codes concerning motor vehicles and health requirements. Some modifications of one's standard practices are needed because of these codes. Being aware of them in advance will allow a smooth project completion. This article provides information about some of the steps required to implement a mobile unit. The approximate time from initial concept to van delivery was 1 year, with one fully dedicated project coordinator working to assure the project's success in such a short time frame. Seeing the gratified personnel and students who serve the children on the "Smiling Faces, Going Places" Mobile Dental Van of the NYUCD (see Figure 2), and knowing the children would otherwise not have received such services, allows the health care professionals involved to feel the development of this van is an exciting mechanism for delivery of health care to individuals who would otherwise go without.

Child↗