Abstract
The development of a medical home is an integral component in decreasing health disparities among disenfranchised communities. Mobile health clinics contribute to increasing access to health services, promoting health education, and improving care coordination especially among low income rural patients. This problem based solution, case study describes the experience of a University-community based partnership in the development of a mobile clinic model within ambulatory Community Medical Health. In 2014, a university based, nursing program initiated, mobile health unit was created to offer basic medical care to rural health areas in the Central Valley. The following case describes how this was accomplished, what outcomes were tracked and what lessons were gleamed as a means of improving the process for future endeavors or as a model to others looking to develop a similar project. Over the past two years the mobile health unit has shown the increased need for medical services as evident by an increase of patient visits in these areas. In addition, implementation results and considerations are discussed including key process indicators, limitations and future model directions.
Highlights
Introduction and Background of Problems andNeeds1.1 Demographics and Prevalence Rates of Central Valley Underserved PopulationCalifornia’s Central Valley is known for its agricultural abundance
Increase utilization of available services rather it be screens, education or preventative treatment all lead to better health outcomes. In response to both the prevalence and chronic disease rates, the risk factors associated with the underserved population of the Central Valley, and due to the stark shortage of healthcare providers, the mobile unit was proposed as a problem based solution by the nursing faculty at a university within the Central Valley
It is reported that hands on experiences, similar to the experiences provided by the mobile unit, will result in improved measurable outcomes with respect to nursing education in the area of cultural competency (AACN, 2008)
Summary
Indirect and Direct Measures of the Impact of Rural Health in the Central Valley. Cyndi Guerra, Cheryl Hickey2 & Elizabeth Villalobos Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, California State University, Fresno, United States 2 Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, California State University, Fresno, United States 3 Researcher, MA, Fresno, California, United States Correspondence: Cyndi Guerra, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, California State University, Fresno, United States.
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