Testing for COVID-19 Using a Mobile Clinic Approach: A Collaborative Approach Focused on Underserved and At-Risk Populations in Louisville Kentucky

Abstract

Testing for COVID-19 is an essential component of pandemic response, but equitable access across the communities has been a challenge due to failure of federally-funded programs to reach areas of greatest need. A partnership between the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, the Kentucky Nurses Association, and community leaders helped enable and facilitate a novel, community-based approach. Using a core of trained nurses and a larger group of volunteers, a mobile testing clinic process was developed and implemented in Louisville, Kentucky. From November 11, 2020 through June 30, 2022, 187 mobile testing clinics were held at 26 unique sites with 9337 tests performed. Sites focused on areas of Louisville where poverty density is the greatest, where recognized outbreaks occurred, and where community partners requested testing access. Fourteen nurse team leaders and more than 750 volunteers supported these efforts which were largely funded by existing resources. Standard Operating Procedures were developed to enable standardized training and activities across all clinics. The result is a process that has continued and has formed the basis for mobile vaccination clinics using many of the same processes.