Hospitals are using mobile clinics to increase access to healthcare, according to an article on the Marketplace website.
A mobile clinic looks like a mix between an RV, a school bus and a doctor’s office. People hop on, check in and get labs drawn just like a normal clinic.
There are more than 2,000 mobile clinics in the U.S. Some hospitals are investing in these clinics on wheels because they’re shifting their focus from the ER to managing chronic illness and preventative care.
Rigging up the vans with all the standard medical equipment isn’t cheap, but research shows it saves money. A mobile clinic program in Dallas is experimenting with rounding out those services, adding social workers, dentists and psychologists.