Deploying a Mobile Health Unit with Telehealth in Rural and Under-Resourced Communities

Abstract

Background: Rural residents living in the Mississippi Delta Region of the United States have healthcare access issues to primary care and specialty care providers. Because of this decreased access, these residents have poorer health outcomes compared to residents in urban areas. Mobile Health Units (MHU) can provide solutions for these health disparities by providing primary care services on the units and connecting rural residents with specialty providers through telehealth on an MHU. In 2023, the X College of Nursing deployed an MHU to two of the most disparate counties in West Tennessee. This MHU is a full-service unit with the ability to provide patient care and is equipped to provide telehealth services.      

Methods: To ensure telehealth services could be provided connectivity was tested in each county. And, because little formal training is available to providers, all providers and students serving on the unit completed specific telehealth training.  

Results: Testing revealed no lag time or decreased connectivity when testing three simultaneous telehealth visits. Eighty-five providers and students completed an extensive telehealth training program with 90% reporting the training to be good or excellent.    

Conclusions: Rural residents in two West Tennessee counties have increased access to care related to the MHU itself, and access to specialty providers because of telehealth services on the unit. Providers and students serving on the unit are able to facilitate telehealth services appropriately due to the training they received.

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v24i2.768