Saint Louis University 221 N. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103-2006 Christine Jacobs, MD Phone 314-977-8064/fax 314-977-7371 SLU email address: Christine.jacobs@health.slu.edu Website address www.slu.edu $500,000; HRSA-22-134, Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS): Construction Project Project Abstract To increase healthcare access and improve health outcomes in the region, Saint Louis University seeks funding for an equipment-only project to purchase a mobile health van which will expand the boundaries of the traditional health care system, bringing health care and health literacy to the community. With this specialized freightliner van, and accompanied by support from Saint Louis University, we propose the establishment of a mobile health clinic. This mobile clinic will serve areas where citizens lack nearby healthcare facilities, transportation to clinics, or the technology to utilize telehealth options. The van will serve areas in St. Louis including north St. Louis and people who are unhoused - areas where citizens lack nearby healthcare facilities or lack trust in the healthcare system. In a 2017 report from The Advisory Board Company, patients report numerous barriers to access care, including: • 53% of low-income adults do not trust healthcare; • 20% are deterred by high healthcare costs; • 25% lack transportation to medical appointments; • others report social isolation, racial or economic barriers, or language or cultural barriers.4 The Advisory Board Company also reports that showing up in neighborhoods of our low-income, minority, and homeless populations creates trust and found that patients were 78% more likely to self-manage their conditions after visiting a mobile health clinic.4 Mobile clinics are convenient, and patients do not need to have or pay for transportation.4,6 Mobile clinics not only reduce barriers to health care but are also an integral part of the health care system and are supported by government agencies
, insurance companies, and philanthropy.3 The van will contain the necessary components to provide basic health care services including chronic disease screening and management, preventive services such as immunizations, and focused medical evaluations. The mobile health clinic will provide individuals the routine care and connection to a medical home to avoid more costly services or visits to the emergency room. The mobile clinic will also train and engage a pipeline of healthcare providers to serve the community, while mobile nutrition and health education will bring health literacy to underserved communities. The van will be used for outreach to churches and schools for healthy lifestyle education, with topics including nutrition, substance use, and health screenings. The mobile clinic will be led by a SLU team with a physician and administrative director. Health care services will be provided as an extension of the nursing, medical student, and residency training programs. Health education will be provided by allied health, nursing and medical students and faculty. Saint Louis University will support the ongoing management of the mobile health clinic and maintenance of the van through internal and external funding.