Pharmacist-driven mobile health clinics: a qualitative analysis of logistics for program development, implementation,...

Access to healthcare remains a major issue in the United States, particularly in rural communities. Mobile health clinics (MHCs), including those utilizing a pharmacist-driven model, are one effective solution to address access-related barriers. To our knowledge, limited information is available to aid in the development, implementation, and operation of a pharmacist-driven MHC model. This project aims to fill this gap by exploring the characteristics of existing pharmacist-driven MHCs.

This project used semi-structured interviews, guided by a 23-item interview guide, conducted with groups and individuals from pharmacist-driven mobile health programs to identify logistics for the development of a pharmacist-driven MHC model. Fifteen pharmacist-driven MHCs that met the inclusion criteria were identified through a web-based search. Of these, eight programs agreed to participate (53%). An additional two programs were identified through snowball sampling, for a total of ten participating programs. Prior to the interview, programs completed a 14-item intake questionnaire to allow for adaptation of the interview guide. Interview data was analyzed using a mixed deductive (hypothesis-driven) strategy, in which four areas of inquiry, logistics, partnerships, outcomes, and lessons learned, were identified through a literature review process and guided the analysis. In this manuscript we focus on program logistics.

Sixteen participants from ten pharmacist-driven MHCs completed an interview. Six subthemes were identified related to program logistics: (1) programs exist to increase access to care; (2) programs have an awareness of scope/role; (3) programs identify and meet community needs; (4) programs meet patients' needs; (5) programs have a small staff with large volunteer-base; and (6) programs have a three-step clinical workflow.

By utilizing the MHC model, pharmacists may be better able to address health gaps while leveraging existing resources, and providing services tailored to the needs of the patients within a community. These findings may be used as a guide for the development, implementation, and operation of current and future pharmacy-driven MHC programs.