Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
05:35
A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level
Published on: January 19, 2024
Nurse-Led Mobile Clinics to Improve Rural Health Access and Disaster Preparedness: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a
Nicole Peters Kroll1, Sharon L Dormire1, Kelly L Wilson1
1College of Nursing, Texas A&M University, 8447 John Sharp Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807, USA.
Summary
Nurse-led mobile clinics improve rural healthcare access and continuity. However, administrative hurdles can impede rapid deployment during emergencies, even with clinical readiness.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Public Health
- Rural Health
Background:
- Rural communities experience significant healthcare access barriers, including workforce shortages and geographic isolation.
- Nurse-led mobile clinics offer a potential solution to enhance healthcare access, continuity, and disaster preparedness in underserved areas.
- This study evaluated the Texas A&M University (TAMU) nurse-led mobile clinic model's effectiveness in rural settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the TAMU nurse-led mobile clinic model's rural service delivery.
- To assess the model's impact on health equity and operational considerations.
- To evaluate its disaster preparedness capabilities.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods program evaluation utilized operational data, surveys, and preparedness records.
- The clinic provided primary, preventive, and behavioral healthcare across six rural counties via in-person, telehealth, and home visits.
- Disaster preparedness was assessed through an interprofessional simulation and a case study of a flooding event.
Main Results:
- Mobile clinic operations successfully improved rural healthcare access, continuity, and community engagement.
- Interprofessional simulations indicated enhanced teamwork, triage, communication, and decision-making skills among participants.
- Despite operational readiness for a flood event, administrative approval delays prevented clinic deployment, revealing system-level constraints.
Conclusions:
- Nurse-led mobile clinics are adaptable for improving rural healthcare access, continuity, and disaster preparedness.
- Effective emergency response requires more than clinical preparedness; it necessitates coordinated administrative processes, interoperable systems, and supportive governance.
- Addressing administrative and systemic barriers is crucial for maximizing the impact of mobile health interventions during crises.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural Health Centers
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Specialized care settings or centers are situated in convenient locations within the community and offer care to a specific group or population. They consist of daycare facilities, mental health facilities, rural health facilities, educational institutions, industries, shelters for the homeless, and rehabilitation facilities.
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
Primary care promotes wellness and prevents disease. This care includes health promotion, education, protection (such as immunizations), early disease screening, and environmental considerations. Settings providing this type of healthcare include physician offices, public health clinics, school nursing, and community health nursing.
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
01:30Community Based Intervention
Community-based interventions in mental health represent a paradigm shift from institution-centered care to treatments embedded within the fabric of local communities. By prioritizing inclusion and leveraging existing societal structures, this approach fosters a supportive environment conducive to addressing mental health challenges while promoting individual dignity and agency.
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...