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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Matthew D. Levy, MD, MPH, FAAP, Department of Pediatrics, Director of Community Pediatrics Georgetown University Medical Center, 3800 Reservoir Road, Pasquerilla Healthcare Center -- Second Floor, Washington, DC 20007, (202) 687-8135, mdl2@gunet.georgetown.edu
In October of 2000, in an effort to more effectively deliver comprehensive care to underserved children, Georgetown University Hospital entered a new phase in its mobile health program under the new name - KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic. When the program entered its new phase, community leaders and local health advocacy organizations throughout the city assisted Georgetown University Hospital with its needs assessment by identifying neighborhoods with a high concentration of children with limited access to quality health care. Since its inception, the Georgetown University Mobile Health Program has been a trusted source of free, community-based, comprehensive health care for the most medically vulnerable children in the District of Columbia. Four days a week, the bright yellow and blue mobile pediatric unit drives into medically vulnerable neighborhoods in the District of Columbia with high rates of poverty and poor health conditions. The mobile clinic offers a dynamic approach to overcoming the barriers that prevent inner-city children from attaining quality medical and social services. The mobile unit is staffed by a unique team that combines health and administrative professionals with medical staff in training to deliver an effective 'medical home' to D.C. Children. This medical home offers comprehensive, coordinated, easily accessible, community-based, family-center and culturally competent services. Children who come to the KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic receive both acute and preventive care as well as community-based services that include immunizations, school physicals, hearing/vision screening, social services, and management of chronic illnesses like asthma and HIV/AIDS. Wellness and medical education are emphasized with the goal of changing behaviors around medical utilization. The short term goal is to improve the health of the children of D.C. who have limited access to affordable quality health care and to assist their parents in the development of sound preventive health practices. In the long-term, the KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic seeks to raise the standard of care in these communities, and to ultimately improve the permanent health care delivery system available. This session will discuss the development and implementation of a community-based mobile health clinic and talk about the importance of a mobile medical home in the reduction of barriers and improvement of delivery of care and ultimately health outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Access to Health Care, Underserved Populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.