Ms. Johnson, Mobile Health Unit Van Client
CONTINUED > When asked about the biggest impact of the Mobile Health Program on her community, Ms. Jackson replied,“ A lot of people are sick and they just don’ t know it. I’ ve told friends of mine to get on that van and they come off with a list of things that they need to take care of. I know people who have been going without their medications for long periods of time. This program has allowed people in my community to be connected to the care that they need, regardless of the cost.”
Whether clients receive assistance or not, 10 out of 10 report that their screening has empowered them to make positive lifestyle changes and work towards better health. Since her first visit to the van in June of 2016, Laura Johnson has seen her blood sugar lower so much that she no longer needs to be on her diabetic medications.“ This is simply amazing,” Ms. Johnson affirms,“ my quality of life has improved, and I feel more confident in my ability to make changes in other areas of my life as well.”
In addition to providing screenings and case management services, the Mobile Health Program works to increase health education in communities with high health disparities through a series of Healthy Neighbors and Ask the Doctor workshops. These workshops range from topics like chronic disease prevention to healthy cooking demonstrations, and there are typically 15 to 30 community members in attendance. In 2016, 16 workshops were held and 20 Health Ambassadors from the Federation of Block Units were identified. These ambassadors, who have attended five or more workshops, are responsible for relaying the material to their community members and encouraging future participation in the workshops. One ambassador, Ralph Tidwell, has been to 18 workshops in the past two years. For Mr. Tidwell, the workshops have changed his health behaviors through increased knowledge:“ I now am much more conscious of what I eat and how it is going to affect
my health,” he states,“ I’ ve even switched to almond milk because of the health benefits and have seen my friends make similar choices.” Mr. Tidwell always invites his neighbors to the workshops, and sees a recurring trend:“ Once they come the first time, they keep coming back,” he confirms.
The Mobile Health Program’ s efforts have been shown to be extremely impactful. Using a return on investment( ROI) calculator formulated by researchers from Harvard Medical School, the screenings and follow up services from the Urban League’ s Mobile Health Program have a bottom line impact of $ 95 saved for every $ 1 invested. This value takes into account the quality-adjusted life years( QA- LYs) saved from the long-term impact of preventive services on longevity, in addition to the costs of estimated emergency department visits avoided. To put this number into perspective, the average ROI for mobile health clinics in the United States is $ 12 saved for every $ 1 invested. What makes this program’ s ROI so large? An annual operating cost of $ 163k-- $ 266k less than the average operating cost of $ 429k per year. With 1,400 new visitors in 2016, the Urban League’ s Mobile Health Program saw a total cost savings of $ 15,471,445 in 2016 alone.
Not only is the program extremely efficient financially, but its impact on individuals health are substantial. After an average of three months, 87 percent of clients who returned to the van for a second screening saw a reduction in one or more of their health levels. On average, there was an 11 percent reduction in clients’ blood pressure levels, a 29 percent reduction in blood sugar levels, and an 11 percent reduction in total cholesterol levels. The program is also reaching the community members who need it the most. Over 50 percent of assisted clients report that they have not had a health screening in the 12 months prior to visiting the van, and 7 out of 10 clients report that they were unaware of their elevated levels before their screening. These data suggest that the majority of clients have no usual source of primary care. Of the clients that reported a recent visit to the emergency room prior to their screening, 9 out of 10 said that they have seen their emergency visits decrease in the three months after their screening and follow-up assistance.
While the Mobile Health Program’ s measurable impact on the communities it serves are considerable, there is still much to be accomplished in the fight for health equity for all St. Louis residents regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or geographic location. In the future, the program hopes to secure increased funding to expand its services, reach more people, and continue to roll its wheels towards better health in the communities of greatest need.