Are you trying to help your Native reservation get access to healthcare?
Or, are you a public or private healthcare provider looking for a way to provide NEMT services to your community?
Are you a behavioral health program providing services such as mobile health, housing, or mental health and addiction counseling?
Then, a mobile medical unit could be right for you.
There are five types of mobile medical units at AVAN Mobility: the Mobile Outreach Van, the Mobile Response Van, the Mobile Clinic Van, the Mobile Counseling Van, and the Mobile Overdose Prevention Van.
But how do you know which mobile medical unit is right for you?
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the five types of mobile medical units–from what each van does to how you can use it to who is using it right now.
Types of mobile medical units: the Mobile Outreach Van
What is it?
The MO Model van is a mobile outreach van that provides transportation and a safe on-site workspace.
Designed for traveling street outreach teams, you can transport staff and clients, as well as provide services in any location with a mobile office space.
Mobile Outreach Vans can help your outreach program meet its goals by:
1. Coming to people who are not able to travel for medical attention
2. Going to people in remote areas who do not have means of transportation to access health services
3. Bridging the gap between healthcare providers and those who need healthcare the most–building trust so that patients will seek out the help they need
How can you use this type of mobile medical unit?
Mobile Outreach Vans become a familiar presence in the communities they’re in. They sit in grocery store parking lots or near festivals–places easily caught by the eye.
Eventually, they’re not only a familiar presence in the community but also part of it. Fear and mistrust of medical professionals slowly begin to fade, and eventually, the people who need help the most become more likely to seek it out.
Mobile Outreach Vans also provide the opportunity to reach more people in need. Instead of focusing all outreach efforts on those who go to drop-in services consistently, mobile medical units allow outreach services to connect with those who don’t go to these centers.
As a result, many outreach services travel through different neighborhoods instead of permanently stationed in one location. That way, they can help many individuals at once.
Who is using it right now?
We recommend Mobile Outreach Vans for programs involved with one or more of the following services:
- Housing
- Mobile health
- Harm reduction
- Referral services
- Overdose prevention
- Mental health and addictions counseling
You can use a Mobile Outreach Van to distribute food, clothing, and water to communities experiencing poverty or a natural disaster, such as a tornado or hurricane.
We also recommend a Mobile Outreach Van for those living in remote Native reserves, where healthcare services experience extreme delays.
Now that you understand what a Mobile Outreach Van is, you may wonder what a Mobile Response Van is.
Read on to find out.
Types of mobile medical units: the Mobile Response Van
What is it?
The Mobile Response Van (MR Model) is a non-emergency mobile medical unit equipped with aluminum cabinetry, stretcher access, and advanced storage systems similar to an ambulance.
The MR Model’s medical van layouts provide a mobile treatment space and transportation in one van.
While similar to an ambulance, a Mobile Response Van is not an ambulance.
You can’t use the Mobile Response Van to transport unstable patients because it lacks life support devices and critical care equipment.
How can you use this type of mobile medical unit?
You’ll likely use the Mobile Response Van as a NEMT ambulance alternative to transport patients and medically respond to non-urgent medical needs.
That being said, you can use it in many different situations.
You can even use your Mobile Response Van as an urgent care clinic.
Urgent care clinics help people in immediate need of medical services while reducing traffic to overrun emergency rooms.
Another way to utilize a Mobile Response Van is to use it as a mobile medical treatment center on remote job sites to help treat injured workers before formal emergency response arrives.
Who is using it right now?
We recommend the MR Model for many different organizations, including:
- Native reservations
- NEMT providers
- Industrial safety providers
Now that you know what a Mobile Response Van is, you may be wondering what a Mobile Clinic Van is.
Read on to find out.
Types of mobile medical units: the Mobile Clinic Van
What is it?
The MC Model van is a mobile medical clinic used to bring healthcare directly to clients.
Often seen as a “doctor’s office on wheels”, these mobile medical units provide a private treatment space for personal health services.
How can you use this type of mobile medical unit?
You can use Mobile Clinic Vans to bring health services to patients who cannot access a health center or hospital. They help to reduce health disparities.
A person may be unable to access a health center for many reasons. These include:
- Mobility issues
- Lack of transportation
- Remote location
- Financial restraints
- Language barriers
- Wait times
A person who cannot get primary healthcare is more likely to suffer from undiagnosed health conditions.
This leads to late diagnoses and more advanced health issues in patients. Treating advanced yet preventable health conditions is costly for the healthcare system.
You can use a mobile medical van to not only provide basic healthcare, but also personal services such as:
- Addictions treatment
- Mental health counseling
- Outreach services to homeless and vulnerable populations
- Foot care
- Home care nursing
- Sexual health programs
- Vaccinations
Who is using it right now?
Many different communities, organizations, and programs use Mobile Clinic Vans, including:
- Addictions services
- Industrial safety companies
- Housing and homeless societies
- Native reservations
- Public and private healthcare providers
Now that you know what a Mobile Clinic Van is, you may be wondering how a Mobile Overdose Prevention Van is different. Read on to find out.
Types of mobile medical units: the Mobile Overdose Prevention Van
What is it?
An Overdose Prevention Van (also called the Mobile Mitigation Van or MM Model) is a mobile medical van setup that offers supervised consumption services.
It is a safe space where medical professionals or social worker staff can monitor clients’ use of substances and respond to medical needs as they arise.
People using substances can come in and do what they need to in a clean, sterile, and safe environment, away from parks, playgrounds, and other public spaces.
An Overdose Prevention Van provides sterile injection equipment that can:
- Promote safe injecting practices
- Reduce needle sharing
- Prevent transmission of viruses and infections
- Prevent overdoses
How can you use this type of mobile medical unit?
Overdose prevention vans can be used by behavioral health programs, mobile overdose prevention programs, and harm reduction programs in many different ways, but the most common is to use them as a supervised consumption site.
Supervised consumption sites can save lives and connect people to social services and pathways to treatment.
But what does this actually look like?
Well, a person will bring their drug to an overdose prevention van to consume.
The drug is injected, snorted, inhaled, or consumed as pills, and trained staff (either nursing staff, social workers, or peer and community workers) will monitor the person and be available to provide medical help if there is an accidental overdose.
Who is using it right now?
Overdose Prevention Vans are used by behavioral health programs, mobile overdose prevention programs, and harm reduction programs.
Types of mobile medical units: the Mobile Counseling Van
What is it?
The Mobile Counseling Van is designed to provide a secure and private space for mental health support and wellness services. It offers a “living room” environment that ensures comfort and confidentiality for both clients and counselors.
Equipped with features such as comfortable living room furniture, lockable cabinets, and a high-capacity heating and cooling system, the Mobile Counseling Van creates a welcoming atmosphere conducive to open communication and effective counseling. It is ideal for preventative counseling, wellness checks, mental health support, and more.
How can you use this type of mobile medical unit?
The Mobile Counseling Van serves as a mobile sanctuary that can travel to clients, providing services directly in their communities. This mobility is crucial for reaching individuals in remote areas or those who may face barriers to accessing traditional counseling services.
Features like Starlink Wi-Fi and skylight enhance the onboard experience, allowing for a bright and connected environment regardless of location. Whether parked in community centers, schools, or rural areas, the van helps bridge the gap between mental health services and community needs.
The van’s design includes thoughtful additions such as anti-slip steps and rear compartment lighting, ensuring safety and accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities. This attention to detail makes it possible to operate safely and effectively, day or night, in any weather condition.
Who is using it right now?
The Mobile Counseling Van is recommended for:
- Community health organizations
- Mental health outreach programs
- Schools and educational facilities
- Veterans’ support groups
- Remote and underserved communities
Organizations use the Mobile Counseling Van to deliver essential services directly to those in need, effectively reducing the barriers to accessing mental health care. Its welcoming, home-like setting and versatile features make it a valuable asset for any program focused on community well-being and mental health.
Your next steps in choosing between the 5 types of mobile medical units
You came to this article to learn everything you need to know about the 5 types of mobile medical units: the Mobile Outreach Van, the Mobile Response Van, the Mobile Clinic Van, and the Mobile Overdose Prevention Van.
Now, you know what each van does, how you can use them, and who is using them right now!
Do you know which mobile medical unit is right for you? Get a quote from us today.
Or, check out these related articles for more information:
