HOW TO GET A MOBILE BUSINESS ROLLING
According to Mobile Health Map, starting a mobile clinic requires ongoing funding, patience and flexibility. It also entails having a funding plan to operate the clinic for three to five years, or until the clinic becomes profitable and self-sustaining.
Ensuring the business is sustainable typically requires having multiple sources of revenue. Sources can include:
- Insurance reimbursements
- Patient payments
- Philanthropy sponsorships
- Clinical support from a healthcare facility
Costs to launch a mobile clinic vary based on staffing, types of services provided, the type of vehicle and technology being used, number of miles traveled and other factors. Mobile Health Map says that among the mobile clinics registered for its map, the average annual operating cost for a mobile clinic is approximately $275.
Mobile Health Map suggests three steps to start a mobile clinic:
- Step 1: Connect with the community by listening to local leaders and community-based organizations.
- Step 2: Scan the landscape, study data about community needs and assets and learn from other mobile clinics about what is already working.
- Step 3: Plan for sustainability and create an operational and financial plan to build a strong foundation to make a long-lasting impact.
Case Study: The Need for Reliable Communications
One requirement for mobile care is having reliable communications. For example, when Mobile Health, an occupational health organization that provides employment-related medical screenings around the country, began delivering services onsite, it needed the ability to have mobile check-ins, secure patient data management and connectivity.
Mobile Health turned to Verizon. “The demand for our services skyrocketed and Verizon was able to meet this demand without skipping a beat,” says Andrew Shulman, Mobile Health CEO in a case study. “Verizon was never a bottleneck for us. Because we had a partner that we could rely on to 100% meet the demand, it was one less very important thing to worry about.”
Mobile Health is continuing to expand its services and expects that Verizon will play a key role in the delivery of patient care. “The Verizon network already supported stationary clinics, and they had always provided a great experience for customers and patients alike,” according to the case study.
The role of dependable communications will be increasingly important as Mobile Health considers offering services such as telemedicine. Provista members considering a mobile clinic can also benefit from Verizon contracts for modern communications.
HELP DRIVE SUCCESS BY PARTNERING WITH A GPO
Mobile clinics can benefit communities and patients by making healthcare more affordable and accessible, which in turn improves patient outcomes and can lower the total cost of a patient’s care. Facilities can also benefit by expanding their clinical reach and bringing a new revenue source into the organization.
A group purchasing organization (GPO) like Provista that specializes in non-acute care can help facilities get started by offering access to the products, supplies and technologies needed to operate a mobile clinic. For example, Provista offers a comprehensive non-acute portfolio for everything needed for mobile health, including capital equipment, medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.
Facilities interested in providing mobile health services should talk to their GPO to help with all phases of running the clinic. Partnering with a GPO can save money and help avoid challenges launching and maintaining a mobile clinic.
