Taking Community Benefit Initiatives to the Streets: The Rise of Mobile Clinics

When the Doobie Brothers sang “Takin’ It to the Streets,” they probably did not imagine their anthem would someday inspire mobile healthcare. Nor did they picture James Taylor lending his voice (in my head, at least) to narrate the rise of healthcare buses navigating neighborhoods like heroes on a mission.

Yet here we are, witnessing healthcare systems channel their inner road warriors to serve communities in need.

Since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, mobile health clinics have shifted into high gear, bringing care to people where they live, work, play and pray. These roving community benefit medical marvels—affectionately known as “clinics on wheels”—are not just vehicles. They are a testament to creativity, compassion, and a touch of logistical wizardry.

Hospitals are increasingly finding that mobile clinics fulfill their community benefit requirements and revolutionize access to healthcare for underserved populations in both urban and rural areas.

Tuning Up Community Benefit Programs with Mobile Healthcare

According to the Mobile Health Association, more than 3,000 mobile medical clinics operate across the United States, collectively delivering over 10 million patient visits annually. The growing popularity of mobile clinics is closely tied to the role of Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs), which help hospitals identify and address pressing health disparities in their service areas.

Federal regulations, such as those outlined in the Affordable Care Act, require nonprofit hospitals to invest in initiatives that improve community and population health, positioning mobile clinics as a critical tool for meeting these obligations.

Hospitals have made significant investments in mobile health outreach, dedicating care teams to oversee year-round operations. These mobile clinics, often in the form of specially equipped buses, are highly effective in reaching and treating both rural populations, where healthcare access is often limited, and urban populations, who may face barriers such as transportation and economic challenges.

Staffed by physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals, these clinics bridge gaps in access to care, particularly for underserved communities. Their operations are sustained through a combination of hospital system funding, philanthropic contributions, and government grants, underscoring the collaborative effort to fulfill community benefit requirements while addressing health inequities.

Big Wheels, Big Investments

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a $1 million bus, chances are you’re either a healthcare executive or a country music star. These high-tech, rolling healthcare hubs carry a hefty price tag, but their impact on community health is priceless.

Hospital community benefit departments, in collaboration with their foundations, have been instrumental in bringing these mobile clinics to life. Charitable donors and corporate partners have also stepped up, proving that it truly takes a village—and sometimes a few deep-pocketed allies—to keep the wheels turning and the care flowing.

Here are a few inspiring examples of how hospitals are investing in mobile health to meet community needs:

In California, Adventist Health has rolled out two mobile clinics equipped with everything from family medicine to behavioral health services, funded by hospital dollars, community partnerships and donors like Chevron, Bank of America, and the Mackey family.

• Kern County Mobile Clinic: In March 2021, Adventist Health launched a mobile clinic to serve rural and underserved communities in Kern County. This initiative was made possible by a $200,000 donation from Chevron, facilitating access to COVID-19 vaccines, basic healthcare, screenings, check-ups, and immunizations.
• Hanford Mobile Clinic: In September 2024, Adventist Health introduced a second mobile clinic in Hanford, funded through partnerships with Bank of America, Leprino Foods, the Mackey family, and Facility Designs. This addition aims to reach over 600 residents annually, providing screenings and vaccines to underserved communities.

In Massachusetts, Boston Medical Center’s Curbside Care for Moms and Babies, co-funded by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, delivers comprehensive postpartum care on a mobile unit during the crucial first six weeks of life.

• Curbside Care for Moms and Babies: Services include feeding assessments, lactation support, jaundice evaluation, postpartum depression and hypertension screening, and contraceptive care. With four to five visits per family, this model provides significantly more touchpoints than traditional care, ensuring a seamless handoff to BMC providers after six weeks.

In New Jersey, Virtua Health System’s Pediatric Mobile Services Program provides year-round support to children living in underserved communities. The fully equipped program on wheels offers a range of services, including dental and developmental screenings, blood lead level testing, lead poisoning education, flu shots, back-to-school physicals, vision and hearing screenings, health education, community resources, and referrals to specialized services.

• Pediatric Mobile Services Program: Since 2018, Virtua’s Pediatric Mobile Services Program has served more than 14,000 children and provided over 20,000 patient visits. Overall, about 25% of these children were referred to receive further care.

The Road Ahead

As mobile health continues to grow, these community benefit initiatives are bridging gaps in care, reducing health disparities, and redefining what it means to meet patients where they are—whether it’s on a farm, at a community center, at a park, or next to a school. These initiatives demonstrate the flexibility and effectiveness of mobile clinics in addressing various healthcare needs across different communities.

So, the next time you see a bus with a stethoscope logo, give it a wave. It’s not just taking it to the streets. It’s taking healthcare to new heights—on four wheels and a mission to make the world a healthier place.

Want to bring more equity into your community benefit initiatives? Check out the white paper, Equity Driven Grantmaking: Transforming Hospital Grantmaking for Community Well Being.