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 .