Last week, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) announced the launch of the Center for Mobile Health, a resource hub dedicated to expanding access to care through mobile health programs and policy initiatives.

In a news release, the MD-based healthcare advocacy organization stated that the Center for Mobile Health will gather leading mobile health experts to support the 674 (45 percent) Community Health Centers (CHCs) that operate at least one mobile unit and to increase the number of CHCs using mobile units to reach populations with limited access to healthcare. The center is supported by The Leon Lowenstein Foundation, Direct Relief, Mobile Specialty Vehicles, and Matthew’s Specialty Vehicles.

CHCs serve 52 million patients—1 in 7 and 1 in 3 in rural America—at more than 17,000 locations, NACHC stated. “Mobile health units extend this reach even further.”

According to Mobile Health Map, a Harvard Medical School program, mobile health units produce an estimated $14 return for every $1 invested in primary care, with a 13:1 ratio for low-income populations. This benefit primarily arises from reduced emergency department visits, fewer hospital stays, and improved preventive care.

According to the press release, the Center for Mobile Health is focused on four areas:

• Science: Evidence-based research and data to demonstrate the impact and return on investment of mobile health delivery, including patient outcomes, cost-effectiveness studies, and population health analytics.
• Education: Comprehensive training programs, certification opportunities, and workforce development resources for staff operating mobile units, covering clinical care, logistics, technology integration, community engagement, and partnerships.
• Practice: Best practice toolkits, operational guides, and peer learning networks that enable CHCs to launch, optimize, and sustain mobile health programs. The Center will facilitate knowledge exchange between mobile health leaders and mobile programs to develop best practices in real time.
• Policy: Advocate for and analyze policies to promote sustainable funding models, regulatory frameworks, and reimbursement policies that support mobile health as a vital part of the primary care safety net.

“Community health centers have a history of reaching patients where they need care the most, in hard-to-reach rural and frontier communities, at schools and places of worship, and to care for patients who are homeless,” said Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, President and CEO of NACHC, in a statement. “The Center for Mobile Health will enhance community health centers’ ability to adopt new technologies that can improve outcomes, reduce costs, and expand access.”

“Mobile healthcare is no longer a pilot concept — it’s becoming an essential infrastructure for how care is delivered in rural and underserved communities,” said Chad Newcomer, CEO of Mobile Specialty Vehicles, in a statement.